Q&A with the new Chair

The Chair of the Women Lawyers Forum (“the Forum”), Jennifer Conkie, is now well into the first year of her term. The Forum has been active since the fall of 2003 with an ongoing series of events and programs. Jennifer recently discussed her vision for the coming year.

What are The Forum’s top priorities during 2004/2005?
Our first aim is to offer to members events that support them in their career and professional development. One key challenge is to consolidate our membership – currently around 200 women. We’re expanding our outreach, beyond the Lower Mainland, and even outside B.C.

Tell us about the Mentoring program.
Through the dedication of our members, we’ve matched women lawyers through all levels of practice. We have more than 100 placements in Vancouver, 24 in Victoria and 24 in Kelowna, and the program will add new pairs in 2005.

Will the “Workshop Series” continue?
Absolutely. We have been told by our members that workshops are a great way to network, hear exceptional speakers, and meet a wide range of business and community leaders. Building on a great response this fall, we’ll continue the “Lunch and Learn” series in 2005. Our two-day Leadership Institute in the spring is our biggest event for the year. More informally, Margaret Ostrowski, QC is hosting a potluck dinner for all members at her home in February.

Tell us more about the forum’s commitment to fostering relationships.
Assisting women in law with relationship-building is important to us. Apart from our mentoring program, we are networking nationally and with our American counterparts. We are even planning a trip to the Far East for 2006! Meanwhile, our initiative to become a national forum is well underway. We will host an event at the August 2005 National CBA conference in Vancouver.

How can women lawyers “connect” with the Forum?
Our members, and potential members, are located across B.C. and we’re working hard to ensure expanded outreach to women lawyers located outside the Lower Mainland. We hope women lawyers will make the Forum their “meeting place! I’d encourage readers of BarTalk to contact us. We are always looking for ideas about how we can better connect with women lawyers in B.C. and how we can continue to serve.

This year we want to focus on communicating regularly with everyone in B.C.’s legal community. Our links to the CBA and our B.C. Branch are certainly valuable in that regard and we also want to build alliances with other law-related groups of professional women.

Join the Forum
To join the Women Lawyers Forum, you must be a CBA member. For Forum membership information contact the CBABC office at 604.687.3404 or call toll-free 1.888.687.3404 or visit www.cba.org/bc for a Section enrolment form.

Jennifer Conkie
2004/2005 Chair
Women Lawyers Forum
Tel: 604.662.7544

This article was published in the February 2005 issue of BarTalk. © 2005 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.