My passion for championing diversity and inclusion comes from knowing first-hand the barriers that people from underrepresented groups face when paving out a career in law. At Blakes, we’re committed to doing the long-term work to build a more diverse and inclusive workplace and profession, and work with leading organizations across Canada to not only empower our people in their daily working lives, but also promote these values more broadly in our communities.
The Firm’s commitment to fostering a caring, respectful and supportive workplace community was evident to me from the start. The women’s programs at Blakes go beyond mentorship; we’re actively championing and promoting women leaders; we coach and help one another succeed at every stage in our careers, from articling students starting out, to women returning to the workforce after a break from their careers, and senior partners who are leaders in the industry.
The Blakes culture fosters and encourages a plurality of voices and experiences. Equity is a foundational value here. We are recognized not just for what we achieve but also for who we are. Blakes stands out for that and I think it helps people reach their highest potential.
Like many lawyers, I was attracted to the legal profession because we can contribute to making progress towards greater justice, inclusion and equality. There is a real commitment at Blakes to reflect and live those values in the workplace. Blakes has focused on fostering an inclusive culture for a long time. We celebrate diversity here, and also recognize the need to continue to build diversity in our profession. I am proud to work at a firm dedicated to leading that progress.