By referring to an “all-gender” or “unisex” space, the concept is more nuanced than just one large room structured to function in the same way that it does now.

To be very clear, a "change as you please" space is not the goal.

Select Problems with the Current Spaces

The current arrangement as it exists today is not inclusive for a variety of reasons, such as:

• The disparity between the two robing rooms currently allocated to men and women at Osgoode Hall is obvious.
• The reality is that these spaces still exclude non-binary individuals.
• These spaces are also important places for mentoring, networking, pre-appearance discussions, informal negotiations, and more.

To continue to segregate these spaces such that some lawyers are excluded from these key interactions on an ongoing basis (with respect to being unable to access one of the spaces) is an antiquated notion that does not serve the legal profession in 2019. While perhaps it should not be the case, in practice, it is an common occurrence that men wait outside the women's robing room or women wait outside the men's robing room, whichever the case may be, as these discussions and interactions go on in their absence. 

What a New Space Could Look Like

Instead of a traditional locker room, where everyone changes as they please, a communal space is meant to be inclusive by allowing for all lawyers to use the informal social, workstation, and storage spaces traditionally included in a robing room, while still incorporating alternative and private space for those who actually need to engage in a full-on wardrobe change or who require privacy for any other reason. 

Whether changing space is segregated into divided areas or by incorporating private changing stalls that can be used to accommodate everyone will depend on the space and the parameters and limits of what can actually be done with it. The goal is that the actual private areas (washrooms, changing space, stalls, or whatever the dedicated space might eventually be) wouldn’t be any different than the private washroom areas incorporated into many other establishments in Toronto and throughout Canada, but that the communal space would be shared and accessible to all lawyers. 

Whether any private changing space that is developed is segregated in separate areas or incorporated by way of private changing stalls that can be used by all to accommodate everyone will depend on the space itself and the extent to which it can be renovated, as well as in what capacity. These are details that, if available, are not widely in the public knowledge. Indeed, the reality is that many lawyers have not even seen the men's robing room space. In any event, construction and renovation details will clearly require the engagement of an expert to address the space and how it can best be changed and utilized to be inclusive for *all* lawyers - regardless of gender, gender identity, religion, or any other factor. Ideally, Osgoode Hall would have a lovely communal lounge area in the middle with changing areas off the side or similar. 

This approach has been taken by several courts for their robing rooms in the UK, but there may be other workable solutions that could be proposed. Quebec also has robing rooms set up this way, as do the Crown robing areas at various courthouses in Ontario. 

For the sake of clarity, inclusion is the goal - a "change as you please and where you please" gym locker room styled space is not. 

If you have comments or suggestions on how to best ensure the implementation of an inclusive communal space could be shaped to ensure that everyone is comfortable, your input is integral. It is critically important that our profession acknowledges and incorporates systems and spaces that are available to all lawyers.