The CBA: What’s in it for you?

Launching a career in the legal profession involves a long series of steps. There’s law school admission and graduation, articling, the bar admission course and finding that first job. But to get where you really want to go, it helps to make connections with the right people and resources.

The CBA is here to help. A national organization with chapters in every province and territory, it offers a wealth of programs, resources and networking opportunities to help jump-start your career. It also works to promote equality and diversity within the profession, promote the rule of law and advocate on behalf of the profession. Here’s a glimpse of the CBA at work:

National Sections

National Sections represent 32 groups of CBA members organized according to substantive areas of law, ranging from alternative dispute resolution to wills, estates and trusts. More than 800 volunteers provide leadership to meet the needs of members. Active membership ranges from 427 to 5,160 members. Law students can join, but can’t hold office.

They are a forum for networking, sharing ideas, legislative and law reform initiatives and liaison with courts, government and other bar associations. Members can access e-news/newsletters, listservs and section websites. When members enroll in a section at the provincial or territorial level, they are entitled to membership in corresponding national sections.

Conferences

The CBA also has nine conferences for groups ranging from solo and small practitioners to young lawyers. In 1997, it established the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Conference (SOGIC) to address the needs and concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and two-spirited members within the association.

SOGIC also provides a forum for the exchange of information and ideas on legal issues relating to sexual orientation and gender identity. It is a founding member of the International Lesbian and Gay Law Association.

Standing Committee on Equality

Equality is one of 16 standing committees of the CBA. It promotes awareness of equality issues in the legal profession and develops resources to help the legal profession achieve equality: recent initiatives include a list of tips for firms and member organizations seeking to promote inclusion and diversity and materials on how lawyers can accommodate clients with disabilities.

Check out www.youtube/user/cbaequity to see videos showcasing three CBA members who are trailblazers for equality-seeking groups.

CBA International Development Program

Since 1990, the CBA has delivered legal and justice reform projects in 29 countries across Asia, Africa, Central Europe and the Caribbean.

The Young Lawyers International Program gives young lawyers an opportunity to participate in an eight-month internship with human rights legal organizations in locations around the world. [see sidebar for more details].

Professional Development

Education doesn’t end with law school – you still need to keep up on changes in the law. When you’re ready, CBA professional development opportunities will be available to help you keep pace and hone your skills.

The popular CBA Skilled Lawyers Series offers a series of eight programs in litigation and eight in corporate law. Courses range from conducting and defending a discovery to buying and selling a business. They are accredited for Continuing Professional Development.

Membership

Law school students can enjoy all the benefits of CBA membership for just $20 (Ontario and New Brunswick branches offer complimentary membership.)
You will get:

Full online access to the Canadian Bar Review;

Eight issues a year of National magazine;

CBA PracticeLink: online tips and articles covering real-world practice issues;

Professional development: notices of educational and networking events.