Illuma Family Law’s New Child Care Top-Up Plan Challenges Stigmas Around Parental Leave

Mar 7

Vancouver-based Illuma Family Law, founded by Abby Pang, is setting a new standard for how law firms support working parents. To mark International Women’s Day, the firm introduced a child care top-up plan, providing employees a monthly stipend for each child until age five. The benefit aims to ease the financial pressures of child care and help parents—especially mothers—feel valued rather than penalized for starting families.

Pang, a mother of two, founded Illuma Family Law to create a women-centered legal practice that addresses the high attrition rate of female lawyers in B.C. Her experience in family law and advocacy inspired her to build a workplace that supports both professional growth and family life.

She notes that many women in law feel the need to hide pregnancies or leave the profession due to inadequate parental support. Illuma Family Law’s new policy challenges that stigma by celebrating parenthood and promoting inclusion. Beyond financial aid, Abby Pang advocates for pay equity, male allyship, and more women in leadership roles as essential steps toward retaining female talent in law.

As Abby Pang puts it, “We love families and children, so why not show it?” Illuma Family Law’s initiative serves as a progressive model for the legal field, highlighting how empathetic leadership can redefine workplace culture and elevate the quality of legal services in British Columbia.

For full article: BC Business

Abby Pang

Abby is a lawyer and loving mother of two children. She is an advocate for healthy families and children. She has turned her energy towards supporting families, by providing guidance and helping families navigate through the legal system, while empowering them to have a voice throughout the process.

Abby Pang’s journey began in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Subsequently, her family moved to the east side of Vancouver, before moving to Richmond, where she spent most of her childhood. Her father was a refugee who came to Canada in 1970, and from him she learned the meaning of grit.

In her youth, Abby experienced a breakdown in her family unit which resulted in divorce. She understands that marital breakdowns and divorces can be complicated, but also devastating. She also understands there are alternative options and ways to mitigate the damaging effects of the process.

Abby earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of British Columbia, studying psychology and family studies. She earned a law degree from Manchester Metropolitan University, exchange program through the Hong Kong University. In 2008, she returned to British Columbia to work in a large law office while completing her National Certificate of Accreditation. She then completed her articles in a boutique law firm in Vancouver. She was called to the British Columbia bar in 2012.

Abby has appeared in Provincial Court, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. She deals with personal injury claims, sexual assault (civil) claims, and family law matters: Jansson v. Malone, 2021; Binning v. Kandola, 2021; Bergeron v. Malloy, 2020; Urwin v. Hanson, 2019; Lally v. He, 2016; Kandola v. Mactavish, 2016; Kweon v. Roy, 2016; Chan v. Caer, 2014; Saadati v. Moorhead, 2015; Loft v. Nat, 2015. In addition to her court experience, Abby takes a “family first” approach and is resolution-focused. She is registered through the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.

As a lawyer, Abby Pang’s community involvement included volunteer work with the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers and the Canadian Bar Association Women Lawyers’ Forum. As well, she had the opportunity to assist at Rise Women’s Legal Center and Battered Women’s Support Services through volunteering with Amici Curiae Friends of Court.

Abby is the recipient of A Woman of Worth Leader of the Year Award 2023 for her outstanding achievements in strengthening her community/organization through innovative approaches to resolving challenges and inspiring meaningful change. She has been recognized nationally as a nominee of the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards 2023, which honours extraordinary women leaders and businesses.

In her personal time, Abby enjoys snowboarding, bike riding, and spending time with her family.

https://www.illumalaw.com/team

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