Purpose/ Goal of Diversity Program

1. To encourage diversity among the OBA governance and membership;
2. It is OBA’s expectation that there would be an increase in OBA membership and participation by members from the equity seeking associations;
3. To encourage the growth, development and independence of equity seeking legal associations; and
4. To provide supports to such associations, to the extent feasible, such as:
   1. administrative support;
   2. conference/ meeting facilities; and
   3. profile.

Criteria

1. legal association for lawyers, established by by-laws and constitution
2. must be an equity seeking association whose members by virtue of their identity (enumerated ground), have been historically underrepresented or disadvantaged within the legal profession
3. the association or chapter of the association must be resident in Ontario
4. the President of the association must be OBA member (with all current program participants’ Presidents to be grandfathered)
5. the President must sit as an OBA Council member
6. the association is to adhere to the principles of the OBA and the OBA Code of Conduct, and the Ontario Human Rights Code

Program Participants

1. Association of Chinese Canadian Lawyers of Ontario

2. Canadian Association of Black Lawyers
3. Canadian Association of Somali Lawyers
4. The Black Law Students' Association of Canada
5. South Asian Bar Association of Toronto
6. Canadian Association of South Asian Lawyers
7. Hellenic Canadian Lawyers' Association
8. Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers
9. Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association
10. The Arab Canadian Lawyers Association

11. Canadian Hispanic Bar Association