Women in Law Leadership Awards Ontario

NOMINATIONS

Leadership in the Profession in Private Practice

Nomination Process

Individual Nominations

Members of the legal profession are nominated by a single nominator. Nominators must be members of the legal profession practicing in Alberta.

All nominations received in one year and not selected for an award in that year will automatically be considered again in the following year, providing the nominee continues to meet eligibility criteria.

Nominators who are nominating as a member of the legal profession in multiple categories must complete a separate nomination form for each category and provide separate copies of the curriculum vitae and letters of support for each category.

All nomination packages received should include:

  • A statement from the nominator detailing why the candidate is worthy of the award.
  • A curriculum vitae of the nominee outlining the nominee’s background, career and any activities that qualify her for nomination in one of the six categories.
  • Two letters of support for the nominee from someone other than the nominator (three letters of support for the candidate if she is self-nominating).

Law Firm Nominations

All nominations received in one year and not selected for the award in that year will automatically be considered again in the following year, providing the nominee continues to meet eligibility criteria.

All nomination packages received should include:

  • A cover letter describing how the law firm has demonstrated its commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for female lawyers in its operations in Alberta with supporting evidence (i.e. copies of policies, examples of their implementation, statistics of the number and percentage of women partners, counsel, associates and students, and the roles undertaken by the firm in the community). The law firm may nominate itself. See nomination package for full details.
  • Letters of support from references (maximum three letters).

Selection Process

Each year, the recipients are chosen by a selection committee prior to October 15.

Selection Committee:

The selection committee includes the Chair and Vice-Chair of Women in Law Leadership, as well as representatives from the judiciary, a representative from the University of Alberta or University of Calgary’s Faculty of Law, and the President of the Canadian Bar Association – Alberta Branch or designate.

Selection Criteria:

The nominees in each category will be evaluated on criteria including the following: vision and leadership; impact on other lawyers; mentoring other women lawyers; dedication; initiative; career accomplishments and results achieved. In addition to the listed criteria, nominees in each category will be evaluated on criteria specific to that category. If a nominee is not selected in the nomination year, her nomination will be considered in the following year, unless she withdraws in writing.

The selection committee may choose not to make an award in every category in any given year.

Lifetime Achievement Award:

The selection committee may, in its discretion, select a member of the legal profession with a connection to Alberta to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition and celebration of the significant accomplishments over the course of the recipient’s career.