Tracy Tyler has a story in today’s Star which notes that although women are the majority of graduates today in law schools, on average they are quitting the profession within seven years.

The Law Society of Upper Canada presented its final report yesterday by their Working Group on the Retention of Women in Private Practice.

The recommendations include the establishment of a parental leave program for sole and small firm practitioners, as well as a practice locum service, which are two of the most forward-looking proposals in the report. A recommendation to create the Justicia Think Tank, a project in which the Law Society would work with a group of large and medium sized firms across the province committed to implementing programs aimed at improving the retention of women was also adopted.

The Final Consultation Findings can be found here.

Tyler adds,

…the “next step” for the law society is to change law firm billing procedures that require women – and men – to work long hours in order to advance their careers.