ABOUT US

The Waterloo Region Law Association is the sixth largest law association in Ontario outside Toronto with membership of 620 lawyers and paralegals in Waterloo Region encompassing Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, New Hamburg and Elmira. Membership enables your Association to provide continuing education programs, dinners and other social events at a cost that is affordable to everyone. The Board of Trustees and various committees are committed to serving the best interests of the membership by providing a variety of social occasions and working events that will appeal to a wide spectrum of lawyers.

Our Board of Directors consists of 20 trustees that meet on the second Tuesday of the month. Members are elected on a  rotating basis, each serving a two year term with the opportunity to stand for election at the end of their term. New nominations are presented at the Annual General Meeting of members held annually in April.

Standing Committees of the Waterloo Region Law Association are chaired by Trustees, however the general membership is invited to participate, make inquiries or suggestions regarding the activities of any committee. A list of committees and contact information is included under Standing Committees.

In 2003, the Association instituted an award to recognize Waterloo Region legal practitioners (licensees) who have consistently demonstrated civility, professionalism, consideration for colleagues and commitment to our local community. The Coulter A. Osborne Award for Integrity, Comity and Beneficence has been a well  received and highly praised initiative of the law association.

The Waterloo Law Association Entrance Scholarship has been renewed for another 3 years. The award is administered by the five participating law schools. Click on WRLA Entrance Scholarship to find out how to apply.

OUR HISTORY

The Waterloo County Law Association was formed on December 21, 1894 which was certified by His Honour Judge Anthony Lacause, Esquire, Senior County Judge of the County of Waterloo on June 13, 1895 and filed in the office of the Clerk of the Peace on that date so that the Waterloo County Law Association became on June 13, 1895 a corporation under an Act Respecting Benevolent, Provident and Other Societies, R.S.O. 1887, Chapter 172.

The original Declaration of Incorporation states nine trustees will manage the affairs of the “society.” The first nine trustees of the Waterloo County Law Association were: Ward Hamilton Bowlby, Q.C., Frederick G. Allenby, Alexander Miller, Q.C., John Rowe, Frederick Colquhoun, Edwin Perry Clement, Conrad Bitzer, William J. Millican and W.S. Turnbull.

Today, our not-for-profit association continues to provide valuable library and research services, and has also grown to become a leading organization committed to offering its members advocacy, legal education, mentorship and guidance through the ongoing challenges facing the profession.

OUR CREST

In creating a design to serve as an emblem for the Waterloo Law Association, the focus was on identifying appropriate symbols that would remind the legal community of the great traditions of our profession. The most important element in the design would be the courage, integrity, and high responsibilities of our calling. The second important element was to identify symbols that would relate to our local heritage and the things that make us and our community unique. Last but not least, we were determined to adopt a crest that was aesthetically pleasing and had artistic merit that would be used with pride by our Association in the years to come.

In blending these three elements, the Trustees of our Association sought the advice and creative genius of Mr. Kenneth Jarvis, the noted Canadian artist and sculptor. As a respected lawyer and long time secretary of the Law Society of Upper Canada, Mr. Jarvis brought to the task a strong commitment to the ideal we sought to portray. He also brought a wealth of artistic experience and his enthusiasm and thoroughness in taking on the task has resulted in a design which is unique and original, aesthetically pleasing and stimulating and it combines those historical, local and professional characteristics which were sought.

The dominant element in the design is the dove of peace. The style is typical of the Mennonite Fractur art exemplified by the well-known 19th century Mennonite artist Anna Weber. In using the dove, we are reminded of the search for peace and the hope and optimism of the peacemaker. The dove sits on a weather vane that points the way. It gives direction. It faces adverse weather. It represents the stabilizing influence and leadership of the legal profession. In using the initials "WLA" instead of the usual initials found in the weather vane, we have the initials of Waterloo Law Association which also spell "law".

The weather vane is placed on a hip roof, symbolic of the barns located in our agricultural areas. The barn is a symbol of shelter and protection. The shape of the upper edge of the emblem is copied from a parchment indenture found in the Museum located at Osgoode Hall. This combines with the overall shape and design of the crest to convey a feeling of sanctuary and comfort. It combines the agricultural base of our community with the traditions of our profession. The overall effect is a balanced, modern look; simple and elegant. The colours used are earth tones. The overall effect is distinctive, clean, professional but conveying a sense of warmth and reassurance.

The crest was adopted at the Annual General Meeting of the Waterloo Law Association on February 22, 1989 and continues to be an uplifting and unifying symbol for this Association.