CBABC Unveils 3-Year Action Plan for Legal Equity and Inclusion

Initiative aims to address representation gaps, inequitable career outcomes, cultural barriers The Canadian Bar Association’s British Columbia branch (CBABC) has unveiled “A Legal Profession for Everyone,” a three-year action plan for promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and addressing barriers to these goals within the province’s legal profession and justice system. “This plan sets out the steps CBABC is taking to help strengthen a legal profession where everyone, especially historically excluded people, has the opportunity to thrive,” said Patricia Blair, CBABC president, in a media release. Of CBABC members responding to a recent survey, 71 percent faced or witnessed discrimination or equity-related barriers, and 82 percent believed that their workplace failed to respond effectively to discrimination or harassment issues. CBABC explained that the new action plan aims to: “Lawyers should be able to build successful practices and contribute to their communities without facing barriers to career advancement and belonging,” Blair said in CBABC’s media release . CBABC noted that the EDI action plan considered internal feedback, external expert consultation, and a review of similar legal profession initiatives. According to the EDI action plan , CBABC strives to amplify the voices of its members, including by: The action plan aims to help CBABC foster a connected and inclusive membership by: The action plan seeks to promote CBABC’s sustainability as a lawyers’ professional association in the province by: Here are some other recent news stories involving the CBA’s BC branch. Last February, on behalf of CBABC, Blair expressed condolences to those grieving in the wake of the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School mass shooting. In January, on CBABC’s behalf, Blair criticized the BC government’s plan to restrict British Columbians’ ability to take their disputes to independent courts through amending the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). Enjoy this story? Read the latest Canadian legal news on the main page! The Canadian Legal Newswire is a FREE newsletter that keeps you up to date on news and analysis about the Canadian legal scene, providing targeted news and information of interest to Canadian Lawyers. Please enter your email address below to subscribe.