Historic Signing of Male Champions for Change Pledge at the IBA’s 10th World Women Lawyers’ Conference  

International Bar Association,  October 24, 2024

In a significant step towards fostering gender equity in the legal profession, five esteemed leaders from the global legal community gathered in Toronto to formally sign the Male Champions for Change Pledge during the 10th World Women Lawyers’ Conference in Toronto.

This milestone event underscores a collective commitment to enhancing gender parity and diversity within the industry. The pledge invites law firms and organizations to actively participate in initiatives aimed at addressing gender disparities, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable legal environment.

The pledge can be adopted by law firms and/or corporations/organisations employing lawyers and recognises the critical importance of fostering gender equity and equality within our profession. By actively engaging in initiatives to address gender disparities, we create a more inclusive and diverse legal environment that benefits everyone. The pledge can be found here:

In remarks by Lise-Lotte Hjerrild, IBA Management Board member of the IBA Women Lawyers Committee and Male Champions for Change Ambassador,  IBA and not least the IBA Women Lawyers Committee strongly encourage law firms to read, sign and return the pledge as their aim and goal is to get not only all of its Male Champions Ambassadors but all of the day-to-day Male Champions in leadership to move the needle. In return, the committee is more than happy to provide practical advice & assistance on their journey.

About the IBA’s Male Champions for Change Initiative

The Male Champions for Change Initiative consists of creating a ‘WLC Male Champions for Change Ambassador Corps’, comprised of initially ten but up to 20 Ambassadors, all being highly recognised male law firm and legal sector leaders from around the globe with a proven track record of promoting the goal of achieving gender equity in the legal profession.

The Ambassador Corps will consist of IBA members who will also need to be members of the WLC. The Corps will consult on a permanent basis with the WLC and have the following functions:

- To serve as a sounding board for the WLC’s Officers on its programmes and initiatives, providing insight, advice and best practices from the viewpoint of male law firm and legal sector leaders; to do so, the Ambassador Corps will meet twice a year online or in person (where possible) with WLC Officers to discuss the committee’s Terms of Reference, and to set specific objectives and goals to further the initiative;

- To act as ‘ambassadors’ in promoting change in the legal profession, as needed, and where needed;

- To participate as speakers and moderators in seminars, IBA sessions and roundtables on gender equity issues as male advocates for gender equity in the legal profession;

- Specifically, to participate as facilitators and moderators of periodic Male Champions for Change Roundtables organised by the WLC, such as those referred to in the resources cited in this document, and in doing so promote best practices, such as those outlined in the Law Society of England and Wales ‘Male Champions for Change Toolkit’ (2018) and similar resources;

- To serve as a pool of future WLC male officers, as the need arises (though it is intended that the wide majority of IBA WLC officers will always be women, it is possible that additional male officers will be needed from time to time; hence, the Male Champions for Change Ambassador Corps will help to source qualified male candidates for any such officer positions, when the need arises); and

- All other specific functions as the WLC may determine from time to time.

The pledge can be found here