Equity Model Policies, Publications & Reports

The Law Society has developed a series of best practices and model policies to guide lawyers in promoting equity and diversity in all areas of their practice, including employment and provision of services.

Equity & Diversity Fact Sheets.

• Aboriginal Initiatives at the Law Society (PDF)
• The Changing Face of the Legal Profession (PDF)
• Equity Advisory Group (PDF)
• Overview of Equity Initiatives at the Law Society (PDF)
• Model Policies, Reports & Publications (PDF)

Model policies/Information guide

• Advising a Client of her or his French Language Rights in the Judicial and Quasi-Judicial Context (PDF)
• Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: Creating an Inclusive Work Environment: A Model Policy for Law Firms and Other Organizations. (PDF)
• Preventing Harassment, Discrimination and Violence in the Legal Workplace (PDF)
• Guide to Developing a Policy Regarding Workplace Equity in Law Firms (PDF)
• Guide to Developing a Policy Regarding Flexible Work Arrangements (PDF)
• Guide to developing a law firm policy regarding accommodation requirements (PDF)
• Accommodation of Creed and Religious Beliefs, Gender Related Accommodation and Accommodation for Persons with Disabilities Legal Developments and Best Practices (PDF)
• Summary of Fair Hiring Practice Guidelines (PDF)
• Guide to Developing a Customer Service Accessibility Policy (PDF)

Reports

• Aboriginal Bar Consultation (PDF)
• Career Choices Report Findings (ppt)
• Career Choices Study Questionnaire June 2007 
  English Report (PDF) | French Report (PDF)
• Articling Consultation - A Report to The Law Society of Upper Canada, By the Strategic Counsel
• Students and Lawyers with Disabilities - Increasing Access to the Legal Profession 
• Respect for religious and spiritual beliefs
  A statement of principles of the Law Society of Upper Canada 
  English Report (PDF) | French Report (PDF)
• Dialogue With Lawyers: Religious and Spiritual Beliefs and The Practice of Law (PDF)
• Professor Michael Ornstein - The Changing Face of the Legal Profession, 1971-2002 (PDF)
• Professor Michael Ornstein - Lawyers in Ontario: Evidence from the 1996 census (PDF)
• Professor Fiona Kay, Turning Points and Transitions: Women's
  Careers in the Legal Profession, 2004 (PDF)
• Professor Fiona Kay, Diversity and Change: The Contemporary Legal Profession in Ontario, 2004 (PDF)
• Bicentennial Report on Equity Issues in the Legal Profession (PDF)
• Bicentennial Implementation Status and Strategy (PDF)
• Racialization and Gender of Lawyers in Ontario: A Report for the Law Society of Upper Canada (PDF)
• Change of Status Quantitative Study (PDF)
• Retention of Women in Private Practice, Status Report June 2011 (PDF)
• 2010 Change of Status Research Report - May 2011 (PDF)   

All Discrimination and Harassment Counsel Semi-Annual Reports

Publications

• Firsts: Groundbreaking South Asians in Law and the Legal Profession (PDF)
• Discrimination and Harassment Brochure (PDF)

 For further information, contact the Equity Initiatives Department through the Resource Centre at (416) 947-3315 or 1-800-668-7380 ext. 3315 or by e-mail.