More than 1,450 new lawyers are now ready to practice in Ontario after The Law Society of Upper Canada concluded its June ceremonies yesterday at the London Convention Centre.
The Call to the Bar events — three in Toronto, one in London and one in Ottawa — honoured students mostly from Ontario law schools’ graduating classes of 2012.
Despite the formality of the event, organizers and presenter Thomas Conway, Treasurer of The Law Society of Upper Canada, went out of their way to entertain the June 21 afternoon crowd at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto. Cheering from family and friends was encouraged, and more than a few mothers took advantage with playful cat-calls throughout the event. The ceremonies also had their own Twitter hashtag, #called2013, which Conway humorously demonstrated by tweeting a live picture of the audience while on the podium.
“Each of you, no matter where your legal career may take you…now have the ability to strengthen the seamless web upon which our civil society is based,” said Conway, who also joked, “after you cross the stage, you will be transformed from mere mortal to lawyer.”
Five Doctor of Laws recipients, one for each event, were also honoured and gave keynote speeches at their respective ceremonies.
The five LLD recipients were:
The next Call the the Bar event in Ontario will be in Toronto on Sept. 18.
Photo courtesy of the Law Society Gazette