Skip to content

Business Team
Susannah S. Alleyne listen

About

Susannah is committed to* advancing inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) within the legal profession. With a core belief that legal service providers should reflect the communities they serve, she brings her passion for finding common ground and executing innovative ideas to her work, every day. Susannah understands the importance of building§ relationships rooted in trust to support the firm’s people and culture. Through listening and learning, she advances our IDEA strategy in alignment with our values. She uses her experience and knowledge to foster inclusive workspaces‡ where everyone can contribute and thrive. Susannah welcomes navigating complicated concepts, creating safe spaces for learning, as well as facilitating courageous conversations. She advocates for workplaces that work for everyone. Originally from the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Susannah proudly celebrates her Caribbean heritage by volunteering with various Caribbean Associations and by participating in Caribbean carnivals all over the world each year. She remains a student of the Spanish language, in constant need of practice. A lover of words, Susannah is also a published poet with some of her recent contributions in Woven with Brown Thread, an anthology celebrating Black womxn (women) and non-binary voices. .

Expertise

  • Bar Admissions:
    • Ontario (2014)
    • Alberta (2014)
  • Education:
    • Osgoode Hall Law School (2013) JD
    • Humber College (2010) Honours Diploma, Office Administration – Law Firm Profile
    • University of Toronto (2009) HBA (with Distinction)

Details

  • Bio
  • Associations
  • News & Media
  • Publications & Presentations
  • Recognition

Susannah S. Alleyne (she/her)

is the Senior Manager of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) at Lenczner Slaght.

Susannah is responsible for working collaboratively with all members of the firm’s leadership team to recommend, develop, and implement initiatives, practices, and programs that will advance the firm’s IDEA strategy and action plan while aligning with the firm’s values.

Prior to joining the firm, Susannah served as the Law Society of Alberta’s first Equity, Diversity and Inclusion counsel in its 116-year history and the first known Black Equity Ombudsperson. In these roles, she applied an EDI lens to various projects and worked to create a more inclusive legal profession, supporting individuals facing discrimination or harassment in the workplace. An experienced panelist, guest lecturer and facilitator, Susannah frequently speaks on a variety of IDEA issues including allyship, anti-racism, intentional inclusivity, and centering equity in the workplace. With a core belief that legal service providers should reflect the communities they serve, she brings her passion for finding common ground and executing innovative ideas to her work, every day.

Susannah is also the founding and former President of the first Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers. She has co-chaired and sat on several Canadian Bar Association committees, and has volunteered with the Women in Law Leadership and the Association of Women Lawyers Calgary. Additionally, she is a mentor with the Black Law Students’ Association Mentorship Program at the University of Calgary and a member of the law school’s Black Student Equitable Admissions Process Sub-Committee.

In 2023, Susannah was recognized as one of Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 in Avenue Magazine and one of the Black People Making History in Calgary by the Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council. In 2022, she received the Tomorrow’s Leader Award from Women in Law Leadership Alberta.

Susannah obtained her JD from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2013, where she was actively involved in the student and local community, serving as the Black Law Students’ Association’s Academic Advisor and receiving the Legal & Literary Society Student Honour Award. Following law school, after being called to the Ontario and Alberta Bars in 2014, she practiced exclusively in family law as a litigator in Calgary until 2021.

  • Canadian Association of Black Lawyers

  • Canadian Bar Association

  • The 13th Annual Young Women in Law Charity Gala

    Susannah S. Alleyne will lead an insightful conversation on retention and longevity for women in law at the 13th Annual Young Women in Law Charity Gala.

    Susannah S. Alleyne | May 29, 2025

  • Call Forward Series: Promoting Equity and Allyship in Legal Workplaces

    Susannah S. Alleyne was invited to present at the Ontario Bar Association program titled Call Forward Series: Promoting Equity and Allyship in Legal Workplaces. Susannah will share advice on how to build capacity as an ally and offer valuable insights on creating an inclusive environment within legal workplaces.

    Susannah S. Alleyne | April 17, 2025

  • Black Women in Law: Off the Record

    Susannah S. Alleyne was invited to present at the event Black Women in Law: Off the Record, organized by the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) of Osgoode Hall Law School. Susannah shared her insights on navigating the legal profession as a Black woman, dating and relationships in law, balancing motherhood with work, the importance of mentorship and sponsorship, and building meaningful friendships and support networks.

    Susannah S. Alleyne | March 28, 2025

  • Fireside Chat on Mental Health

    Susannah S. Alleyne spoke at a Fireside Chat on Mental Health, organized by the University of Toronto Faculty of Law’s Black Law Students’ Association (BLSA). Susannah discussed the challenges of transitioning from law school to legal practice and the impact on mental health and wellness. Susannah also explored the growing awareness of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) in the legal profession, the complexities of belonging and perfectionism, and strategies for staying motivated and resilient in a high-pressure career. She also highlighted Lenczner Slaght’s leadership in advancing IDEA initiatives in the legal space.

    Susannah S. Alleyne | November 19, 2024

  • Black People Making History in Calgary (2023)

    Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council (CRIEC)

  • Tomorrow’s Leader Award (2022)

    Women in Law Leadership (WILL)

  • Top 40 Under 40 Calgary (2023)

    Avenue Magazine

    •
scroll
Back to top