The Laura Legge Award

The Laura Legge Award recognizes women lawyers from Ontario who have exemplified leadership within the profession.

The award was established in 2007 in honour of the late Laura Legge, OOnt, QC, the first woman ever elected as a bencher of the Law Society and the first woman to serve as Treasurer.

2020 recipient

Jacqueline Lewis is the 2020 Laura Legge Award recipient.

Called to the Bar in 1991, Jacqueline Lewis has demonstrated extraordinary achievement and leadership as a lawyer and as an advocate for LGBTQ Rights. She is the founder of Canada’s largest woman-owned refugee law firm. Ms. Lewis is the President of Egale, Canada’s only national charity dedicated to improving the lives of members of the LGBTQ12S communities and she spearheaded the creation of Egale Centre, the only crisis centre for homeless LGBTQ12S youth in downtown Toronto.

Past recipients

Pamela Cross, 2019
Mary Lou Fassel, 2018
Breese Davies, 2017
Lisa Borsook, 2016
Kimberly Murray, 2015
Susan E. Opler, 2014
Marie T. Henein, 2013
Mary P. Weaver, QC, 2012
Fay K. Brunning, 2011 
Crocetta (Chris) Gruppuso, 2010 
Janet A. Leiper, 2009
Susan Elliott, 2008

About Laura Legge

Laura Legge, OOnt, QC, graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1948 after earning a B.A. and a nursing degree. In 1955, she and her husband established the still active law firm of Legge & Legge.

Legge served as director and chair on a number of high-profile boards. She was also the recipient of several prestigious awards including the Order of Ontario.

Laura Legge died in 2010.