Engagement of Women in the Legal Profession: Roundtable and panel discussion
RESCHEDULED DATE*: Tuesday, October 19, 2021
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
*Due to the municipal elections taking place in Alberta on October 18, we have rescheduled this event for Tuesday, October 19 at 5:30 p.m.
Panelists:
Katrina Edgerton-McGhan, Kanchana Fernando, Corie Flett, Q.C. and Amna Qureshi
The retention of women in the legal profession has been examined extensively over the years, and many reports have recommended change. Yet, women continue to face barriers in the legal profession regarding parental leave, representation in leadership positions within firms and other organizations, pay equity, and sexual harassment.
Earlier this year, on behalf of the Canadian Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges, a ThoughtExchange survey was sent to all CBA Alberta and Law Society of Alberta members with the intent of learning about the specific experiences of women today and identifying specific and actionable changes that we can make in the legal profession. A summary of the responses from this survey can be downloaded here, which includes a breakdown of the main themes identified and top-rated thoughts and recommendations submitted.
We are now ready to move on to the next phase of this engagement, which will take the form of virtual roundtable discussions with members of the legal profession. These discussions will flow from the themes identified in the ThoughtExchange survey and focus on how we move the profession forward and make changes to address the barriers that women continue to face.
We are also pleased to a panel of outstanding women in Alberta's legal profession which includes Katrina Edgerton-McGhan, Kanchana Fernando, Corie Flett, Q.C., and Amna Qureshi.
Registration for this event is free of charge and we invite all members of the profession to participate, not only women, as it will take a collective effort from all of us to effect lasting change. There will be the opportunity for small break-out discussions, so please come prepared to participate and share your ideas for a more inclusive legal profession.
Katrina Edgerton-McGhan is a complex litigation and regulatory lawyer at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP. She sits on many boards and has assisted in founding two Alberta-based non-profits focused on increasing equity. In addition to this, Katrina is a single parent to two young girls.
Kanchana Fernando is Deputy Regional Director and Senior Counsel with the Department of Justice Canada, and is a sessional instructor at the University of Alberta Faculty of Law. Kanchana is the recipient of the WILL Award for “Tomorrow’s Leader” (2018) and the Faculty of Law’s Pringle/Royal Sessional Teaching Excellence Award (2021).
Corie Flett, Q.C. is a member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. She has been practicing law in Fort McMurray since 2010 where she is now a partner at Muessle Flett Law LLP. She is also a wife and proud mother of three children, ages 9, 7 and 3.
Amna Qureshi is an activist and criminal defence lawyer working in Edmonton. Her work has included writing and advocating on issues like the rights of sexual assault complainants at trial, gender based violence, and especially women's "right to wear". For the past three years she has dedicated much of her time to working in Alberta's first Mental Health Court.
This event is presented by the Canadian Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges, in partnership with the Canadian Bar Association - Alberta Branch and the Law Society of Alberta.
