Lawyer’s Lantern
AND INCLUSION A Canadian General Counsel Approach to Creating an Inclusive Legal Profession
LEGAL LEADERS FOR DIVERSITY
BY KEN FREDEEN 14
“A funny thing happened over coffee. A small group of general counsel in Canada, all of whom were heavily engaged with diversity initiatives, reflected on what was next and how could our work on diversity bear even more fruit. What was missing was an organization of general counsel where members could create a path to diversity, where general counsel take responsibility and are held accountable for creating a more inclusive legal profession.”
W DIVERSITY & THE BAR® NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012
hat started as a small group grew into the Legal Leaders for Diversity and Inclusion (LLD), and the creation of a “Statement of Support for Diversity and Inclusion” and an agreement
on 17 best practices that could be referenced as guidance by signatories. Between March and May 2011, over 50 general counsel in Canada signed the statement and with just over one year under our belt, we are close to 70 Canadian general counsel, coast to coast. Leadership is what general counsel do best and applying it to creating a more inclusive legal profes- sion has resonated with general counsel in Canada. Te LLD has created a vehicle for general counsel to
cooperate and create collective action, with external law firms, law schools, and others, all with the goal of creating a more inclusive legal profession. Talk is cheap. What the LLD accomplished in its first year of existence is worth exploring. Te May 2011 launch of the LLD featured a keynote
speech by Ontario Lieutenant Governor David Onley. He congratulated the group in attendance but also had this chal- lenge: If not the lawyers, who would champion diversity both
MCCA.COM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52