Meet Our Affinity Group for Indigenous Legal Professionals
Indigenous@Blakes is dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive working environment for self-identifying Indigenous legal professionals. This internal network provides a dynamic forum for collaboration, support, mentorship, career advancement, professional development and networking opportunities.
As part of the Firm’s commitment to recruiting and retaining diverse legal professionals, members of Indigenous@Blakes strive to promote equity and inclusion while honouring and amplifying the unique perspectives of the various Indigenous communities across our offices.
Outreach Activities
Blakes organizes or participates in several initiatives that support Indigenous youth, law students and legal professionals, with significant involvement by Indigenous@Blakes members:
Level’s Indigenous Youth Outreach Program (IYOP)
Volunteers from Blakes participate in this culturally grounded legal education and mentorship program for First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth across Canada. IYOP engages youth in exploring the justice system through interactive workshops, mock trials and community-based learning. The program builds legal literacy, leadership skills and confidence while celebrating Indigenous knowledge and fostering relationships between youth and legal professionals.
Blakes Indigenous Summer Student Program
Since 2014, Blakes has partnered with a client to provide an annual opportunity for an Indigenous undergraduate student or new graduate to gain valuable work experience in both a law firm and a bank or corporation.
Supporting Indigenous Law Students and Campus Initiatives
Blakes supports Indigenous law student associations across Canada in a range of initiatives that foster community and belonging, such as community events and bursaries for Indigenous students pursuing legal education. Blakes also participates in on-campus networking receptions and panels organized by Indigenous legal programs.
Avenue: Black and Indigenous Undergraduate Law Internship Program
In 2022, Blakes helped develop and launch the Avenue Program in partnership with the Law Firm Diversity and Inclusion Network, Legal Leaders for Diversity and Inclusion, the Ontario Bar Association, the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers and other professional services firms. Avenue provides Black and/or Indigenous undergraduate students across Canada with hands-on legal experience, mentorship, professional networking and leadership development, along with financial support for LSAT preparation or law school expenses. In recent years, Blakes has hired interns through the program in each of its Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Montréal offices.
Indigenous Bar Association Annual Conference and Gala
We are honoured to sponsor the annual conference and gala of the Indigenous Bar Association, an event that celebrates the achievements of Indigenous legal professionals and fosters connection, mentorship and learning across the legal community.
Connected North
Blakes provides pro bono services to Connected North, and organization that delivers live, interactive virtual learning experiences and culturally grounded educational resources for K‑12 students and teachers in remote Indigenous communities across Canada. The program aims to enhance engagement, build connections with role models and help close educational opportunity gaps in underserved regions.
