Skip to content

South Asian Bar Association of Toronto

The South Asian Bar Association of Toronto is the GTA’s premier legal organization dedicated to promoting the objectives of South Asian members of the legal profession. Members of SABA Toronto include lawyers that self-identify as South Asian or are of South Asian origin, and lawyers that advocate on issues of relevance to the South Asian community. Our membership is dynamic, ever-expanding and includes lawyers from large and small law firms, sole practitioners, government agencies and departments, non-profit organizations, and corporations. Members of the judiciary, academics and law students also form an integral part of SABA Toronto.

The Toronto chapter of SABA was formed in 2005 by a small group of lawyers who felt the need for an organization to represent the interests of South Asian legal professionals in the Greater Toronto Area. Since its inception, SABA Toronto has grown impressively and now counts within the ranks of its members lawyers from all sections of the profession, including law firms, corporations, the government and non-profit organizations. SABA Toronto prides itself as being the premier voice of the South Asian legal profession in this city.

SABA Toronto serves as a networking forum, an advocacy group and an employment resource. Among its achievements, SABA Toronto has funded a bursary at many Ontario law schools and hosts an annual gala to recognize the achievements of South Asian members of the legal community.

SABA Toronto also undertakes a number of events throughout the course of the year other than the annual awards gala including advocating on relevant matters of interest to the membership and the broad community, hosting various social mixers for its members and sponsors, holding interview preparation workshops for law students, and organizing professional development seminars.

At SABA Toronto, we strive for the following goals:

Unite South Asian Lawyers

Unite South Asian Lawyers

Establish a supportive organization that promotes cooperation within the South Asian legal community and promotes equal participation and representation in the broader legal profession and judiciary.

Professional Growth

Professional Growth

Provide formal educational and professional development programming, at minimum to no additional cost to our members, which provides new members with access to networking and support from more senior members of our bar.

Access to Justice

Access to Justice

Recognize the limitations within our legal system that hinder South Asian and immigrant communities and voice our concerns through oral and written advocacy at all levels of government to advance the well-being of these interested parties.

Pro-Bono

Pro-Bono

Engage with South Asian communities to provide awareness to and education on legal issues that affect these communities.

Highlights of SABA

Over 1,000 members, including private law firms, in-house counsel, clinic lawyers, and government lawyers

Local chapter of the South Asian Bar Association of North America

2015 Outstanding Chapter Award winner

Celebrated its 10th Anniversary in 2015

Member of the 

Ontario Bar Association Council

Member of the Roundtable of Diversity Associations (RODA)

Member of the Law Society of Ontario's Equity Advisory Group (EAG)

SABA Toronto’s Annual Gala features Prime Ministers, Premiers and Attorneys General of Ontario, and Justice Jamal of the Supreme Court of Canada

Approximately 400 lawyers and guests (including non-SABA members) attended SABA Toronto’s Annual Gala and Awards Dinner at the Royal York Hotel (2014) and Park Hyatt (2013)

Awards presented to leading lawyers, as well as Ontario's first Diversity Award to Simon Fish, Bank of Montreal (2014)

Hosted SABA North America's 2014 Leadership Retreat, which brought leaders from 15 U.S. SABA chapters to Toronto

Events for Justice Dalveer Bhandari, International Court of Justice, and Ujjal Dosanjh, former Premier of British Columbia, and Justices of the Supreme Court of India

Continuing Professional Development training

Launched mentorship program for young South Asian lawyers seeking networking and professional development opportunities

Our Board

Our Executives

Devin

Devin Persaud

President
Annie

Annie Tayyib

Treasurer
Richa

Richa Sandill

Secretary
Mohena

Mohena Singh

Vice President

Get Involved

X