The Heather McArthur Memorial Young Lawyers Award

Any person, who, at the time that the person is nominated for the award, meets the following criteria:

• is a member of the OBA, in good standing;
• is a member of the Bar of Ontario, a student enrolled at a law school in Ontario, or is on the teaching faculty at a law school in Ontario;
• has practiced law for not more than 10 years, been enrolled in a law school in Ontario, is an articling student in Ontario, or taught in a law school in Ontario for not more than 10 years; or
• is not older than 40 years of age at the end of the calendar year during which they are nominated.

The Award shall be a plaque listing all winners of the award, to be displayed at OBA's premises.  A plaque will be presented to the award winner. 

Any OBA member, in good standing, may initiate a nomination. The nomination should comply with the following criteria:

• it must be on the prescribed nomination form and contain the signatures of three OBA members in good standing;
• it must be accompanied by the nominee’s résume and a statement of the achievements of the candidate for the award.
• While it is not mandatory, nominators and/or candidates may submit with the application supporting letters.
• The nominee must be advised by one of the nominators that his or her name has been put forward for this award prior to the nomination deadline.

This award is discretionary and no award need be granted in any given year.  No more than one award may be given in any fiscal year.

The OBA Awards Committee will make the decision to make the award in any given year, and select the winner. For the purpose of the decisions with respect to this Award, the Chair of Professional Development or his/her delegate shall be a member of the Awards Committee.

Award will be presented at the YLD Gala on May 20, 2026 at the OBA Conference Centre in Toronto