Head of litigation at one of Canada’s largest telecommunications companies, Kristina Milbourn talks about being captivated by the complexities of law and practicing on Bay Street, the variety and opportunities to innovate she enjoys in her current in-house role, and her passion for science, sponsorship and social justice.

A discussion of the discriminatory impact of the single-family rule on the grounds of sexual orientation, the HRTO’s unsettled jurisdiction over the issue, and the broader implications for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

With many of us now successfully splitting our time between remote and in-office arrangements, we wanted to find out what modifications to routine members enjoy when operating away from the workplace fray, so we asked them to tell us one thing they do differently on the days they work from home to take advantage of a more flexible schedule.

At a recent OBA Community Book Club event, lawyers Andrew Stobo Sniderman and Douglas Sanderson, authors of Valley of the Birdtail, talked to members about the power of narrative history to change hearts, minds and political choices; the real sacrifice that reconciliation requires; and the action they hope to inspire with their eye-opening work.

As we approach the end of the year – often considered ‘the season of giving’ – we asked members to share one way they enjoy giving back, whether to their local or professional communities or to the broader public.

The 2022 Toronto International Film Festival opened with the world premiere of The Swimmers, a film based on the true story of two sisters who escaped from Syria after the start of the war in an effort to make it to Germany. For this immigration lawyer, it was a worthwhile reminder of the realities faced by many refugee claimants not just on their physical journey, but also once they have reached their destination.

Learning as you teach, engaging with your community, improving access to legal info, and raising the profile of your practice are just a few of the reasons that make participation in OBA Speakers Bureau public seminars during November – and beyond – so worthwhile.

A special achievement marred by a stereotypical statuette sparks a candid conversation between two leading human rights lawyers – one a non-binary, trans person and the other a first-generation immigrant South Asian woman – about the rigid expectations and barriers related to gender identity that persist in the legal profession, and what we can do to create space for diverse people while better serving the trans community.

With the arrival of September, and the energy, excitement and, occasionally, anxiety that back-to-the-books season brings (and inspired in part by Meg Ryan’s exclamation in You’ve Got Mail, “Don’t you love New York in the fall? — it makes me wanna buy school supplies”), we asked members what they love — or look forward to — most about the law in the fall.

With two new positions on each of our 40 section executives, the OBA is making new strides in advancing diversity and inclusion across the association.