Become a Member!Women General Counsel Canada members are a formidable, inspiring, inclusive, and lively group of women in general counsel and executive leadership positions from across Canada. Through engagement with topics such as leadership development, board-readiness, effective mentoring, and living a healthy and fulfilling life, WGCC members are able to support and encourage the current and future women in-house leaders. Each year, WGCC hosts a series of events across Canada, including networking sessions, social activities, panel discussions, and professional development workshops. WGCC members also have access to a confidential, members-only, discussion forum to share questions and concerns with other members. Please see the different categories of membership below. If you are unsure which membership is most applicable to you, please email us at info@womengc.ca. |
MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES |
WGCC Regular Membership WGCC Regular Membership is open to women executive legal leaders who have legal executive responsibilities such as accountability for strategic legal advice, governance, and board engagement or who have oversight for the legal function (which may also include management of the legal budget for their organization) and meet the following criteria:
Each WGCC Regular Member is entitled to receive notice of, attend, be heard, and have one vote on each action item for discussion at all regular meetings of WGCC. WGCC Regular Members are eligible to hold positions on the WGCC Executive Board and eligible (and encouraged) to join WGCC Committees. Members are required to inform WGCC Membership if a change in status occurs during the year which may impact the eligibility of the Member for Regular Membership. *At the sole discretion of the WGCC Membership Committee, WGCC Regular Membership may be extended, by exception, to a woman executive legal leader who is not the ‘most senior woman’ in the organization. This exception is in recognition that larger organizations may have several divisions, subsidiaries, affiliates, and departments that although report up to one Senior Legal Executive (who may be the General Counsel), if considered independently, these applicants would qualify for membership. WGCC Fellow Membership WGCC Fellow Membership is open to women business executive leaders who have taken a role as a business executive and are no longer actively working in the legal field provided that, in their previous role, they would have qualified for WGCC Regular Membership. WGCC Members may apply for WGCC Fellow Membership by requesting a “Change in Status” to the Membership Committee Chair. Individuals who are new to WGCC and wish to join as a WGCC Fellow Member must apply to the Membership Committee. Admission to WGCC as a WGCC Fellow is on recommendation from the Membership Committee and approval by the WGCC Executive Committee. Each WGCC Fellow Member is entitled to receive notice of, attend, and be heard regarding each action item for discussion at all regular meetings of WGCC. Although there is no dedicated WGCC Executive Board position for a WGCC Fellow (at this time), WGCC Fellow Members are eligible (and encouraged) to join WGCC Committees. WGCC Emeritus Membership WGCC Emeritus Membership is open to women executive legal leaders who, although no longer actively working (e.g., retired) held a previous role for at least ten (10) years during which they would have qualified for WGCC Regular Membership. Emeritus Members are to inform WGCC Membership if a change in status occurs during the membership year which may impact the eligibility of the Member for Emeritus Membership. WGCC Members may apply for WGCC Emeritus Membership by requesting a “Change in Status” to the Membership Committee Chair. Individuals who are new to WGCC and wish to join as a WGCC Emeritus Member must apply to the Membership Committee. Admission to WGCC as a WGCC Emeritus Member is on recommendation from the Membership Committee and approval by the WGCC Executive Committee. Each WGCC Emeritus Member is entitled to receive notice of, attend, and be heard regarding each action item for discussion at all regular meetings of WGCC. There is one (1) WGCC Executive Board position for an Emeritus Member. WGCC Emeritus Members are eligible (and encouraged) to join WGCC Committees. WGCC In-Transition Membership A benefit to being a WGCC Regular Member or WGCC Fellow Member in good standing is the eligibility to continue membership at a reduced price, for up to two consecutive membership years, if a WGCC member becomes displaced or leaves their current position and is actively seeking a new position in which the member expects to be eligible for WGCC Regular Membership or WGCC Fellow Membership. A WGCC Member in good standing (meaning the annual fee for the most recent Membership Year was fully paid) may request a “Change in Status” to the Membership Committee Chair for an “In-Transition Membership”. A change in membership to WGCC In-Transition Membership is on recommendation from the Membership Committee and approval by the WGCC Executive Committee. Each WGCC In-Transition Member is entitled to all rights and privileges of the Membership category to which they previously belonged as a member in good standing. Although there is no dedicated WGCC Executive Board position for a WGCC In-Transition Members, WGCC In-Transition Members are eligible (and encouraged) to join WGCC Committees. This category is offered to existing WGCC Members only. |
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS |
There are numerous benefits that are available to WGCC Members (in good standing) regardless as to their category of membership, such as:
Piloted post the WGCC Annual Conference event in Spring 2022, the WGCC Networking Circles were an instant hit. WGCC Networking Circles meet as a small, informal group (of 6-8 WGCC members) to discuss a pre-selected topic of interest to attendees. Discussion focuses on topics of professionalism and may also discuss principles of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in the legal profession. WGCC Networking Circles are a way to connect with other members of WGCC to build relationships, expand your network and support system as you navigate the professional challenges of your demanding and rewarding career – all while earning valuable CPD credits. WGCC Networking Circles are included in your Membership fees.
Members of WGCC are encouraged to complete their Membership Profile on the WGCC site so that other members can reach out via our own internal social network. It will also help you to remember that amazing person that you met at a WGCC Conference or event so you can keep connected so one day you can reconnect with the time is right. You can choose to link the public portion of your WGCC Membership Profile to LinkedIn, further augmenting your profile. Your WGCC Membership Profile can also be a useful tool for external companies seeking to recruit a new member of their Board of Directors or Chief Legal Officer. Finally, the WGCC Member Directory can be a powerful networking tool for you. Even if you are not a ‘networking social butterfly’ you can build relationships with mutual connections and others in your field.
Membership entitles you to attend the WGCC AGM where you are given your opportunity to ask questions about the decisions and practices of the WGCC. The role of the WGCC is very important its decisions have significant impact on our WGCC Members. The AGM presents an opportunity for members to bring questions to the WGCC Board and to ensure members represent the interest of its members. |
FAQ ABOUT OUR MEMBERSHIP