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An Interview with Violence against Women Advocate and Film Producer Leighann Burns
Alexandra (Allie) Cuperfain | November 29, 2024
Ahead of the December 5, 2024, OBA program, “Taking Action Against Gender-Based Violence: the smallest steps – Film Screening and Panel Discussion,” we spoke with co-producer Leighann Burns about the documentary the smallest steps. Inspired by a desire to preserve decades of expertise in the fight against violence against women, the film offers a hopeful, inclusive vision for change. Burns discusses its creation, practical takeaways for lawyers, and why small actions can lead to big impacts.
Learn moreAn Interview with the Director of the Smallest Steps
Ashley Seely | November 29, 2024
Ahead of the December 5, 2024, OBA screening of the smallest steps, director Nicole Bedford discusses her compelling documentary on gender-based violence and activism. In this interview, she shares how personal stories from veteran activists inspired the film, explores the power of small actions to drive change, and reflects on the importance of legal professionals in addressing violence.
Learn moreHow Becoming a Mom Made me a Better Lawyer
Debbie Boswell | November 27, 2024
Debbie Boswell shares how becoming a mom impacted her approach to practicing law. From redefining career goals and engaging in pro bono work to mastering skills like multitasking, dedication, and creative persuasion, Debbie reflects on the unexpected ways parenting enriched her legal career. Her insights challenge stereotypes about working moms and offer inspiration for new parents to recognize their value and advocate for promotions, raises, or new opportunities at work.
Learn moreCelebrating NAWL's Five Decades of Feminist Law Reform in Canada
Angela Ogang, Vice-Chair, OBA Women Lawyers Forum | April 02, 2024
Last month, the National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL) celebrated five decades of feminist law reform advocacy in Canada at a reception and awards ceremony on Parliament Hill. Among the esteemed guests were Algonquin Elder Annie Smith-St-Georges, who led the opening prayers, the Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and the Honourable Justice Freda M. Steel of the Court of Appeal of Manitoba, who delivered the keynote address.
Learn moreIn March 2023, the OBA's Hard Conversations Series featured Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Iranian Judge turned human rights activist Dr. Shirin Ebadi. Dr. Ebadi provided us with valuable insights into the Islamic Republic of Iran and the “Woman, Life, Freedom” revolution that emerged as a response to institutional discrimination faced by Iranian women in their day-to-day lives.
Learn moreMyra Sivaloganathan | May 30, 2023
From a young age, Deepa Mattoo, this year's recipient of the OBA Award of Excellence in the Promotion of Women's Equality, knew that she wanted to pursue law. She marvelled at the power of law to be a force of change, particularly the law’s ability to challenge the systemic issues of misogyny, oppression, and violence that were pervasive in communities that surrounded her.
Learn moreLegal Reads: A book review of "Just Pursuit"
“The pursuit of justice creates injustice.” Thus opens the memoir of Laura Coates, a Black former federal prosecutor in the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice during the Bush and Obama years. Through a series of vignettes, she peels back the curtain to expose the inner workings of the criminal justice system, and lays bare the ways in which a system ostensibly set up to secure justice often fails those who become wrapped up in it.
Learn moreChristine Roth: A force to be reckoned with
Angela Ogang, AngeLAW | February 25, 2023
Last year, just a few days before Christmas, I sat down with my fellow OBA WLF Exec and OBA Council member Christine Roth to talk about her career path, personal motivators, and passion for Indigenous rights and access to justice. I was surprised to learn that she grew up in Iran and was one of the first people to be blacklisted during the Islamic coup d’état. As our discussion drew to a close, I was left feeling that I had barely scratched the surface of her complex and rich experiences.
Learn moreKarlie Nordstrom and Leslie Anne St. Amour | October 21, 2022
On September 30, 2022, in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the authors spoke at a webinar titled "Reconciliation in the Legal Profession". During the event, they shared insights on a range of questions surrounding truth and reconciliation in the legal profession, to equip legal professionals in all practice areas with the knowledge necessary to play a more active role in truth and reconciliation. This article summarizes some of the key takeaways.
Learn moreHow our Boardrooms Became Classrooms: Virtual School, Real Headache
Amelia Yiu, Elm Law Professional Corporation | February 23, 2022
For the women of my firm the combined pressures of childcare, virtual school and work became draining both mentally and physically. As an employer that has always tried to put work-life balance at the forefront of our philosophy, I knew that I needed to make some changes to the way that we did things, or everyone at the firm would suffer.
Learn moreHamna Anwar | February 02, 2022
The author, criminal defence lawyer Hamna Anwar, makes a request to senior counsel: When you are giving advice to junior lawyers who look up to you, please be mindful of the power of your words. Please do not provide advice that teaches young, racialized women to minimize themselves or play it small.
