Hello Class of 2020! We are Liz and Katy, this year’s co-presidents of the Allard Law Women’s Caucus, and we’re writing to tell you a bit about the Women’s Caucus and how you can get involved!
What is the Women’s Caucus?
The Women’s Caucus is a student group committed to empowering female law students and advancing women in the legal community. We work to eliminate barriers to the profession by engaging in discussions and activism related to issues facing women in law, contributing to community organizations focused on women’s rights, and facilitating networking opportunities to connect female law students and legal professionals. We are excited to welcome anyone who wishes to be a part of our group, and with more inspiring women entering the law school each year, we hope to create a strong community of support for one another!
Why get involved?
As 1Ls, you will not only have exposure to an automatic circle of supportive peers by joining Women’s Caucus, but you will also have the opportunity to take charge of running our community initiatives and fundraisers (with the support of your upper year exec members, of course!) Some of the initiatives that 1Ls have run in the past include a Dress for Success clothing drive to collect professional attire for low-income women seeking to break into or stay in the job market, a “TMI” initiative to collect feminine hygiene products for the Downtown Eastside Women’s Shelter, and a raffle to raise money for the Elizabeth Fry Society. We have a lot of exciting projects planned for this year, and would love your ideas and input!
In a profession that is largely male-dominated, joining the Women’s Caucus is a great opportunity to gain exposure to strong female role models, not only through connections with successful female lawyers, but also among one another. As future colleagues, the positive connections we create in law school will help carry us throughout our careers.
How to get involved
Be on the lookout for our event with the Centre for Feminist Legal Studies on the Thursday of your Orientation week, and come check us out at clubs days during the first week of school. Our first meeting and a welcome brunch will take place within the first few weeks of school, and we would love to see you there! Until then, enjoy your last few weeks of summer and feel free to contact us at ubclaw.wc@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Liz Janzen and Katy Sawyer
Allard Law Women’s Caucus Co-Presidents, 2017-2018