This training module responds to recommendations from the CBA’s Access to Justice for Trans People Report (recommendations 11-19). It is designed to equip legal professionals with essential knowledge and practical tools to foster inclusivity in their practice.

This engaging and self-paced module explores five key areas:

• Language, Definitions, and Principles – Understanding 2SLGBTQIA+ terminology, including sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE).
• Transphobia in Canada – Recognizing the systemic barriers that trans and gender-diverse people face in society and in the legal system.
• Access to Justice – Identifying how discrimination limits access to legal and social services.
• Implementing Change – Practical steps legal professionals can take to create safer, more inclusive spaces.
• Intersectionality and Allyship – Exploring the role of allies and how multiple identities impact access to justice.

Presented by members of the CBA Gender Diversity Advisory Group, this module is complemented by a newly developed infographic on sexual and gender identity and a set of recommended best practices to further support legal professionals in their work.

This self-paced training is open to lawyers, judges, law students, and legal professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of gender diversity and enhance their ability to serve trans and gender-diverse clients with respect and competence.

SPEAKERS

• Lee Nevens (they/them)
  • Chair, Gender Diversity Advisory Committee of the Canadian Bar Association
  • Senior Counsel, Department of Justice Canada
• The Honourable Judge Kael McKenzie (he/him)
  • Judge, Provincial Court of Manitoba
• Marie-Laure Leclercq (she/her)
  • Intellectual Property Counsel, De Grandpré Chait, Montreal
  • Commissioner, Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission
• Samantha Peters (they/she)
  • Member, Gender Diversity Advisory Committee of the Canadian Bar Association
  • Principal Lawyer & Founder, Black Femme Legal (Toronto, 2020)