I have previously written about the project started in 2019 that resulted in the publication this year of a book titled Creating a Seat at the Table: Reflections from Women in Law, a compilation of essays by women alumnae of the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan about their lives in the law.
The publication of the book caused my fellow editors, Brea Lowenberger and Leah Howie, and me to reflect on the courage and candour of our contributors, and to consider ways of amplifying the impact of their remarkable stories. We decided that we would develop a podcast, and we are working with Farha Akhtar and Jen Quesnel of Cascade Communications to produce a series of episodes that feature some of the authors, as well as other voices.
Three of the five episodes of Dear Beth…A Women in Law Podcast are now available wherever you get your podcasts, as they say. The first episode featured Adrienne Forgeron, who was at that time running her own practice called The Gentle Lawyer, talking about how women lawyers can identify the kind of career environment that will make them feel that they have a place in the legal profession. The second episode focused on the piece by Brooke Johnson Isaak, “Never Use Other Women for Kindling”, and explored the sad truth that women in the legal profession sometimes act in ways that undermine other women. The third episode, “The Other Side”, is about how to be an ally and accomplice for women whose race, gender or disability presents additional challenges in their legal education and in their careers as lawyers. This episode featured Courtney Phillips, whose essay examined the challenges facing Indigenous law students and lawyers; Lawren Trotchie, the instructor of the kweyestasaskowin Setting Things Right course offered to first year students in the College of Law; and two students, Jordan Calladine and Fakeha Jamil.
Each episode also featured a “Letters” segment, where questions from law students are answered by me and our guests, and brief clips from a wide range of commentators.
The two remaining episodes will look at how women lawyers can use their advocacy skills inside and outside the courtroom to support causes and organizations they believe in, and how women lawyers can protect their mental health and wellbeing. In addition, there will be a bonus episode based on the recording of a panel discussion that took place when the book was launched for a student audience at the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan.
My fellow editors and I continue to be impressed by the generosity of our contributors, and their willingness to explore further the themes that emerged from the reflections in the book. We have also been grateful for the interest and commitment shown by other guests we have asked to participate in the podcast, who have included Rachel Loewen-Walker, a faculty member in the Department of Political Studies at the University of Saskatchewan and former director of Out Saskatoon; Prasanna Ranganathan, an equity and inclusion consultant; and Safwan Javed, an entertainment lawyer and musician.
My brief and unexpected career as a podcaster has given me many gifts. Though many of the stories our authors and guests tell are disillusioning, poignant or sad, I am heartened by their determination to make the legal profession a more welcoming and satisfying environment for women and for other traditionally marginalized groups. Their own lives include battles won as well as battles lost, and they recognize the importance of trying to make the legal system a more effective and inclusive institution in our society.
Beth Bilson, K.C., PhD (she/her) is Professor Emerita at the College of Law, University of Saskatchewan and a Podcast host.