FAQ
- How do we celebrate International Women’s Day?
2024 – #InspireInclusion
“As we celebrate International Women's Day and reflect on the theme of #InspireInclusion, let us reaffirm our commitment to creating a world where all women are empowered, valued, and included.” – International Women’s Day 2024
International Women's Day serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made towards gender equity in the legal industry as well as the work that still needs to be done. One of the key pillars of this year’s theme, #InspireInclusion, is promoting diversity in leadership and decision-making positions – this starts with ensuring women are top of mind for important opportunities. That is exactly ReferToHer’s mission!
This year, with ReferToHer reaching its five-year anniversary, we reflected on the tremendous growth of ReferToHer and our journey in advancing gender equity in the legal industry with our listees. Since 2019, ReferToHer has reached:
- 750+ Listees
- 29 Lists Across Corporate, Litigation, and Supporting Legal Areas
- 35+ Cities Represented Across our Lists
- 80,000+ Visits to refertoher.com
2023 – #EmbraceEquity
“International Women's Day is powered by the collective efforts of all. Everyone everywhere can step forward to truly #EmbraceEquity.” – International Women’s Day 2023
While ReferToHer has been focused on advancing gender equity in the legal industry, it is important to remember that International Women’s Day provides an important opportunity to fundraise for female-focused charities in general, help raise their visibility, and amplify their awareness raising efforts. When we #EmbraceEquity for all, we drive success for all.
That is why, in honour of IWD, and to thank each of our listees for their continued support of ReferToHer®, we donated $15,000 split amongst the following organizations that focus on advancing and supporting women and girls across Canada, recommended by our listees! Click to learn more about how each of these organizations help #EmbraceEquity and forge a gender equal world today and every day.
- British Columbia – Association of Women in Finance – Supports the advancement of women in finance by recognizing women who have achieved excellence, encouraging women to enter the field through scholarships, and connecting women through networking events.
- Alberta – Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association – Recognizes, responds to, and supports immigrant and refugee women and girls in the areas of integration, language training, employment, family violence, parenting, counselling, health, housing, and community development.
- Saskatchewan – International Women of Saskatoon – Helps improve the status of newcomer, immigrant and refugee women and their families by assisting them to become fully participating members in all aspects of Canadian society.
- Manitoba – Institute for International Women’s Rights – Manitoba (IIWR-MB) – Generates education, awareness, and action to include all the voices and experiences of girls, women and gender diverse people in Manitoba, with a goal of achieving gender equity and justice for all.
- Ontario – Jessie’s: The June Callwood Centre for Young Women – Offers comprehensive services to pregnant teens and young mothers facing enormous obstacles such as poverty and social isolation by supporting them with access to health services, housing, education, counselling, and more.
- Quebec – Women’s Centre of Montreal – Provides educational and vocational training, as well as information, counselling and referral services to help women help themselves gain personal and professional fulfilment.
- Newfoundland & Labrador – St. John's Status of Women Council – Works to achieve equality and justice through political activism, community collaboration and the creation of a safe and inclusive space for all women and non-binary people in the St. John’s area.
- New Brunswick – Shelter Movers (Moncton) – Provides moving and storage services at no cost to women and their families fleeing gender-based violence and abuse, collaborating with local businesses and community agencies to support them as they transition to a life free of violence.
- Nova Scotia – Nova Scotia Native Women's Association – Offers programs, services and advocacy supports to advance equality opportunities for Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people across the province and to help empower them to develop and change legislation which affect them.
- Prince Edward Island – Women’s Network PEI – Strengthens and supports community efforts to improve the status of women, providing a forum for the voices of PEI women and opportunities for women to realize power, knowledge, skills, abilities, vision and financial security.
“Collective action and shared ownership for driving gender equity is what makes a positive difference for women and what makes International Women’s Day so impactful. What we do day-to-day is what truly makes a positive difference for women.” – International Women’s Day 2022
In honour of International Women’s Day 2022, we wanted to thank each of our listees for their support, use, and expansion of ReferToHer. Together, we #BreakTheBias every day by keeping women top of mind for referrals and more!
That is why ReferToHer® donated $10,000 to be split amongst the following organizations that focus on advancing and supporting women across Canada, selected by our listees! Click to learn more about how each of these organizations help #BreakTheBias and forge a gender equal world today and every day.
- Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic – Offers legal services and representation and counselling to diverse women who have experienced violence.
- Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies – Advocates for alternatives to the criminal justice system and raises awareness about systemic oppressions that put women in conflict with the law.
