After being unstaffed for much of the reporting period, we are pleased to report that the Equity & Access Office became fully operational in Spring 2023.  We thank and acknowledge the equity committees and Society colleagues for continuing the work of the E&A Office during the period of staff vacancies and for being supportive in facilitating a smooth transition. 

The Equity & Access Office has hit the ground running with a variety of initiatives. Two key projects that advanced during the reporting period are publication of the Gender Equity Committee’s Report on Gender Discrimination and Harassment, and release of the Racial Equity Committee’s survey on Race-based Discrimination and Harassment in the Legal Profession. The Gender Equity Committee has since put forth a series of recommendations to NSBS Council to advance gender equity in the profession. We are working with the Racial Equity Committee to produce a report based on the survey responses received and look forward to sharing it with members soon. 

These past few months, new Equity & Access staff have been developing relationships with Society colleagues, Council and equity committees to assess departmental priorities. Crucially, the Office is building relationships with other regulators through the Federation of Law Societies' Equity Network, exposing us to resources and information to share with Society members as we work towards advancing equity in the legal profession.  

Another priority for the Office is revisiting the Society’s Equity Lens Toolkit – a foundational resource that provides Council, committees, and members a framework for making decisions through an equity lens. We are working to expand both the scope and application of the toolkit, ensuring that Society leadership and practising members have a full range of resources to ensure their decision-making – and legal practices standards – reflect best practices and the most up-to-date equity and access discourse. 

While our work only began toward the end of the reporting period, the Equity & Access Office is confident that the coming year will be one of significant growth and change. In the coming months, we look forward to receiving the Ruck Report and integrating its recommendations into the Society’s next strategic planning cycle. Our Office’s role will be crucial to bridging the approach of all the Society’s stakeholders in working toward meaningful change.  

Marla Brown 
Director, Equity and Access