Articles 2023

Last week, I topped my list of nerve-wracking, new-lawyer moments when, heart pounding, I telephoned the Honourable Claire L'Heureux-Dubé, Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada from 1987 to 2002 and the second woman in Canadian history to be appointed to that position. I was calling to see if Justice L’Heureux-Dubé would speak with me about her experience receiving the OBA's Women Lawyers Forum's Award of Excellence in 1996, its inaugural year.

A compilation of links to articles, podcasts, and videos that may be of interest to members of the OBA Women Lawyers Forum. Have suggested content for this feature? Email the link to Justine Johnston at justine.johnston@blakes.com.

A compilation of links to articles, podcasts, and videos that may be of interest to members of the OBA Women Lawyers Forum. Have suggested content for this feature? Email the link to Justine Johnston at justine.johnston@blakes.com.

A compilation of links to articles, podcasts, and videos that may be of interest to members of the OBA Women Lawyers Forum. Have suggested content for this feature? Email the link to Justine Johnston at justine.johnston@blakes.com.

I met my husband in a modern-day fairy tale setting: on a Facebook thread discussing Canadian immigration. While he wooed me, I was figuring out how to get licensed to practice law in Canada. And now, whenever a foreign-qualified lawyer tells me that they are ready to give up on the accreditation process, I take a deep breath and say, “Let me tell you about my journey as a foreign qualified lawyer…”

Welcome and thank you for staying current with the Women Lawyers Forum. The Women Lawyers Forum's newsletter contains articles on topics important to women lawyers, including a recent article on sexist language in the profession (That’s Not My Name - Advice for Responding to Sexist Language in the Practice of Law). Our goal is to engage women and facilitate discussions about the benefits and challenges of being a female lawyer.

“Because it’s 2015.” It has been almost one year since PM Justin Trudeau’s simple explanation for gender parity in his first Cabinet. This decision was hailed as an important and long-overdue step towards substantive gender equality, but we are hardly living in a post-gender world - in politics or in law.

A compilation of links to articles, podcasts, and videos that may be of interest to members of the OBA Women Lawyers Forum. Have suggested content for this feature? Email the link to Justine Johnston at justine.johnston@blakes.com.

With the exception of one of our articling students, the entire legal team in my office (lawyers, paralegals, clerks and administrative assistants) is female. When I started working in my current office, I was a bit apprehensive and stereotypical worries filled my head. Luckily, my fears proved to be completely unfounded and over the past ten months I’ve come to recognize the many tangible benefits that working in a team of women brings to my practice.

A compilation of links to articles, podcasts, and videos that may be of interest to members of the OBA Women Lawyers Forum. Have suggested content for this feature? Email the link to Justine Johnston at jvsjohnston@gmail.com.