- LEAF – Advances gender equity by challenging laws, policies, and practices that discriminate against equality, with a focus on litigation, law reform, and public education.
- Native Women’s Association of Canada – Advocates for the social, economic, cultural and political well-being of Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people across Canada.
2021 – #ChooseToChallenge
"We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world. From challenge comes change, so let's all choose to challenge." – International Women’s Day 2021
In honour of International Women’s Day 2021, throughout the month of March, ReferToHer challenged listees to take a photo with their ReferToHer pin and share their own #ChooseToChallenge message on Twitter and LinkedIn using the #ReferToHer hashtag.
We encouraged listees to share how they will challenge gender inequity during the year, raise awareness against bias, celebrate the achievements of a fellow listee, and/or amplify one of the takeaways from our Get To Know Her on the List event!
- Bring new ideas to challenge inequity at your firm/company, with your clients, and on your boards or committees.
- Consider the ReferToHer list(s) you are on right now and identify the BIPOC women in your network that should be included and “Get Her on the List”.
- Sync up with like-minded women (like the women on ReferToHer!). Develop and advance ideas together.
- Use ReferToHer for more than referrals. Reference the lists when you need a panelist for a speaking engagement, when you are speaking to the media, when you are being interviewed by a legal directory, etc.
- Stay connected by using the ReferToHer Listserv!
- What is ReferToHer®?
- ReferToHer is a series of lists, organized by practice group, of experienced female lawyers to whom you can confidently refer work. As referrals are an important part of achieving business success, we hope this program ensures that female lawyers are positioned as equal, available, resources for those seeking legal help. This is a step towards ensuring that, regardless of gender, clients are referred to the right lawyers.
- How did ReferToHer® and the initial lists originate?
- ReferToHer was initially launched as a litigation referral network in June 2019, by Sana Halwani, Partner at Lenczner Slaght, and Shara Roy, former Partner at Lenczner Slaght and current Chief Legal Counsel at EY Canada. Working with senior female lawyers at Lenczner Slaght and other senior women in the industry, ten litigation lists were developed at launch with lawyers originally placed on only one of the lists. In January 2020, McCarthy Tétrault, together with Lenczner Slaght, developed the first Corporate ReferToHer lists of its kind.
Lenczner Slaght remains responsible for developing and updating all litigation lists and maintaining litigation@refertoher.com.
McCarthy Tétrault remains responsible for developing and updating all corporate lists and maintaining corporate@refertoher.com.
- Is ReferToHer® a directory or a ranking?
- No, it is not a membership or a legal ranking.
- Can I use ReferToHer® for more than just referrals?
- Yes, we encourage you to reference the lists not just when you need to make a business referral, but also when you need a panelist for a speaking engagement, when you are speaking to the media and want to recommend another expert, or are being interviewed by legal rankings and directories.
- How does someone get on the list? What are the criteria?
- If you are already on a list, you may visit Get Her on the List to endorse an addition. She must be a partner, counsel, sole practitioner, or a lawyer with at least 8 years of experience (i.e., with a Bar Admission of 2016 or earlier), she must be a litigator (Litigation list only) or corporate lawyer (Corporate list only) practicing in Canada, and she must identify as female. She should also be someone to whom you have or confidently would refer work. Please keep in mind that you cannot endorse someone from your own firm.
- Can someone be on more than one list?
- While lawyers were originally placed on only one list, you can endorse a lawyer to have her included on multiple lists by filling out the form on Get Her on the List. The intention is for the lists to grow organically over time to reflect the Canadian legal market.
- Can a listee endorse an addition to any list?
- No, there are some limitations. Only those who are on a Litigation list can endorse an addition to a Litigation list and only those who are on a Corporate list can endorse an addition to a Corporate list. However, anyone on any list can endorse an addition to a Supporting Legal Areas list and vice versa.
- Can I suggest a new list?
- Yes, help us grow ReferToHer! We continue to consider additional lists for launch on refertoher.com and welcome your suggestions at litigation@refertoher.com.
- Who will make updates to the list?
- Periodic updates to contact information on the Litigation lists will be made by Lenczner Slaght. Periodic updates to contact information on the Corporate lists will be made by McCarthy Tétrault.
- What type of updates will be made?
- Those who are no longer practicing in private practice will be removed from the lists. In addition, if you are on a Litigation list and wish to be removed, you can email litigation@refertoher.com. If you are on a Corporate list and wish to be removed, you can email corporate@refertoher.com.
- How long will it take to receive a response from litigation@refertoher.com or corporate@refertoher.com?
- Please allow 48-72 hours.
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