The Canadian Black Standard
Blakes is a corporate partner of the Canadian Black Standard, Canada’s premier networking and advocacy platform addressing systemic barriers to employment advancement and the inclusion of Canadian Black women in the sector of marketing.
Black Law Students' Association (BLSA)
Blakes has a long-standing relationship with BLSA Canada and its chapter initiatives at law schools nationwide. The Firm sponsors the BLSA Canada annual conference, participates in career fairs, and is the title sponsor of BLSA Osgoode’s Opportunity Day.
Black Future Lawyers (BFL)
Blakes is a proud sponsor of the Annual Black Future Lawyers Conference, which is intended to offer support to Black undergraduate students who aspire to go to law school and become lawyers.
Blakes collaborates with BFLN to sponsor the annual Sistahs-In-Law Retreat, an opportunity for Black Canadian women to convene, share and learn from one another.
Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC)
Blakes proudly supports BLAC, a non-profit community legal clinic that provides free legal services for low or no-income Black residents of Ontario.
BlackNorth Initiative
Together with other leading Canadian law firms, Blakes signed the Law Firm Pledge and committed to addressing and combating anti-Black and other forms of racism in the legal profession.
Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL)
Blakes has a long-lasting relationship with CABL, a national network of Black law professionals and other interested members of the community from across Canada. Blakes has had the honour of hosting CABL receptions and events and frequently sponsors CABL’s Annual Gala.
Canadian Association of Urban Financial Professionals (CAUFP)
The Firm serves as pro bono counsel to the CAUFP, a member-based resource organization providing a link between corporations and the Black communities through innovative programs that facilitate economic growth and educational opportunities.
Avenue: Black Undergraduate Law Internship Program
In 2022, Blakes launched the Black Undergraduate Law Internship Program, which was developed in partnership with the Law Firm Diversity and Inclusion Network (LFDIN), Legal Leaders for Diversity and Inclusion (LLD), the Ontario Bar Association (OBA), the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL) and other professional services firms. The internship aims to support the professional ambitions of Black undergraduate students in Canada who may be interested in pursuing a legal career. In the past two years, Blakes has hired interns in each of its Toronto, Montréal, Calgary and Vancouver offices.
