The Law Society Medal
Each year, the Law Society of Ontario awards the Law Society Medal to selected lawyers who have made a significant contribution to the profession.
The award is given for outstanding service within the profession, whether in the area of practice, in the academic sphere, or in some other professional capacity where the service is in accordance with the highest ideals of the legal profession. It may be awarded for devotion to professional duties over a long term or for a single outstanding act of service.
2024 recipients
Dianne G. Corbiere
Called to the Bar in 1998, Dianne Corbiere is a managing partner of one the first Anishinaabe-owned and operated law firms in Ontario. She is the former president and board member of the Indigenous Bar Association.
In her 29 years at Nahwegahbow Corbiere, Dianne has continually championed the advancement of legal and social justice for First Nations Peoples in Canada. She was instrumental in the evolution of case law. Most recently, she has been involved in, Restoule v Canada at the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. She is also part of the class counsel team representing the Assembly of First Nations in Assembly of First Nations et al. v Canada. Both cases have achieved historic Canadian compensation awards for the First Nation clients.
Dianne served as an elected bencher of the Law Society of Ontario from 2015 to 2023, at a time when the legal professions were called upon to substantively respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. She has been instrumental in educating, informing and shaping policy to ensure the Law Society and the legal community at large is responsive and accountable to the country’s Indigenous reconciliation work.
Rob Cunningham
Called to the Bar in 1994, Rob Cunningham has devoted his remarkable legal career to tobacco control.
As a full-time lawyer and senior policy analyst for the Canadian Cancer Society, Rob has made exceptional contributions in law reform and is recognized nationally and internationally as an expert and leader in tobacco control. Rob’s ground-breaking reforms include playing a central role in using photos of health effects in tobacco warning labels – a practice recognized and now used by more than 135 countries/jurisdictions around the world. These reforms have significantly reduced smoking prevalence in Canada among adults and youth.
Rob has acted as an advisor to the World Health Organization and to national governments and health organizations worldwide, testified on 54 occasions before House of Commons/Senate committees and testified on 32 occasions before provincial/territorial legislative committees. He has been awarded a medal from the World Health Organization, been named a “National Public Health Hero” by the Canadian Public Health Association and selected by Maclean’s magazine as one of 100 Canadians to watch.
Rob’s dedication has saved thousands of lives, prevented vast numbers of youth from using tobacco and will continue to benefit generations to come.
Carole M. Dagher
Called to the Bar in New York in 2002 and Ontario in 2006, Carole M. Dagher’s professional journey has spanned diverse sectors. Carole started her career practicing in the capital markets group at Shearman & Sterling LLP. She then spent 14 years in progressively senior roles in the banking industry and is currently vice president, legal, at Loblaw.
Carole demonstrates a deep commitment to mental health advocacy which is rooted in her lived experience with mental illness. She has channeled her mental health journey into an impactful mission to raise awareness and destigmatize mental illness in the legal profession; regularly speaking about mental health across a variety of industries and media platforms, including on behalf of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the CAMH Foundation.
She is the co-editor of “The Right Not to Remain Silent: The Truth About Mental Health in the Legal Profession,” a book scheduled for release in 2024, that features her story as well as that of other legal professionals about working in the legal sector while dealing with various mental illnesses.
Carole consistently demonstrates a commitment to coaching, mentoring and mental health guidance — a true trailblazer in the legal community, acting as a strategic counsel and promoting legal excellence, well-being and inclusivity.
Milton A. Davis
Called to the Bar in 1978, Milton Davis has made integral contributions to the development of law in the areas of professional negligence, real estate, mortgages and debtor-creditor relations. He has been involved as counsel in over 200 reported decisions, at all levels, including the Supreme Court of Canada.
Milton has lectured and written extensively in the areas of real estate, mortgage remedies, injunctions, civil procedure, evidence and trial advocacy. He is a generous mentor to junior lawyers and a leader within his firm and the professions.
He has worked as a champion of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies and is a member of Lawyers4Wiesenthal, a group of legal professionals dedicated to countering racism and antisemitism. As a lawyer, Milton has upheld the ideals of the profession, being a strong and consistent voice against intolerance, hate, bigotry and prejudice of every kind.
Milton has been central to the development of countless young lawyers’ careers, nurturing a culture of excellence in their advocacy and in their service to the profession.
He has demonstrated an unfailing commitment to the profession as an advocate, mentor, educator and lawyer.
Raj Dhir
Called to the Bar in 1998, Raj Dhir is a highly respected human rights lawyer and social justice advocate. He has dedicated his career to protecting and advancing human rights, serving vulnerable populations and leading transformational change to address systemic discrimination.
As counsel at the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), Raj began his career litigating ground-breaking cases that continue to be referenced today. As executive director, he led the OHRC’s inquiry into anti-Black racism by the Toronto Police Service, which was cited with approval by the Supreme Court of Canada and influenced important policy changes for addressing systemic racism in policing, such as race-based data collection. He also led the Right to Read inquiry, resulting in, among other things, provincial changes to the English and French language curricula. In his current role as the executive director of Indigenous justice policy at the Ministry of the Attorney General, Raj is providing leadership to Ontario on the enforcement and prosecution of First Nations laws.
Throughout his trailblazing career, Raj has championed diversity, inclusion and anti-racism, and has also been a mentor in helping lawyers navigate their careers. He has achieved excellence through his unwavering dedication, expertise and exemplary commitment to public service.
Professor Mayo Moran
Called to the Bar in 2012, Professor Moran is currently the Provost and Vice-Chancellor of Trinity College at the University of Toronto. She was appointed dean in 2006, becoming the first woman to hold this position.
Professor Moran is the author of Rethinking the Reasonable Person. Her current work on historic injustice includes The Restitution Dialogues and a forthcoming book, The Problem of the Past and How to Fix It.
In her role as Dean, Professor Moran spearheaded law school engagement on gender and diversity in the legal profession, foreign trained professionals and access to justice for middle income earners. She also developed a ground-breaking mental health program for students.
Professor Moran served for 14 years as chair of the Residential Schools Oversight Committee, which oversaw the Independent Assessment Process under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. Under her leadership, the committee oversaw the settlement of more than 38,000 claims by residential school survivors. She also chaired the panel that recommended the creation of Ontario’s legislation addressing strategic lawsuits against public participation, was invited to conduct the second review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and was deeply engaged in the development of the Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act.
History of the medal
Originally struck in 1985, the Law Society Medal has been awarded to more than 100 lawyers in recognition of distinguished service.
The Medal is made of sterling silver and is in the shape of a heraldic rose; the petals covered in white enamel. The white rose of York was chosen because it forms part of the Law Society’s coat of arms; it symbolizes the fact that the Law Society's seat was in York County, and that Toronto was called York at the time when Osgoode Hall was created in 1829.
The Law Society's motto, "Let Right Prevail," appears in a red enamel circle in the centre of the rose, surrounded by a stag. The stag came originally from the coat of arms of Sir John Beverly Robinson, an early Treasurer. A beaver was also included as it appears in the Law Society's coat of arms.
Recipients of the Medal are permitted to wear it on appropriate occasions, and can also use the designation LSM (short for Law Society Medal) after their names.
See a list of all recipients of the Law Society Medal.