TORONTO, May 28, 2015 /CNW/ - The Law Society of Upper Canada honoured 11 outstanding members of the legal professions at its annual award ceremony last night at Osgoode Hall. See photos.
The recipients were presented with the Lincoln Alexander Award, the William J. Simpson Distinguished Paralegal Award, the Laura Legge Award and the Law Society Medal at the ceremony. Biographies of recipients are linked in this advisory.
The eight recipients of the 2015 Law Society Medal are:
The 2015 William J. Simpson Distinguished Paralegal Award recipient is W. Paul Dray.
The 2015 Lincoln Alexander Award recipient is Paul Le Vay.
The 2015 Laura Legge Award recipient is Kimberly Murray.
About each Award
Law Society Medal
Established in 1985, the Law Society Medal is given to outstanding lawyers in Ontario in recognition of exceptional service, whether in a particular area of practice, in the academic sphere, or in some other professional capacity, where the service is in accordance with the highest ideals of the legal profession over a long term or for a single outstanding act of service.
William J. Simpson Distinguished Paralegal Award
The Law Society of Upper Canada Distinguished Paralegal Award was created in 2011 and renamed in 2014 to honour William J. Simpson and his outstanding contribution to the implementation of paralegal regulation by the Law Society. The award recognizes a paralegal who has demonstrated one or more of the following attributes: outstanding professional achievement; contribution to the development of the profession; devotion to professional duties; adherence to best practices and mentoring of others in best practices; a history of community service and personal character that brings credit to the paralegal profession.
Lincoln Alexander Award
The Lincoln Alexander Award was created in 2002 in honour of former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Member of Parliament, and 2002 Law Society Medal recipient, the late Lincoln M. Alexander, PC, CC, OOnt., CD, QC, LSM, in recognition of his dedication to the people of Ontario and the legal community. The award is presented to an Ontario lawyer who has demonstrated long-standing interest and commitment to the public and its well-being through community service.
Laura Legge Award
The Laura Legge Award was established in 2007 and is presented in honour of the late Laura Legge, OOnt., QC, the first woman elected a bencher of the Law Society and the first woman ever to serve as Treasurer. The award is presented to a woman lawyer in Ontario who has exemplified leadership within the profession.
The Law Society of Upper Canada
Osgoode Hall
130 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON
M5H 2N6
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SOURCE The Law Society of Upper Canada
Image with caption: "Law Society Treasurer Janet E. Minor (front row, middle) congratulates the eight lawyers who received the 2015 Law Society Medal at a ceremony in Toronto on May 27. Front row left to right: Craig R. Carter CS; Treasurer Minor and Faisal Joseph. Back row: H. J. Stewart Lavigueur; Susan Eng; John B. Laskin; E. Patrick Shea; CS; Prof. Adam M. Dodek and Chantal Tie. The awards are presented annually to members of the legal profession whose careers represent the highest level of achievement and commitment to serving society and the profession. (CNW Group/The Law Society of Upper Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150528_C5532_PHOTO_EN_17201.jpg
Image with caption: "Law Society Treasurer Janet E. Minor (front row, inside right) congratulates the 11 members of the legal profession who received awards at the Law Society’s annual awards ceremony in Toronto on May 27. Front row, left to right: Paul Le Vay (Lincoln Alexander Award), W. Paul Dray (William J. Simpson Distinguished Paralegal Award), Treasurer Minor and Kimberly Murray (Laura Legge Award). Back row, left to right: Craig R. Carter, CS (Law Society Medal), Susan Eng (Law Society Medal), John B. Laskin (Law Society Medal), H. J. Stewart Lavigueur (Law Society Medal), Faisal Joseph (Law Society Medal), Prof. Adam M. Dodek (Law Society Medal), E. Patrick Shea, CS (Law Society Medal) and Chantal Tie (Law Society Medal). The awards are presented annually to members of the legal profession whose careers represent the highest level of achievement and commitment to serving society and the profession. (CNW Group/The Law Society of Upper Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150528_C5532_PHOTO_EN_17202.jpg
Image with caption: "Law Society Treasurer Janet E. Minor congratulates Elora paralegal Paul Dray on receiving the 2015 William J. Simpson Distinguished Paralegal Award. A recognized leader in the paralegal profession who was instrumental in creating the framework for paralegal governance and professional development in Ontario, Dray received the award at the Law Society Awards ceremony in Toronto on May 27. (CNW Group/The Law Society of Upper Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150528_C5532_PHOTO_EN_17203.jpg
Image with caption: "Law Society Treasurer Janet E. Minor (left) congratulates Toronto lawyer Paul Le Vay on receiving the Law Society’s 2015 Lincoln Alexander Award. A past president of L’Association des juristes d’expression francaise de l’Ontario (AJEFO), Le Vay co-chaired the French Language Services Bench and Bar Advisory Committee, mandated to the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario to improve access to justice in French before the Ontario courts. Le Vay received the award at the Law Society Awards ceremony in Toronto on May 27. (CNW Group/The Law Society of Upper Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150528_C5532_PHOTO_EN_17204.jpg
Image with caption: "Law Society Treasurer Janet E. Minor congratulates Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Aboriginal Justice Division, Kimberly Murray, with the 2015 Laura Legge Award at the Law Society Awards ceremony in Toronto on May 27. Murray was honoured for her work to ensure that survivors of Canada’s Indian Residential Schools system are heard and remembered. (CNW Group/The Law Society of Upper Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150528_C5532_PHOTO_EN_17205.jpg
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