A note from Lanise Hayes, Chair of our Diversity and Inclusion Committee:

Our mission is to champion the rights of our clients and to promote and safeguard the rights of vulnerable groups. Our firm is representative of the community it serves with staff and lawyers who come from all over the world and who represent not only the BIPOC communities but also the 2SLGBTQ+ community and People with Disabilities.

It is clear from these current events that diversity is not enough. We must work toward ensuring an inclusive workplace and community, eliminating the barriers that still exist for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+ and People with Disabilities. This has been the goal of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee and Nelligan Law.

Don’t just say change is needed, be that change.

To read Lanise’s full letter, click here.

70250

dollars donated

700 hours commitment

Ten Oaks Project

The Ten Oaks Project is a charitable, volunteer-driven organization that engages and connects children and youth from 2SLGBTQ+ (two spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer) identities, families, and communities. Our lawyers present free legal education sessions in collaboration with TenOaks on family law topics such as surrogacy and fertility.

Where are you from?

For a Black lawyer, "Where are you from?” remains a prevalent question in the legal community, and it is problematic and frustrating. Ludmilla Jarda explains why this question serves to other, single out and draw a distinction. Click here to read the full article.

Black Legal Action Centre

Black Legal Action Centre is a non-profit community legal clinic that provides free legal services for low or no income Black residents of Ontario. In 2020 Nelligan Law made a $1000 donation to the Black Legal Action Centre to support their initiatives to educate, advocate, and litigate to combat individual and systemic anti-Black racism in Ontario.

Orkidstra

OrKidstra is a social development program that empowers kids, ages 5-18, from under-served communities by teaching life skills – such as teamwork, commitment, respect and pride in achievement – through the universal language of music. Nelligan Law has been a proud financial sponsor of Orkidstra for many years.

University of Ottawa Black Law Students Association

University of Ottawa Black Law Students Association an organization that has been creating academic and professional development opportunities for Black students since 1992. Nelligan Law's 2020 financial sponsorship to BLSA goes towards funding for over 20 students to attend the annual national conference hosted by the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada, and to open opportunities for members as well as help develop their professional and academic skills.

Reach Canada

Reach Canada is an organization that advocates for quality and justice for people with disabilities. It is a legal referral and educational organization located in Ottawa. Our lawyers regularly present free legal education sessions on family law and estate administration

Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health

Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health is an organization for Indigenous healthcare, initiatives aimed at promoting health and well being of Indigenous people, education, programs for children, addictions, and health. Wabano Centre is an organization for which staff can volunteer as part of our firm's volunteer policy.

Human Rights and Employment Law Helpline

We recognize that one of the largest issues facing Black, Indigenous and other marginalized groups is systemic and direct discrimination they face related to their employment. With that in mind, we have expanded our free employment helpline (which to date provided assistance to individuals with COVID-19 employment questions) to provide free assistance to employees in Ontario related to their human rights in employment. For more information about our helpline, click here.

Land acknowledgement

Nelligan Law acknowledges that our office, located in Ottawa, are on the unceded, unsurrendered Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation. The Anishinaabe Algonquin peoples have lived on this land since time immemorial. We recognize and deeply appreciate their historic connection to this place. We also recognize the contributions of Métis, Inuit, and other Indigenous peoples have made, both in shaping and strengthening this community in particular, and our province and country as a whole.

A legal timeline of Indigenous Rights in Canada

The following timeline outlines some of the key landmark decisions that have progressed the recognition of Indigenous Rights in Canada and is meant to shed light on the nature of the relationship between Canada and Indigenous peoples.

Click Here

Diversity and Inclusion