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Bennett Jones LLP - Toronto, Ontario

http://www.bennettjones.com

Diversity & Inclusion

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Please describe your diversity programs and initiatives In 2013, the firm signed on to the Law Firm Diversity and Inclusion Network (LFDIN) demonstrating its commitment to advance diversity and inclusion in the legal profession through recruitment, retention, advancement and support. In July 2020 we signed the Law Firm Pledge with The Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism (the BlackNorth Initiative) as a sign of our commitment to increasing the representation of black lawyers in the legal community. We sponsor many diverse student groups and other organizations and events including the Black Law Students Association, PRISME LGBTQ2S, Start Proud, Jean Augustine, Get Real Movement, Casey House and Give a Night to World AIDS for Stephen Lewis Foundation. We also recently created multiple renewable scholarships designed to support BIPOC and first generation law students to reduce the financial barriers to entry.

We also support gender diversity. We sponsor the Women's Executive Network Annual Awards Gala, the Canadian Women's Federation Annual Breakfast, Toronto Commercial Real Estate Women (Toronto CREW), Young Women in Law and various women's groups at certain Canadian law schools. We also host various networking events for our female lawyers and clients and regularly host other sessions directed towards women on business development, networking and leadership. We also regularly send our senior female associates to attend Rotman Business School's intensive 2-day program "Business Leadership for Women". We have also retained an external coach to work with our associates, who have or will shortly become new parents to assist with the challenges associates face with respect to balancing work and family.

Diversity Contact Information

Students who have questions about EDI initiatives and/or would like to connect with someone with a similar lived experience, please contact Dominique Hussey
Darcy Legros
Tracey Doyle
Diversity website: https://www.bennettjones.com/About-Section/Diversity-and-Inclusion
Please list the various initiatives your firm has undertaken related to providing an accessible workplace and barrier free culture for people with disabilities, as well as any information you may be able to share regarding the types accommodations provided. We recognize and understand our obligations to accommodate differences and disabilities within our workplace and culture, and to openly acknowledge and address the importance of seeking assistance where required. Working in the legal profession is challenging and our success requires our people be at their best. There is no single or one-size-fits-all approach to the accommodation process. Each accommodation is discussed with the accommodation-seeking individual, the professional development group, HR and/or practice group leaders, as necessary, to facilitate the support needed to ensure the integration and success of that individual. Examples of accommodations may include the procurement and training with specialized equipment, extensions of time for delivering assignments, reduced work hours, project-based workflow, etc.