Law Society of BC Initiatives and Supports to Advance Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Profession

Event Description

The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Office has invited representatives from the Law Society of British Columbia to share updates on efforts to advance EDI in the legal profession.

Topics will include:

• An overview of relevant resources and supports that are available through the Law Society.
• An overview of the relevant committees (including the inaugural Bullying, Harassment, and Discrimination Task Force), as well as information about upcoming consultations and initiatives.
• An overview of some key mentorship opportunities and programs in the legal profession.
• Some tips on navigating the early stages of a legal career. 

For a Zoom link please email Carlos Nunez at nunez@allard.ubc.ca.

Speakers 

Cheryl D’Sa, KC – Bencher, Law Society of BC

Cheryl D’Sa, KC was called to the bar in 2008, is a mediator and currently the managing partner of Narwal Litigation LLP, a firm devoted to criminal defence, personal injury, professional regulation and securities litigation. Cheryl graduated with her BA in 2002 and her LLB in 2007, both from UBC. 

Elected a Bencher in the May 2020 by-election, Cheryl is the Vice-Chair for the Bullying, Harassment & Discrimination Task Force and the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Additionally, she is a member of the Access to Justice Advisory Committee. She is also a Bencher representative on the Board of the Continuing Legal Education Society. She was the first female visible minority president of the Vancouver Bar Association. She has held seats on several Canadian Bar Association committees, including the Business of Law and Automobile Committees, and was chair of the Solo & Small Firm Section. She has been an active volunteer in the legal profession and community: as a mentor for Allard Law first-year students, Women Lawyers Forum members and through Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers BC; and as a guest speaker for the CBA, BC Branch, the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia and the Advocates’ Society, among others.

In recent years, Cheryl has received several awards, including the CBABC Women Lawyers Forum Debra Van Ginkel, QC Mentoring Award, an Excellence Award in the Category of Female Trailblazer of the Year by Canadian Lawyer Magazine’s Canadian Law Awards and Business in Vancouver’s Top Forty Under 40.

Claire L. Marchant – Director, Policy & Practice, Law Society of BC

Claire (she/her) is the Director, Policy & Practice at the Law Society of British Columbia. At the Law Society Claire leads the policy team, who assists the Law Society Benchers, Advisory Committees, and the organization in making policy decisions that are data-based, evidence-driven, and informed by the views of the public and the profession. Claire also leads the practice advice team, who provide confidential advice to lawyers and articled students with their questions about ethics and practice management and support lawyers in fulling their duties in the practice of law by creating educational content and practice resources, in addition to facilitating the delivery of mental health support to the profession. Before joining the Law Society in 2017 as a Practice Advisor and Equity Ombudsperson, Claire practiced mainly in the areas of employment and privacy law in both private practice and in-house environments. Claire attended Queen’s University at Kingston for her undergraduate degree in commerce before attending the University of Calgary for law school, and was called to the bar in Alberta in 2011 after clerking at the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench. When Claire is not at work she is most likely to be found on her Peloton bike, working on the delightful 70s nightmare house she shares with her husband Mark, or helicopter-parenting her 9-year old German Shepherd dog Kepler.

Sarah E. Sharp – Practice & Equity Advisor, Law Society of BC, Vancouver

Sarah (she/they) works in the Practice Advice department at the Law Society of BC. As a Practice Advisor, Sarah provides confidential advice to lawyers on issues of ethics and practice management. As the Law Society’s Equity Advisor, Sarah provides confidential advice on discrimination and harassment issues. Called to the bar in 2010, Sarah has private practice experience in the areas of administrative, aboriginal, and environmental law, in addition to profession regulation in the health field. Sarah has a BSc (Hons) from Queen’s University at Kingston (2003), an LLB from the University of Victoria (2009), and an LLM from Osgoode (2022). Sarah has also trained as a family law mediator, and as a yoga instructor for both adults and children. When not working, Sarah can be found exploring with her partner and their 5-year-old, mucking about in the garden and woods, or deepening her knowledge in their latest areas of passionate interest. 

We expect this to be a fantastic opportunity to know the LSBC Team and hope to see you all there!

Light lunch will be provided for in-person attendance.