UBC Law Students' Society

The Women's Caucus welcomes new women law students to our growing and diverse group. We are committed to promoting the discussion of issues and barriers facing women in law, with a view to supporting changes for the future.
 
The Caucus is responsible for organizing the annual Women & the Law Dinner, held since 1977. This event brings together women students, faculty, and legal professionals for an evening of great food, music, art and photography exhibits, and an esteemed keynote speaker. Past keynotes include: Madame Justice Allan, Madame Justice L'Heureux-Dube, Madame Justice Lynn Smith, former President of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women Judy Rebick, legal advocates Gwen Brodsky and Sharon McIvor, and scholars Joan Brockman and Catherine Dauvergne. The Women & the Law Dinner is a valuable way for women studying and working in law to come together as a visible community to celebrate past accomplishments and consider ongoing challenges. Work on the dinner will begin in the fall, with a goal of holding the event in conjunction with International Womens Day in March.
 
The Womens Caucus is also branching out into smaller initiatives. For example, a few years ago, in response to an attack on a woman student in Kitsilano, the Women's Caucus held a free self-defence workshop. The workshop was held again last year and we would like to continue this important service to the UBC Law community. The Caucus is also looking at putting together a team for the 5 km Run for the Cure fundraiser against breast cancer in October.
 
We would also like to take a more active role in helping women students as they make educational and professional decisions. We are looking forward to reviving two traditional lunchtime sessions with women faculty and students: the first to discuss research, teaching and community involvement, and the second to discuss upper year courses that might be of interest to students with a focus on women and the law. Other workshops we want to organize include women lawyers offering advice on practising law while keeping in mind career options, pro bono work, and personal goals; graduate students explaining their choice to further their legal education; and upper year students giving advice on managing study groups, interviews or volunteer work. Members of the Caucus also meet for a potluck dinner in the fall, for a chance to get to know each other and share experiences.
 
The Women's Caucus offers practical support to each other as students, organizes opportunities for women in law to meet casually and comfortably, and offers chances for women to speak frankly and helpfully about the position women occupy in the law school and the legal profession. We look forward to seeing you in September.
 
E-mail: ubcwomenscaucus@yahoo.ca