Challenges Report Remains Intact
On December 1, 2017, at Convocation, The Law Society rejected the motion to create exemptions from the Statement of Principles requirement.
On November 6, 2017, The Law Society of Ontario released an updated Statement of Principles, which, according to the Law Society, can be used to provide licensees with a guide as to what might be included in a personal statement of principles.
The newly presented template Statements of Principle express a commitment to the following:
- A recognition that the Law Society is committed to Inclusive legal workplaces in Ontario, a reduction of barriers created by racism, unconscious bias and discrimination and better representation of Indigenous and racialized licensees in the legal professions in all legal workplaces and at all levels of seniority;
- My special responsibility as a member of the legal profession to protect the dignity of all individuals, and to respect human rights laws in force in Ontario;
- A commitment to advance reconciliation, acknowledging that we are collectively responsible to support improved relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Ontario and Canada; and,
- An acknowledgement of my obligation to promote equality, diversity and inclusion generally and in my behaviour towards colleagues, employees, clients and the public.
In December 2016, Julian Falconer, as a Bencher and Vice-Chair of The Challenges Faced by Racialized Licensees Working Group, presented a motion that Convocation approve the thirteen recommendations outlined in the “Working Together for Change: Strategies to Address Issues of Systemic Racism in the Legal Professions report.”. The motion has been approved and adopted by the Law Society.
Julian Falconer speaking at Convocation December 1, 2017
Following the Motion’s Failure on December 1, 2017
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