Landing in a new country is always daunting. Especially for Internationally Trained Lawyers (ITLs), all of us landed here with our bags, hopes, dreams and a big eerily alive hook with a dot at its bottom asking us “what next, buddy?”. From finding accommodation, satisfying the NCA requirements and finding an articling position many such semantic figures float around in our minds at all times.
In the third edition of ITL Voices, we had the privilege of talking with Mr. Devin Persaud, an Associate in the Competition, Antitrust and Foreign Investment Group at Goodmans LLP and the Vice-President of the South Asian Bar Association (SABA). Amongst other things, we discussed a very important aspect for all those looking to start out – Networking. He emphasized that networking is super important. Lawyers should keep reaching out and strive to establish a personal connection with those in practice. Let’s face it – it’s much easier said than done! It is but natural for all us to hit a roadblock at some point, where we ask that how much is too much. Do not lose hope my friends, help is always around the corner. In this blog post, we discuss a non-exhaustive list of organisations which are dedicated to helping people like you and me navigate these speed bumps we face. After all, abyssus abyssum invocat!
- South Asian Bar Association – SABA is GTA’s premier legal organization dedicated to promoting the objectives of South Asian members of the legal profession. Their members include lawyers, sole practitioners, government agencies, non-profit organizations and corporations. Essentially, SABA is a networking forum, advocacy group and an employment resource. In fact, Mr. Persaud mentioned that anyone interested in updating their resumé can reach out to SABA for guidance. They have many events throughout the year and an annual gala awards. More information can be found at https://sabatoronto.com/
- Canadian Association of Black Lawyers – CABL is a national network of legal professionals committed to harmonizing interested members of the community and legal professionals to cultivate and maintain The Association of Black professionals in Canada. They have a Young Lawyers Division, which gives young black lawyers of the community a collective voice. CABL has various events such as a golf tournament, an annual gala and marquee Black History Month events in partnership with the Law Society of Upper Canada. Learn more at https://cabl.ca/
- Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers – FACL is a diverse group of Asian Canadian legal professionals who have come together to promote justice, equity and opportunity for members of the community. One of their initiatives is Bridge the Gap, aimed at enhancing access to justice for Asian Canadians and Asian newcomers facing a language barrier. They put out educational videos on how to access legal resources in various areas. Reach out to them via https://on.facl.ca/
- The National LGBTQ+ Bar Association and Foundation – The LGBTQ+ Bar is a national association of lawyers, judges, students and activists which promotes justice in and through the legal profession for the LGBTQ+ community. A very interesting initiative is the ‘Nuts and Bolts Academy for Judicial Candidates’, which seeks to provide interested legal professionals the tools they need to end up on the other side of the bench. To learn more about their initiatives, log on to https://lgbtqbar.org/
- The CBA Women Lawyers Forum seeks to promote women’s stature and influence in the legal profession in Canada. They have various programs and networking opportunities to support women lawyers. It is an inclusive space for women to share experiences, build skills and advocate for change in the legal profession and Canadian society through a gender-informed and intersectional lens. Visit https://www.cba.org/Sections/Women-Lawyers to get involved!
I hope this small list helps you find support and makes your journey and transition smooth and comfortable. The ITL Network will bring many more amazing blog posts and guest interviews in the coming weeks, so make sure you stay tuned to our blog and subscribe to our YouTube channel!
By: Prithviraj Oberoi
