"Never Use Others for Kindling"

In this episode we explore what covert forms of silencing are used against women in the law, and how sometimes, these efforts may be undertaken by other women.

Hosts Brea Lowenberger, co-editor of “Creating a Seat at the Table: Reflections of Women in Law”, and Jen Quesnel are joined by Brooke Johnson Isaak, a criminal lawyer. Brooke shares some of her own experiences with overt and subtle forms of silencing including having her workwear criticized. Brooke also shares a personal story in which an encounter with a legal hero took a turn for the worse.

We get some insight into why incivility in the workplace happens in the first place, some advice on countering it, as well as trauma-informed lawyering and how caring for our mental health and well being, creates healthy workplaces for everyone. 

Finally, in our letters segment, Beth Bilson is joined by her daughter Kate Bilson who discusses effective ways to raise up women colleagues. The Bilsons answer listener mail about how the “boys’ club” nature may infiltrate the legal profession, and the fine balancing act of lawyering and parenting.

 

GUEST BIOS:

Brooke Johnson Isaak, JD is a mom, practices criminal law, and teaches criminal jury trial advocacy. She unashamedly loves fashion as much as she loves the practice of law and has advocated for the norms of the profession to be more representative of the diversity within it. 

TikTok: @brooke.ji 

Instagram: @brookes.username

Kate Bilson, B.A (Hons.), LL.B, LL.M, is the Chief Privacy Officer and Manager, Privacy Office for TC Energy. After spending a few years in private practice as a young lawyer, Kate moved to the world of in-house practice in 2005.  Practicing in federally-regulated industries and finding work environments that have allowed her to thrive, she has developed expertise in privacy law, labour and employment law, human rights law, and pensions law.  Kate is passionate about the interplay between work, human behaviour, and well-being.  She volunteers for a number of causes and has also served as an instructor at Mount Royal University.  Above all, Kate cherishes time with her family and friends, as well as a good book and getting out to walk in every season. 

 

HOST BIOS:

Beth Bilson, KC, PhD has enjoyed a career of teaching, writing, deaning, arbitrating, and community engagement that began at the University of Saskatchewan in 1979, and she has never run out of interesting things to do.

 

Leah Howie, BEng, BSc, LLB, LLM lives in beautiful Saskatoon with her husband, two daughters, two dogs, and two cats. She loves reading, connecting people, travelling, and spending time outside on the prairies, in the mountains, by the river, and in the boreal forest. She enjoys thinking about ways to improve the law in her work in the area of law reform, and teaching and coaching law students as a sessional lecturer for the College of Law.

 

Brea Lowenberger, BA, JD, LLM is a lifelong learner and collaborator who hopes to leave the individuals and communities she interacts with a bit better than she found them. She is passionate about teaching and implementing design strategies that improve access to justice for Saskatchewan residents through her roles as Access to Justice coordinator, director of CREATE Justice, and sessional lecturer for the College of Law. When she isn’t working, she enjoys adventures with family and friends, travelling, being active, nature, reading, and creating music and art.

 

PHOTO CREDITS:  Submitted

COVER ART: Hannah Jorgenson

REFERENCES:

Brenda Yuen, “Trauma-Informed Lawyering: Practicing Emotional Acknowledgement”, a thesis submitted to the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (University of Saskatchewan, College of Law).

Mikaela Kiner, “It’s Time to Break the Cycle of Female Rivalry” on Harvard Business Review https://hbr.org/2020/04/its-time-to-break-the-cycle-of-female-rivalry