Learn moreNothing But The Truth – A Memoir (Book Review)
Amrita V. Singh | January 14, 2022
I didn’t “know” much about Marie Henein as a person before reading this memoir, beyond her reputation for a strong work ethic, keen sense of justice, and love of glitter. So, I was surprised to learn as I read the book that she wasn’t that different from me, and very possibly also you.
Learn moreA Long Road to Licensing - An ITL's Tale & Personal Experience
Chigozie Enwereuzo | May 24, 2021
Yes, it has been a long road through licensing in Ontario. It has been eight years and counting in my quest to obtain an Ontario license to practice law. I took a longer route than the typical internationally trained lawyer (ITL). Here's my story.
Learn moreProfiling Diverse Experiences: Sara Racicot’s experience studying law abroad
The purpose of this article is to provide other international students who want to practice law in Canada with some of the valuable information I have gained through networking, attending online events, and panels throughout my first year. Here's my story.
Learn moreRemote Work: New Lessons from our Not-So-New Reality
For those of us with children, we all have assessed the losses for them over this pandemic year and struggled to help them cope with the absence of social get-togethers, driver’s education, sports, and being at school with their classmates and teachers.
Learn moreResilient Job Searching in a Confusing Time
Welcome to 2021, the year we all hoped would be different and exciting and most importantly rid of the COVID-19. As we trudge along, now almost 1/3 of the way done, we can truly see how difficult this year has been, not for one, some, or many, but every single one of us. Here's a look at my personal experience.
Learn moreThoughts on Diversity Practices in our Organizations
Tejal Harri-Morar | May 24, 2021
Coming from South Africa, a country that had openly practiced direct and indirect exclusionary practices previously against its citizens and inhabitants, I offer my real-life observations and thoughts on the current practices in organizations and recommendations that can possibly assist with furthering diversity practices.
Learn moreAn Interview with Samantha Peters: Highlighting Women in the Legal Profession
Naomi Sayers, OBA WLF Executive, lawyer | April 02, 2021
Recently, Naomi Sayers had a chance to sit down for an interview with Samantha Peters, to highlight her work in the industry, her journey to the practice of law, community lawyering, and serving the Black community.
Learn moreCommunity Outreach: Highlighting the Windsor Women Working with Immigrant Women
Emilia Coto, Sisu Legal | April 02, 2021
Emilia Coto sheds some light on a community organization in southwestern Ontario, the Windsor Women Working with Immigrant Women, and its work supporting women in its community.
Learn moreManaging Parental Leave: Considerations for Women in the Legal Profession
Amelia Yiu, Elm Law Professional Corporation | April 02, 2021
Lawyers who are about to welcome a new child into their lives should all be concerned about parental leave, but I am writing this for the Women Lawyers Forum because the burden of child care disproportionately falls on women in our society. This is because of the ingrained expectation that women perform these childcare duties, no matter what their profession or the profession of their spouse.
Learn moreProfiling Diverse Experiences: A Profile on Ankita Puri and her NCA Experience
Ankita Puri, (LLM, B.A, LL.B), Articling Student, LSO Licensing Candidate | January 30, 2021
When I began writing this piece, I was still waiting for the results of two NCA exams. I had taken them in August 2020, amidst all the chaos that the pandemic brought and continues to bring into our lives. Like most people who wrote the exams with me, the wait was accompanied with increasing anxiety. While there was hope that this story would end well, precedent dictated that I move onward and forward regardless of the outcome.
Learn moreProfiling Diverse Experiences: A Profile on Namrata Bhagia's NCA Experience
Namrata Bhagia, LSO Licensing Candidate | January 30, 2021
Right now, my journey is far from over. I am now preparing for the upcoming March 2021 Barrister and Solicitor exams while actively applying for student positions at firms and companies. While most firms are extremely vocal about supporting and training international lawyers, some don’t even consider you as a potential summer student at their firm.
Learn moreJessica Murphy, Lawyer | January 30, 2021
The face of law is changing. According to the Law Society of Ontario, about 43 per cent of lawyers are women. The goal of this article is to put racialized and Indigenous women lawyers in the spotlight and amplify their voices in the conversation about gender equality.
Learn moreWeathering the COVID-19 Storm: Reflections on making a career move remotely during the pandemic
Laura E. MacDonald, McCarthy Tetrault, Associate | January 30, 2021
Times of uncertainty cause humans to reevaluate their priorities. The current global COVID-19 pandemic is a perfect example. When the world seemingly stopped in March 2020, I, like many of you, found myself spending my new-found time (owing to the temporary closure of courts) doing some soul-searching.
Learn moreWellness Tips for Remote Work: A Review
Tejal Harri-Morar, Lawyer | January 30, 2021
With the closing of a particularly challenging year that brought several changes for all of us, 2021 has reinforced the idea of remote working on a global level. Many hoped for the return of some normality at the announcement of the vaccines, however the reality of this has been delayed. To ensure that you are fully equipped to maintain your overall wellbeing, we recommend the following wellness tips.
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