Media Advisory - Law Society to honour renowned, legal luminaries

Four LLDs to be presented at Toronto Call to Bar ceremonies

TORONTO, June 16, 2016 /CNW/ - Four exceptional lawyers will each receive honorary Doctor of Law degrees, honoris causa (LLD) from the Law Society of Upper Canada at Call to the Bar ceremonies at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto on June 20 and 21, 2016.

The Law Society confers LLDs, honoris causa, in recognition of outstanding achievements in service and benefit to the legal profession, the rule of law or the cause of justice. Each honorary LLD recipient serves as an inspirational keynote speaker for the new lawyers attending the Call ceremonies.

The LLD recipients are:

Her Excellency Mary Robinson – June 20, 9:30 a.m.
A former President of Ireland (1990-97), UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997-2002), and founder and president of the Mary Robinson Foundation for Climate Justice, Her Excellency is being honoured for her work as a transformative international force in advancing human rights — and, more recently — climate justice.

The Honourable Susan E. Lang – June 20, 2:30 p.m.
A past judge of the District Court (1989), the Ontario Court of Justice – General Division (1990), the Superior Court of Justice (1991) and the Court of Appeal for Ontario (2004-2013), Justice Lang is receiving the LLD in recognition of her outstanding achievements and service to the legal profession, the rule of law and administration of justice. Her report as an independent reviewer to the Motherisk Hair Analysis Review, created new standards and procedures in forensic pathology and supports to assist affected families.

Richard W. Pound, C.C., O.Q., Q.C.  – June 21, 9:30 a.m.
An accomplished author, lawyer, Olympian and one of Canada's most recognized figures in international sport, Richard Pound is receiving an LLD in recognition of the profound impact his leadership and influence have had on integrity in sports.

David Lepofsky, C.M., O.Ont.  – June 21, 2:30 p.m.
A role model and advocate for accessibility rights in Canada, lawyer David Lepofsky is being honoured for his leadership in helping to chart the path for legislative amendments to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code to protect and ensure accessibility and equality rights for all persons with disabilities.

The Law Society will call more than 1,200 new lawyers to the Bar of Ontario at the June 20 and 21 ceremonies. In total, more than 1,500 new lawyers are being called at six Call to the Bar ceremonies being held across the province in June.

All Toronto ceremonies take place at Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe Street, Toronto.

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SOURCE The Law Society of Upper Canada

For biographies of recipients, please contact [email protected]; Members of the Media: Please confirm your attendance in advance by contacting Susan Tonkin, Communications Advisor, 416-947-7605 or [email protected].