30 J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 1 8 w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m
WOMAN'S
PLACE
A
On the ground floor of historic Osgoode
Hall in downtown Toronto, there is a
hallway linking the Court of Appeal and
the Divisional Court with the section
occupied by the Law Society of Ontario.
This is also an area of the build-
ing where there are change rooms for
female and male lawyers who are there
to appear in court on any given day.
The male change rooms are opulent
and spacious with nearly 70 full-length
lockers, benches, several mirrors and a
spacious bathroom area. There is also a
comfortable lounge section with a sofa
and a large wooden table and chairs
for writing any last-minute notes before
appearing in court. The feel inside is that
of a male locker room in an old-money
golf and country club. Not many steps
away is the change room for their female
counterparts. The sign on an entrance
door says "Lady Barristers." Inside, there
are 12 lockers. There is mismatched fur-
niture and an old desk in the room. The
décor is best described as "chintz," says
Toronto criminal defence lawyer Apple
Newton-Smith. The disparity in size and
comfort level sends a message, even if
inadvertently, says fellow defence lawyer
Lori Anne Thomas. "It is like there is a
sign there saying we don't think you are
staying long."
THE FLIGHT OF WOMEN
IS WELL DOCUMENTED, AND THOSE WHO STAY
BY SHANNON KARI
FACE MANY OBSTACLES
OUT OF CRIMINAL LAW
DANN
ERIN
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workplace
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