Owen Bird has worked hard to create a collegial culture that is both inclusive and diverse. We know it is important to support a workplace that respects and embraces the unique background of every firm member. We also know it is important to not just say the words ‘EDI’, but to be committed to continuous improvement through our actions, policies, and education.
It is our unique perspectives, experiences, and talents – collectively – that make us a great place to work, good community citizens, and lawyers that our clients can be proud of. Those are goals worth embracing.
Owen Bird has an active Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee that advises on policies and procedures relating to diversity and inclusion and provides educational opportunities to firm members. The committee has developed a protocol to celebrate holidays, festivals, keystone events, and days of remembrance that reflect the diversity of the firm and community, such as Black History Month, Pride, Latin American History Month, and Orange Shirt Day.
Enhancing diversity also helps us attract, retain, and advance top talent. Diverse teams bring multi-faceted perspectives, apply different approaches to problem-solving, and generate better, more creative solutions. Inclusion and diversity foster collaboration and innovation and empower us to better serve our client’s needs and values in an evolving global marketplace.
Initiatives and Programs
Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is also measured in our initiatives. Here are some highlights:
- Adopted an Equality Policy and an Anti-Bullying, Anti-Harassment and Anti-Discrimination Policy based on the Law Society of B.C.’s model policies (PDF). It is mandatory for all firm members to review these policies and for every firm member to have taken a course or workshop on these subject areas.
- All firm members are offered ongoing training and education to further respect in the workplace. Session topics have included: unconscious bias, intercultural connections, and mental health and wellness for firm members.
- Firm representatives who conduct articling or employment interviews are required to have completed an unconscious bias course, in addition to reviewing the Law Society’s guidelines for interviews.
- One of BC’s first law firms to offer a maternity leave policy for our associates in 1999. The creation of maternity leave (now parental leave) policies played an important role in retaining more women within the profession.
Owen Bird lawyers are proud to maintain memberships and play leadership roles in community groups that promote diversity and inclusion, including:
- Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association, B.C. (CMLA-BC)
- Covenant House
- Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL)
- L’Association des juristes d’expression française de la Colombie-Britannique (AJEFCB)
- South Asian Bar Association of B.C. (SABABC)
Join Us
We invite you to be part of our journey toward a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive future. Whether you’re a client seeking legal counsel or a professional looking to join a team that values your unique perspective, Owen Bird welcomes you.