The Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) has been an ongoing supporter of the Law Society of Ontario’s Statement of Principles (SOP) requiring licensees to acknowledge their obligation to promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
Read LEAF’s letter to Treasurer Paul Schabas and Benchers of the Law Society of Upper Canada stating its support for the SOP requirement.
LEAF opposes the current attempt by some new benchers to roll back and modify the diversity and inclusion initiatives, including the SOP. These matters come before convocation tomorrow.
LEAF calls on the LSO to continue to promote equality in the legal profession and opposes any attempt to roll back these important first steps towards confronting prejudice and inequality.
One of LEAF’s founder mothers, Mary Eberts, along with Helen Ross and Nadine Otten, have prepared a thoughtful paper, ‘Not Tyranny: Reflections on the Law Society of Ontario Statement of Principles’, which underscores how the SOP is entirely consistent with the LSO’s role in promoting equity, diversity and inclusion – and with the commitment to the Rule of Law which every barrister and solicitor undertakes when sworn into the bar.
They have also prepared a Quick Guide to the Statement of Principles for a summary.
Any changes to the SOP or the diversity and inclusion initiatives will be a step backwards for the legal profession – and for LEAF’s ongoing fight for equity, diversity and inclusion. We encourage you to learn more and speak out.
About Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)
Since April 17, 1985, when equality rights were enshrined in sections 15 and 28 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, LEAF has worked toward equality for women and girls. LEAF intervenes in key cases to ensure that when courts interpret equality rights, there will be a systemic improvement in women’s lives. For more information about LEAF, visit www.leaf.ca.
