Meeting the enormous expectations of your legal career can seem overwhelming, especially in light of your family and personal obligations. The first annual Women Lawyers' Symposium, co-sponsored by The Law Society of Upper Canada and the County of Carleton Law Association, will help you to renew your engagement with the practice of law.

You will meet other women who have tackled the same challenges, and who have found the inspiration to continue working in the profession and are now thriving as lawyers. Among the many speakers, The Honourable Madam Justice Louise Charron of the Supreme Court of Canada will share stories and lessons from her life and career, and Dr. Mamta Gautam, Specialist in Physician Health and Work-Life Balance Coaching, will offer strategies on how you can fulfill your professional obligations in a healthy, positive way.

By attending in Ottawa, you will be afforded the opportunity to watch the morning lectures and panels, network with colleagues during the lunch and cocktail reception, and participate in your choice of afternoon workshops. If you choose to extend your stay in Ottawa, you may wish to take part in the city’s Winterlude activities.

Topics

You will learn about:

• Feeling good about where you are - assessing the options and determining the best fit for you within the present traditional law firm model
• Being included - ensuring inclusiveness for all women
• Forging ahead into a better future - playing a leadership role and assisting in the evolution of the legal profession
• Acting as a mentor or mentee - finding ways to reach out to get or give support to other women in the profession
• Celebrating a broad range of 'successes'– applauding women who have 'made it' professionally
• Taking control of your practice - getting ahead through savvy financial and marketing training
• Achieving work-life balance - promoting your personal health and well-being while achieving professional success and satisfaction

Speakers (as of September 2 2010)

The Honourable Justice Louise Charron, Supreme Court of Canada

The Honourable Madam Justice Bonnie R. Warkentin, Superior Court of Justice

Leslie Anne Ault, Ault & Ault

Lisa A. Borsook, WeirFoulds LLP

Josée Bouchard, The Law Society of Upper Canada

Susan M. Brown, Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP

Carole J. Brown, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Fay Brunning, Sack Goldblatt Mitchell LLP

Thomas G. Conway, Cavanagh Williams Conway Baxter LLP

Cettina Cornish, Law Society of Upper Canada

Katherine Cotton, Cotton Professional Corporation

Mamta Gautam, MD, FRCPC, CPDC, PEAK MD

Karen A. Hamway, Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP

Martha A. Healey, Ogilvy Renault LLP

Laurie E. Joe, West End Legal Services

Jamie Liew, Galldin Liew LLP

Tracy P. Lyle, Huckabone O'Brien Instance Bradley Lyle

Barbara A. McIsaac, Q.C., Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Kelley McKinnon, Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP

Janet E. Minor, Ministry of Attorney General Constitutional Law Branch

The Honourable Madam Justice Petra Newton, International Association of Women Judges, Canadian Chapter

Barbara J. Nicholls, Perley-Robertson Hill & McDougall LLP

Sue Lynn Noel, Livingston International Inc.

Lise S. Parent, Parent, Carr

Laurie H. Pawlitza, Torkin Manes Cohen Arbus LLP

Janice B. Payne, Nelligan O'Brien Payne LLP

Stephen Pittman, CA, CBV, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton LLP

Najma M. Rashid, Howard Yegendorf & Associates LLP / Brazeau Seller LLP

Karen Ann Reid

Ian R. Stauffer, President, County of Carleton Law Association

Darlene L. Summers, Thompson Summers

Tara M. Sweeney, Soloway, Wright LLP

Beth Symes, LSM, Symes & Street

Deborah Weinstein, LaBarge Weinstein Professional Corporation

Heather J. Williams, Cavanagh Williams Conway Baxter LLP