Vancouver – One hundred lawyers, law students and other interested people attended the Law Society of BC’s Inspiring stories connecting future leaders event on June 16, 2010 at the First Nations House of Learning (Longhouse) at UBC.
Aboriginal leaders in the legal profession, including Grand Chief Edward John and Elizabeth Hunt, whose practice focuses on Aboriginal law, shared their own inspirational stories with the audience.
Law Society President Glen Ridgway, QC told the audience that the society’s board of governors, called Benchers, “have identified retaining Aboriginal lawyers in the legal profession as one of the key objectives in the society’s current strategic plan. This event is part of that,” he said.
Patrick Kelly, who sits on the Law Society’s Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee, told the audience in his closing remarks, “This isn’t the end of the Law Society’s interest in this area. We are working on a number of initiatives and strategies to help retain Aboriginal lawyers.”
Several of the First Nations lawyers, law students and articling students who attended signed up to provide the Law Society with their feedback on upcoming initiatives designed to support the success of Aboriginal people in the legal profession.
In addition to this event, the Law Society is undertaking a demographic project to better understand the participation of Aboriginal lawyers. And, as was done in 2009 with respect to women in the legal profession, the Law Society will be developing a business case for diversity, including the retention and advancement of Aboriginal lawyers.
The Law Society of British Columbia regulates the more than 10,000 lawyers in the province, setting and enforcing standards of professional conduct that ensure the public is well-served by a competent, honourable legal profession.
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For information, or to arrange an interview, contact:
Dana Bales
Communications Officer
604-443-5724
dbales@lsbc.org
Robyn Crisanti
Manager, Communications and Public Affairs
604-697-5845
rcrisanti@lsbc.org