WELCOME TO WiCCD: WOMEN IN CANADIAN CRIMINAL DEFENCE (Pronounced: Wicked)

WiCCD is Canada’s first national advocacy organization solely for women—those who identify as female or as gender non-conforming—working in criminal defence. WiCCD formally launched on January 4th, 2022.

About WiCCD

WiCCD is a national umbrella organization that brings together women and gender non-conforming colleagues in criminal defence across Canada who may already belong to women’s committees, caucuses or sub-groups of defence associations or who have yet to join any other group. WiCCD aims to build bridges and consolidate gains, working collaboratively with our women, trans and non-binary colleagues.

WiCCD does not compete with any existing organization. It complements existing supports and services, by providing a unique forum of robust supports, informed by national and regional perspectives including those of our newest, young, racialized members, members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and everyone who identifies as female or gender non-conforming.

WiCCD provides a safe and inclusive space for us all to share our experiences and to support and celebrate one another. It advances the interests of women in the defence bar and works to address the current crisis of women leaving the bar in unprecedented numbers. WiCCD is mindful of gender-based discrimination our members routinely face, including implicit biases, and will advocate for solutions to ensure genuine equality for women in criminal defence on a systemic level. WiCCD is actively anti-racist and anti-colonial. WiCCD will employ an intersectional lens in its advocacy on all issues of importance to its members.

Membership

Membership in WiCCD is free.  

Use this short link to apply to become a member – takes 30 seconds to complete:

https://forms.gle/RYv6381eTQBME3aK6

WiCCD currently has 250 members across Canada, after just one month in existence.

Criminal defence lawyers and law students interested in criminal law are encouraged to apply for membership. Some membership criteria apply, including verification of the applicant’s identity, solely to ensure membership is restricted to eligible members.

Services and Programs

WiCCD’s initiatives, including specific services, programs or events, are determined by its membership. Members have access to WiCCD’s busy, inclusive and collegial listserv.

WiCCD has a mentorship program in place for 2022. It has paired 20 senior lawyers with 55 junior lawyers and students working together for terms of four months each or in flexible arrangements.

CPD sessions are free. Several are planned throughout winter/spring already, including on topics ranging from targeted online harassment of lawyers to managing a criminal law file, from start to finish.

Exciting new initiatives are already in the works.

Meet the founding members of the inaugural Executive

President: Sid Freeman

Vice-President: Amanda Ross

Vice-President: Miranda Hlady

Treasurer: Cassandra DeMelo

Secretary: Anita Szigeti

Assistant Secretary: Maya Shukairy

Recorder: Shaunna Kelly

Litigation Director: Maija Martin

Membership and Social Media Committee Co-chairs:

Hamna Anwar

Maya Kotob

VP Miranda Hlady from Lethbridge, Alberta is not in this photo of the Inaugural Executive as constituted Jan 4 2022.

CONTACT WiCCD

To apply for membership, here is the quick link – use this: https://forms.gle/RYv6381eTQBME3aK6

To contact WCCD and reach the Executive, send us an email here:

Wiccd.womendefencelawyerscanada@gmail.com

We are excited about the future and look forward to working with you all!

The Executive – WiCCD

Follow us on Twitter:   https://twitter.com/WICCD_Canada 

Twitter handle: @WICCD_Canada