CHBA and CHBA uOttawa will work together on national outreach strategy
The Canadian Hispanic Bar Association (CHBA) has partnered with students from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law to establish a uOttawa chapter to serve the needs of Hispanic and Latin American/Latinx-identifying law students through relationship-building, networking and mentoring.
According to a news release from the CHBA, the CHBA and CHBA uOttawa will work together on a national outreach strategy aiming to connect with such law students across Canada, to promote rapport with the existing Hispanic and Latin American/Latinx law school associations and individuals across the country and to consolidate efforts to advance diversity, self-identification and a greater sense of community and advocacy for such students and professionals within the legal community.
The CHBA and CHBA uOttawa have developed initiatives such as a law student mentorship program that pairs first-year law students with upper-year students, a networking event geared toward Hispanic and Latin American/Latinx-identifying law students in October, content creation promoting CHBA Ottawa and offering resources on the “student corner” page and future events that seek to promote engagement with such law students across Canada.
The CHBA said that it is looking forward to embarking on this new initiative because present and future Hispanic and Latin American/Latinx-identifying law students will help to ensure the organization’s growth.
The support of these students will promote diversity within the legal community and continued member engagement within the organization, the CHBA added.
Another news release from the CHBA said Lerners LLP launched the Learn with Lerners Bursary and Mentorship Program, which seeks to provide financial assistance to Black Indigenous People of Colour (BIPOC) students through a $5,000 bursary and 12 months of mentorship with a lawyer from the firm. The firm is accepting applications via its website until Oct. 7.
The program aims to advance the firm’s efforts to tackle the systemic barriers faced by BIPOC individuals and promote diversity and equitable opportunity in the legal services industry, which are vital in offering effective legal representation.
To be eligible, a student must be a BIPOC high school graduate interested in pursuing a career in the legal services industry, admitted to a first-year program at a post-secondary college or university in Ontario, 21 years of age or younger, and complies with all other eligibility criteria. The firm intends to announce the recipient in early November.
