What's New

Linda K Robertson’s blog

Linda K. Robertson, our very own Women Lawyers Forum Secretary-Treasurer, has a featured blog on slaw.ca, a Canadian online legal magazine. To read Linda’s blog please visit: http://www.slaw.ca/author/robertson/

 
 

LinkedIn

In order to create networking opportunities and a forum for discussion and exchange on subjects relevant to the Women Lawyers Forum, we have recently created a group on LinkedIn.

This professional networking site allows you to:

• Establish connections with other professionals interested in mentoring,
• Access liaising opportunities,
• Share cases and accomplishments; and
• Keep informed about upcoming Women Lawyers Forum events and activities.

If you’re already a LinkedIn member, we invite you to join the CBA Women Lawyers Forum group. You can easily do by clicking on the “Groups” tab type “CBA Women Lawyers Forum” in the search box and select the “Join Group” option.  If you are not already a member, membership in LinkedIn is free and easy to join by going to http://www.linkedin.com/home

We look forward to meeting you on LinkedIn.

Trinda L. Ernst, Q.C.
 

Trinda L. Ernst, Q.C.

The Women Lawyers Forum congratulates Nova Scotia’s Trinda L. Ernst, Q.C., who in August became the fifth woman to assume the presidency of the CBA. Trinda “blames” one of her role models (and former national CBA President), Daphne Dumont, for her decision to run for a national executive position in 2009. Trinda recalls Daphne saying, “I would recommend this job to anyone” when she was President in 2000-2001. It is fitting that Trinda is assuming the presidential reins in Halifax, Nova Scotia – the province where she was born, attended law school, and has practiced for her entire legal career. After graduating from Dalhousie Law School in 1983, Trinda articled with the federal Department of Justice in Halifax, and then moved to Amherst, Nova Scotia where she spent a year practicing criminal and family law with the Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission before moving into private practice with Waterbury Newton, based in Kentville, N.S., where she later eventually became a partner. Trinda joined the CBA during law school and has been a huge proponent of the organization ever since. Congratulations, Trinda!

Cecilia I. Johnstone Award Reception
 

Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Q.C. receiving the Cecilia I. Johnstone Award of Excellence from Patricia Lane, Chair of the Women Lawyers Forum, at the Halifax CLC on Aug. 15, 2011.

Once again, the WLF hosted a wine and cheese reception at the Canadian Legal Conference held in Halifax, to honour this year’s Cecilia I. Johnstone award winner. Always a popular event, this year’s guests included federal Minister of Justice, the Honourable Rob Nicholson, QC, CBA (now) Past President Rod Snow, QC and (now) CBA President Trinda Ernst. This year, the award was presented to Kerry-Lynne Findlay, QC, M.P., one of the driving forces behind the creation of the CBA’s Women Lawyers Forum. Congratulations Kerry-Lynne and thank you for all your work on behalf of women in the legal profession!

 The Women Lawyers Forum wants to get the word out! 

The WLF is one of the largest conferences within the CBA and many of its members are doing incredible things within their legal communities and beyond. These accomplishments reflect positively on the legal profession as a whole and on the contributions made by women lawyers across the country.
 
To ensure these accomplishments are broadly recognized, the WLF will be highlighting these achievements and triumphs in upcoming newsletters and  on its website as a new monthly feature - “What’s She Up To?” 
 
Let us know what our members have been up to lately. If you or a colleague you know has recently accepted a new position, appointment or award that you think should be recognized, pass it on to the WLF editorial board, and we’ll spread the word!

Celebrating Success

(L-R) Léa Duval, Diana Cameron, Linda Giesbrecht and Sylvia Guertin-Riley.

Manitoba’s WLF held a wine and cheese reception to honour the contributions of Justices Lea Duval and Sylvia Guertin-Riley of the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench and Judge Linda Giesbrecht of the Provincial Court of Manitoba who are retiring, and to celebrate the recent appointment Justice Diana Cameron. The event was sponsored by the Canadian Bar Insurance Association/Canadian Bar Association Financial, and attended by over 70 lawyers, judges, professors and articling and law students, as well as family and friends of the honourees. Madam Justice Freda Steel of the Manitoba Court of Appeal gave the toast to each of our four honourees highlighting their significant accomplishments. The MBA Women Lawyer's Forum has made a donation to the new Legal Help Centre in their honour.