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See below for an initiative by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Equity & Diversity Pre-Law Internship Program Proposal
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (the “Firm”) has a strong commitment to providing legal services in a workplace which is rich in perspectives, backgrounds and cultures. In achieving this commitment, starting in the summer of 2011 the Firm wishes to offer an opportunity for an undergraduate student from a Canadian University to work in a law firm environment focussing on equity and diversity initiatives within the Firm. Currently our plan is to run the Internship in either May or June.
By creating an Equity & Diversity Pre-Law Internship Program, this will result in the creation of a position within the Firm’s Toronto office to work on equity and diversity initiatives and projects within the Firm (the “Pre-Law Internship”).
The Pre-Law Internship will provide an opportunity for an undergraduate student who is considering law school to gain work experience in a law firm environment, to observe lawyers in the workplace and to perform a variety of tasks and work on specific projects in the areas of equity and diversity. The Firm will define the scope of the tasks and activities for the Intern.
In addition to fostering a working relationship with the student who is awarded the Pre-Law Internship, another benefit of the program will be the development of a mutually beneficial relationship between the Firm and the participating Universities. Moreover, the students will benefit from exposure to life in a law firm and lawyers may act as a mentor to the student who has future career aspirations in law.
The Firm would be responsible for:
- providing the Intern with a variety of activities and tasks as well as to ensure a positive experience at the Firm;
- providing the Intern with feedback and evaluation on tasks performed;
- compensating the Intern for a 4 week period at a rate of $20/hour.
Interested applicants should email their application to Kari Abrams, Director of Student Recruitment and Development at kari.abrams@blakes.com.
A New MOFO for a New Year
Middle Passage Law Series
Hahahahahahah…. I know what you are thinking, but no, not the expletive. “MOFO” is in fact short for the law firm of Morrison & Foerster.
I was wondering how best to kick off the New Year with the Middle Passage Law series and I thought it best to start with positive news.
A new MOFO for a New Year refers to Trevor James, a UK tax partner in Morrison & Foerster, who has been elevated to managing partner in the firm’s London office. And, oh yeah, Mr. James just happens to be black.
This is a first for an international law firm.
Please do not misread this post. It isn’t that UK law firms are light years ahead of their Canadian counterparts in terms of black diversity — for they are not, as the UK based Black Solicitors Network’s 2008 diversity league table makes clear. However, UK law firms and the legal establishment are ahead of their Canadian counterparts in two significant ways worthy of note.
The first of these is Mr. James’ appointment — earned on merit.
What is the probability of such an appointment at a Canadian national or international law firm in the near or medium term?
To be honest I just don’t see it happening, but I could be wrong — in fact I want to be wrong.
The second area to note is the fact that such a thing as a diversity league table exists.
It is not that Canadian law firms or the larger legal establishment does not measure diversity — for they do. However, on closer examination it will be observed that these measurements are largely confined to gender. Don’t get me wrong, this is a good thing and should be lauded; however, I believe that such measures should be expanded to other diversity communities.
Why the comfort with measuring gender and the fear — yes, I said fear, because that is the only way I can characterize it — with measuring race?
I really cannot answer this questions as it is far beyond my current knowledge and skills — I want to answer it and maybe one day I will.
I didn’t mean to harp on the negative but I just wanted to make you aware, that is if you were not already, of all too real an issue.
So back to the positive.
I wish Mr. James – A New MOFO For A New Year – all the best and I hope that his current and future successes will serve as a shining example of what is possible.
