The Canadian Bar Association Women Lawyers Forum (CBA WLF) opened its recent National Conference with a reception celebrating community, mentorship, and professional networking. During the event, the 2026 Cecilia I. Johnstone Award was presented to winner Kamaljit Kaur Lehal, K.C.
Established to honour the memory of the late Justice Cecilia Johnstone, this award recognizes a woman lawyer who achieves professional excellence and dedicates her career to the advancement, mentorship, and promotion of women in law.
For over 35 years, Kamaljit has been a leading practitioner and trailblazer in British Columbia.
Her legal advocacy has repeatedly reshaped policy to protect vulnerable communities. She has represented clients at every level of court, including serving as co-counsel for the Canadian Council for Refugees before the Supreme Court of Canada. Her persistent advocacy for immigrant and refugee women escaping domestic violence led the federal government to implement the "FV" practice, which flags and expedites family violence immigration files across Canada to remove women from unsafe situations. Furthermore, representing the Ending Violence Association of BC in a high-profile constitutional battle, her advocacy contributed to a $29.1-million settlement that expanded trauma-informed legal services across British Columbia.
Over the course of her career, she focused on mentoring generations of racialized women lawyers, helped launch the South Asian Legal Clinic of BC, spearheaded SABA BC’s annual International Women’s Day programming, and served for over a decade as an Alternate Chair for the BC Review Board. She recently marked her 30th consecutive year on the Board of Directors for Options Community Services, where she became the first woman of colour to chair the board and has led capital campaigns to build affordable housing in Surrey.
As her colleague and nominator Anita Atwal, K.C. noted: "She is the person who answers the phone at 10 PM when you are doubting your career, and reminds you exactly who you are."
Kamaljit has balanced these and many more roles all while running her own firm, Lehal Law, and raising four children.
The CBA WLF congratulates Kamaljit Kaur Lehal, K.C. on this well-deserved honour.
Grace Cleveland, Chair, CBA Women Lawyers Forum National Executive
