The Community Documentary Night organization is hosting a free Special Virtual Documentary Night in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month on Sunday, May 26th. The event is from 7 pm to 9 pm Eastern Standard Time. 

For this event we are meeting to talk about the documentary, But I Look Like A Lawyer. This film shares stories of the discrimination, stereotyping and bias experienced by members of the Pan-Asian legal community. It aims to increase intercultural awareness and competency, and to surface the complexity of the historical, socio-economic and colonial aspects of these real lived experiences. Louisa Winn (co-Director, Lawyer) will be joining us for a special guest Q&A! 

Here is a link to where you can watch the film for free: But I Look Like a Lawyer on Vimeo

The way this works is that everyone watches the film on their own BEFORE the event, then we meet on zoom to discuss. We break everyone out into randomized small groups of around 4 or 5 people, give them a discussion prompt, and give them about 20 minutes or so to discuss in their randomized groups.  We will do multiple rounds of small group discussion with different groups and different prompts. This gives everyone an opportunity to meet new people and hear a variety of voices and perspectives throughout the night. Then we will have the special guest Q&A! Lastly, we will end with brainstorming and voting to see what we will watch next month.

This event is what we call a Voting Night, where we brainstorm and decide as a group what we will watch the following month, so please come ready with your recommendation! I would suggest researching ideas before you come so that you have them ready for the vote. The only limitation for the vote is that the film must be available online for free. If you need any ideas, you can search through the Flyers Page on the Community Documentary Night website. The flyers cover a range of topics and are filled with documentaries that are available to watch for free. Just click the poster to go straight to where you can watch the film for free. The next month, June, is Pride Month and Juneteenth is on June 19th,  in case you want to recommend a film in honor of these holidays.   

The event is very flexible, so feel free to drop in late or leave early if that is what works best with your schedule. The zoom info will be available once you RSVP on the Eventbrite page. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/special-virtual-documentary-night-tickets-879209137197 

We have a wide range of people in attendance ranging in ages from 18 up. We are also reaching out to relevant non profit, professional, student, academic, community and religious organizations from around the country.

As we advocate for a legal system that reflects the diversity of our society, it is crucial to highlight and explore the unique experiences, challenges, and accomplishments of individuals who have successfully navigated the path to the judiciary from diverse backgrounds. This event aims to inspire and motivate participants while fostering a discussion on the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. 

Panelists: Justice Gail L. Gatchalian (Supreme Court of Nova Scotia), Associate Chief Justice R. Lester Jesudason (Supreme Court of Nova Scotia), Justice Aleta Cromwell (Supreme Court of Nova Scotia), Chief Judge Perry F. Borden (Provincial Court of Nova Scotia)

The event has been developed in partnership with the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL), Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL), and Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association (CMLA) Atlantic Chapters.

We want to ensure that our discussion addresses the topics that matter most to you. Submit your questions for our panelists in advance using this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PathtotheBench.

Together, let’s work to support a more inclusive and representative legal system.

This is a free event. Lunch will be provided. Advanced registration is required.  

Register here: The Canadian Bar Association : Path to the Bench - Diversity Panel Event (cbapd.org)