After years of trying to manage the multiple responsibilities of a full-time and demanding senior in-house role, with those of mother and spouse, a friend of mine recently decided to resign from her job. She tried to make it work, including negotiating with her employer to reduce her hours. Her efforts were to no avail. That decision took courage and is to be congratulated as my friend, when forced, chose a path in keeping with her priorities of family first. What irritates me is that she had to make the choice in the first place. It is a significant loss to her employer, and a loss to the in-house community.

(l to r) Justice Brian Lennox, CBC reporter Hallie Cotnam, and Justice Heather Perkins-McVey. Photo: Amna Qureshi

In 2011, eight women were appointed to the federal judiciary compared to 41 men.

There is much gnashing of teeth and wringing of hands about women leaving the law profession in droves. But there are still lots who continue in private practice and follow the path to partnership and other successes. There is one thing that most young female lawyers think about — and it is integral in many cases as to whether they will stay or exit the profession: when is the best time to have a baby?Sometimes these things just happen, but as with many steps along the way in one’s legal career, it can (and probably should) be planned.

The Reconfiguring Mentorship seminar at the University of Ottawa discussed how mentorship can shape women’s careers in and out of practice. Photo: Amna Qureshi

Practices are being implemented to reverse the trend of women leaving the legal field, but the Women’s Legal Mentorship Program at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law is convinced that more can be done. Determined to take matters into its own hands to do its part to address the retention of women, the WLMP hosted its Reconfiguring Mentorship seminar on Feb. 11.

McCarthy Tétrault's Women Connecting event included panellists: (l to r) Marion Annau, Rasha El Sissi, Linda Shin, Sarit Batner, Justice Faye McWatt, and Lara Nathans. Photo: Kalidescope Photography

When Lara Nathans, a partner at McCarthy Tétrault LLP, first considered initiating the firm’s now annual Women Connecting event six years ago, she did it in part because when she was at law school, Bay Street was not advertised to female law students.

The Law Commission of Ontario has recently begun an initiative that is rather different from its usual projects. It is being funded by the Ontario Women’s Directorate to develop law school curriculum modules around violence (particularly domestic violence) against women. “Women” are identified as the focus of the initiative because they are still the vast majority of victims of domestic violence.

Much of the discussion around International Women’s Day in Canada focused on how well woman are doing in the global north. In contrast, many of our southern sisters are still facing a daunting array of different forms of gender discrimination that leave them vulnerable and impoverished. Life can be very hard.

Last Tuesday was the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day — a day in which we are supposed to celebrate women’s achievements throughout history and across the nations. In Canada, it passed without much fanfare or acknowledgment of the contributions and impact women have had in creating and sustaining our modern society.

Love to hate them but lists of the tops in any profession are still compulsive reading. Canadian Lawyer is stepping into the fray with the Top 25 Most Influential in the justice system and legal profession. As this is the first year, our list will undoubtedly be controversial but we are ready to brave the slings and arrows of the profession.

Ontario’s criminal lawyers waged a heated and lengthy battle with the provincial government over legal aid rates last year, boycotting homicide and guns-and-gangs cases. After eight months of conflict, the provincial government in January agreed to increase lawyers’ tariffs, pledging a five-per-cent raise for each of the next seven years. The defence bar rejoiced at the news that lawyers would no longer have to take on the most serious of cases at a monetary loss, all costs considered. What few know, however, is that it might never have happened without Marie Henein.