Announcing the CLA Women’s Committee’s launch of the Extended Leave Roster

The Criminal Lawyers’ Association’s (CLA) Women’s Committee is proud to announce the Extended Leave Roster. Developed by the 2023–2025 Women’s Committee and carried forward by the 2025–2027 Women’s Committee, this initiative marks real, actionable leadership in tackling gender-based barriers in criminal defence practice. With its launch, the CLA becomes one of the first legal professional associations in Canada to provide structured support for women in practice.

Why This Roster Matters

The Extended Leave Roster was created to address a critical and worsening problem: women are leaving private criminal defence practice in disproportionate numbers.

Although women make up more than half of Ontario’s law school graduates, their representation in criminal defence drops from 46% in their first decade of practice to just 17% by their third. This exodus is not a matter of choice — it stems from structural barriers that make balancing the demands of practice with family responsibilities nearly impossible.

In past CLA surveys, over 80% of female respondents identified the lack of reliable coverage during maternity, parental, or personal leaves as the greatest obstacle to continuing in the profession. Other professions, like medicine, have tangibly addressed this through locum programs. The Extended Leave Roster is the CLA’s practical response — a retention-focused and practical initiative to try and help women remain in the profession.

How the Roster Works

The Roster is a centralized list of CLA members available to provide temporary practice coverage for women taking an extended leave:

• Any CLA member may submit a Roster Member Application to apply to become a Roster Member through the Women’s Committee;
• The Women’s Committee verifies that Roster Members meet eligibility criteria for the roster and ensures that all Roster Members have positive professional references; and
• When a CLA member identifying as female requests support, the Women’s Committee will share the Roster Member List, so that she can connect directly with any Roster Members of her choosing to make independent arrangements for her leave.

The Women’s Committee’s role is facilitative only — it does not supervise, manage, or participate in coverage agreements, which remain private arrangements between the two lawyers.

Call for Roster Members

We are now seeking CLA members willing and able to provide coverage for colleagues taking extended leaves. If you have the experience, capacity, and commitment to supporting women in our profession, please consider applying to become a Roster List Member. Your participation can make a tangible difference in keeping women in criminal defence — strengthening not only our members, but the profession itself.

CLA Junior and Senior Active members can express interest or learn more by going to https://members.criminallawyers.ca/Extended-Leave-Roster/

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