Jennifer Freund says the org is soliciting feedback on how to better serve members
The Canadian Bar Association In-House Lawyers will maintain the same mandate and services it offered prior to its recent rebrand, but the organization formerly known as the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association is proactively seeking feedback on how it can better serve in-house counsel across Canada, the organization’s incoming president says.
There will be “no changes to the core work that we do,” says Jennifer Freund, who will take over as CBA In-House’s president on Sept. 1. The organization’s rebrand this month is meant to clarify whom it serves.
“‘Corporate counsel’ can be limiting in a lot of people’s minds,” Freund says. She adds that the new name better reflects the fact that the organization represents “in-house counsel in a variety of industries and practice settings, which includes all levels of government, publicly-traded and private companies, nonprofits, charities, agencies, boards, commissions, regulators.”
The new name also serves as a reminder that the organization is part of the Canadian Bar Association, which means that members have access to CBA resources.
As president, Freund says that in addition to working to ensure that all in-house counsel “know that they have a home with us, no matter where they work, what situation they’re in, what career stage they’re at,” she plans to strengthen CBA In-House’s membership by addressing members’ unmet needs.
To this end, CBA In-House recently conducted a survey asking members which of its programs they’ve accessed and what kind of value they offer. The survey also solicited suggestions for resources they can start offering in the future to help members further their careers.
Freund also plans to focus on strengthening the organization’s existing services. She noted that CBA In-House recently developed a webinar series to help legal department leaders and managers develop positive, inclusive workplaces; the organization also holds two one-day retreats each year, which give the in-house community opportunities to gather and hear from leading experts on subjects that matter to them.
“We’re really proud of the work that we’ve done over the last few years to really solidify our mission, which is to connect in-house counsel to the people, resources, and skills they need to develop professionally and serve their organizations successfully,” Freund says.
The rebrand will help people “really know right off the bat what we are, what we do, what we offer,” and understand that CBA In-House serves as “that welcoming place for all in-house counsel in Canada,” she adds.
