Women's Law Association of Ontario is very pleased to announce the 2018 President’s Award will be presented to Arleen Huggins.

Arleen Huggins is a recognized leader in the promotion and advancement of racialized women in the law; applying the intersectionality of race and gender. Ms. Huggins has made a sustained contribution to the legal community through mentoring, advocating and volunteering. She has volunteered in a leadership role with various equity seeking organizations including CABL, the CBA, the OBA, Doctors without Borders and LEAF. She is a partner at Koskie Minsky and heads up the Firm's Employment Law Group. She has recently been appointed as an Independent Expert Reviewer by the Secretary of the Cabinet for the Ontario Public Service for complex Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Program cases. Ms. Huggins was co-counsel for LEAF before the Supreme Court of Canada in the 1993 decision of Weatherall v. Canada (Attorney General), SCC, August 12, 1993.

The WLAO President's Award recognizes a woman, firm or organization who has made a substantial contribution to the legal community and as a recognized leader, demonstrates a commitment to the promotion of women in the law: engaged, aware and connected to issues, substantive and personal, facing women in the legal profession today.

2018 Annual Awards Gala
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
6:00pm reception; 6:45pm dinner (cash bar)
Rosewater Room, 19 Toronto Street, Toronto

At the Award Gala, WLAO will recognise the winner of the 2018 WLAO General Counsel Chapter Award, Judy G. Naiberg, VP, Legal & Business Affairs, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc. As a founding member of the WLAO General Counsel Chapter and the Women General Counsel of Canada, Judy's dedication to supporting women in law has had a great impact on creating a more equal and inclusive legal community.

We will also present our partnered student awards including the Honourable Sandra Chapnik Women-in-Law Award, the Avril Farlam Advocacy Award, the Aird & Berlis LLP/WLAO Equality Award, and the Torkin Manes LLP/WLAO Trailblazer Award.

We hope you can join us at our celebration honouring fantastic women and their remarkable accomplishments!

Thank you to our Award Partners:

Register now!

2018 President's Award and Student Awards Applications are now open. President’s Award deadline March 16th and all Student Awards deadline April 30th.

President's Award
The WLAO President's Award recognizes a woman who has made a substantial contribution to the legal community as an academic, adjudicator, litigator, solicitor, author, or related profession. The recipient must demonstrate a commitment to the promotion of women in the law and be recognized as a leader. Encompassing the ideals of the Women's Law Association, the recipient of the President's Award will be engaged, aware and connected to issues, substantive and personal, facing women in the legal profession today. The Award may also be presented to a firm or organization exemplifying the ideals for which it is given.

Download Nomination Form (deadline March 16, 2018)

General Counsel Chapter Award
Nomination deadline: March 30, 2018

The WLAO General Counsel Chapter Award, established in 2015, recognizes a member of the General Counsel Chapter for her leadership role and commitment to the success of women in law.

The first presentation of this award was to Norie Campbell of the TD Bank Group in June 2015. The 2016 recipient of the award was Dorothy Quann of Xerox Canada. The recipient of the 2017 award was Doris Stamml, Chief General Counsel at Ernst & Young.

The Honourable Sandra Chapnik Women-in-Law Award
Submissions deadline: April 30th of the current year

The Honourable Sandra Chapnik Women-in-Law Award recognizes female law students who exemplify the drive and determination to achieve a law degree after having spent time in the workforce.

• Currently enrolled in an Ontario law school (include transcripts and a CV);
• A defined need for financial assistance (to be determined at law school with supporting documentation); and
• An essay of no less than 200 words explaining the above, her past experiences and her future goals.

As a guest of honour at the WLAO Annual Awards dinner in June, the recipient will receive her award and have the opportunity to meet many influential and successful women lawyers, legal educators, and judges from the Toronto area. This award will be administered through the WLAO and Ontario law schools with final selection by a panel consisting of the Honourable Sandra Chapnik and two WLAO board members.

Annual Award Amount: $1,000

Download Application form

Avril A. Farlam Advocacy Award
Submissions deadline: April 30th of the current year

The Avril A. Farlam Advocacy Award is designed to recognize outstanding participation in the legal clinic program of any one of the Ontario law schools to be determined by:

• Academic achievement (ie. marks);
• A copy of applicants CV (curriculum vitae), and;
• Essay of no more than 200 words describing how the applicant believes the legal clinic experience will make her a better lawyer

As a guest of honour at the WLAO Annual Awards dinner in June, the recipient will receive her award and have the opportunity to meet many influential and successful women lawyers, legal educators, and judges from the Toronto area.

Annual Award Amount: $1,000

Download Application Form

Aird & Berlis Equality Award
Submissions deadline: April 30th of the current year

The Women's Law Association of Ontario and Aird & Berlis LLP Equality Award is designed to recognize a woman law student who has dedicated her time and talents to advancing equality rights. The recipient will receive a monetary award of $1000.00. The recipient of the award will demonstrate the following characteristics (for details see application form):

female registered, in good standing, at an Ontario faculty of law and studying for an LL.B, J.D. or LL.M.; and
a record of dedication to advancing equality rights (such as, but not limited to religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, mental health, refugee, aboriginal, minority and HIV/AIDS victim's rights).
As a guest of honour at the WLAO Annual Awards dinner in June, the recipient will receive her award and have the opportunity to meet many influential and successful women lawyers, legal educators, and judges from the Toronto area. Funds are available for accommodation and travel costs to Toronto for the recipient to attend the Awards dinner.

To obtain an application form please contact your law school’s Career Services office or contact Women's Law Association of Ontario directly.

Download Application Form

Torkin Manes LLP Trailblazer Award
Submissions deadline: April 30th of the current year

Torkin Manes LLP and WLAO have established the Trailblazer Award to recognize a female law student for her leadership role in business and the law (this could be corporate/commercial, not-for-profit, or entrepreneurial). This award is given to a student that best exemplifies the qualities of effective business leadership, innovatively applied know-how, and potential for growth. The award (with a monetary award of $1,000) will be presented at a gala dinner in June 2018.

The recipient of this award will demonstrate the following qualifications and characteristics:

• female student registered in 2nd or 3rd year and in good standing at an Ontario faculty of law, and studying for a J.D. or LL.M. (the successful candidate will likely be enrolled in a joint J.D./LL.M. and MBA degree program);
• an acknowledged leader, actively demonstrating the promotion of women in business;
  exceptional legal expertise and proven business acumen; and
• demonstrates an entrepreneurial and business focused spirit, with a strong sense of how to put a project or idea into action.

Please return completed application form along with a letter of merit (not to exceed two pages) outlining the candidate’s qualifications for this award. If appropriate, please provide supporting documentation (i.e. letters of recommendation, curriculum vitae).

Download Application form