Renowned humanitarian and former judge receive honorary LLDs

Her Excellency Mary Robinson and The Hon. Susan Lang honoured at Call to Bar Ceremonies

TORONTO, June 20, 2016 /CNW/ - The Law Society of Upper Canada presented a degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LLD), to Her Excellency Mary Robinson and the Honourable Susan E. Lang at its Call to the Bar ceremonies on June 20 at Roy Thomson Hall.

Her Excellency Mary Robinson received her honorary LLD at the morning Call ceremony in recognition of her work as a transformative international force in advancing human rights and, more recently, climate justice. An academic, legislator and barrister, she has devoted her career to social change by serving as President of Ireland (1990-97), UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997-2002), and founder and president of the Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice. She also was the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Climate Change (2014-15), and was recently appointed as a Special Envoy on El Niño and Climate (May 2016). (Full biography)

Retired Court of Appeal judge, The Honourable Susan E. Lang, received her honorary LLD at the afternoon Call ceremony in recognition of her numerous contributions to the legal profession, the judiciary and the Ontario public. Justice Lang was appointed by the Ontario government in November 2014 as the Independent Reviewer of the Motherisk Hair Analysis Review. Her Report, delivered in December 2015, identified the flawed hair-strand analysis and interpretation provided by the Motherisk laboratory and used in child protection and criminal proceedings. Justice Lang recommended a further review into the individual cases affected by the flawed toxicology evidence. (Full biography)

Law Society Treasurer Janet E. Minor awarded the honorary LLDs to Robinson and Justice Lang, who then delivered separate keynote addresses to new lawyers attending the respective ceremonies. A total of 295 were called at the morning ceremony and another 325 were called at the afternoon Call.

As part of its Call ceremonies each year, the Law Society awards honorary doctorates to distinguished people in recognition of outstanding achievements in the legal profession, the rule of law or the cause of justice. Recipients serve as inspirational keynote speakers for the new lawyers attending the ceremonies

In her remarks to the newly called lawyers, Treasurer Minor said, "We need your innovation and creativity. We are counting on you. You are privileged because you have the capacity to make a difference. You are empowered — you can help to empower others. When you do, in your work and in your life, I think you will find this kind of engagement is the most rewarding and fulfilling and it will give you the kind of happiness you feel today."

The Law Society regulates lawyers and paralegals in Ontario in the public interest. The Law Society has a mandate to protect the public interest, to maintain and advance the cause of justice and the rule of law, to facilitate access to justice for the people of Ontario and act in a timely, open and efficient manner.

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SOURCE The Law Society of Upper Canada

Image with caption: "Law Society Treasurer Janet E. Minor (left) watches as Law Society Bencher Joanne St. Lewis places the LLD hood on Her Excellency Mary Robinson at the morning Call to the Bar ceremony on Toronto June 20. A former President of Ireland, Robinson received the honorary LLD from the Law Society in recognition of her work in the fields of human rights and climate justice. (CNW Group/The Law Society of Upper Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160620_C3573_PHOTO_EN_718071.jpg

Image with caption: "Law Society Treasurer Janet E. Minor (left) confers the title of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, LLD, on Justice Susan E. Lang, while she receives the LLD hood, at the Call to the Bar ceremony in Toronto on June 20. Justice Lang received the honorary degree in recognition of her numerous contributions to the legal profession, the judiciary and the Ontario public. (CNW Group/The Law Society of Upper Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160620_C3573_PHOTO_EN_718083.jpg

Media contact: Susan Tonkin, Communications Advisor, Media Relations, at 416-947-7605 or [email protected]