The Laura Legge Award
The Laura Legge Award recognizes women lawyers from Ontario who have exemplified leadership within the profession.
The award was established in 2007 in honour of the late Laura Legge, OOnt, QC, the first woman ever elected as a bencher of the Law Society and the first woman to serve as Treasurer.
2024 recipient
Julie Lassonde
Called to the Bar in 2005, Julie (she/they) exemplifies leadership through her advancement of social justice issues and her commitment to inclusivity and diversity.
Julie’s raison d'être is quite simply to advance social justice, but there is nothing simple about how they go about this important work. Their passion for social justice has led to a creative and holistic approach, working with a variety of stakeholders — from political and legal contacts — to community organizations, to find the best outcomes for clients from vulnerable populations.
Julie co-founded the first Francophone women shelter in Toronto. She has worked with the Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes and the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic for women survivors of intimate-partner violence and sexual assault. She previously served as equity and inclusion advisor and has been working as a mediator on harassment and discrimination issues for McGill University. Deeply committed to equity for 2SLGBTQIA+ people, Julie also collaborates with Francoqueer. She has been a member of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, acted as designated representative for the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada and currently is a commissioner at the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
Julie is also a performance artist in the visual arts and was previously an artist-in-residence at Osgoode Hall Law School. Julie is a shining example in her community and in the legal professions for tirelessly upholding their values and ideals while advancing social justice causes.
Past recipients
Courtney Harris, 2023
Marian Jacko, 2022
Dr. Beverly Jacobs, 2021
Jacqueline Lewis, 2020
Pamela Cross, 2019
Mary Lou Fassel, 2018
Breese Davies, 2017
Lisa Borsook, 2016
Kimberly Murray, 2015
Susan E. Opler, 2014
Marie T. Henein, 2013
Mary P. Weaver, QC, 2012
Fay K. Brunning, 2011
Crocetta (Chris) Gruppuso, 2010
Janet A. Leiper, 2009
Susan Elliott, 2008
About Laura Legge
Laura Legge, OOnt, QC, graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1948 after earning a B.A. and a nursing degree. In 1955, she and her husband established the still active law firm of Legge & Legge.
Legge served as director and chair on a number of high-profile boards. She was also the recipient of several prestigious awards including the Order of Ontario.
Laura Legge died in 2010.