As a Family Law Lawyer,
I use my experience to help you
make the most of your time and financial resources.
EXPERIENCED I have worked as a family lawyer for over 25 years. I started as a junior lawyer at Torkin Manes, then left to start a family and my own part-time practice as a freelance family lawyer. While my children were young, I worked together with other lawyers on family law files on a case by case basis and as family duty counsel for Legal Aid Ontario. I returned to work full-time with a focus on limited scope family law services. My law practice now includes both limited scope work plus full representation for family law clients. Most of my work takes place out of court, but I do assist with in-court matters if needed.
My work history gives me a unique experience, having assisted all types of family law clients with all types of family law work. I have assisted low, mid and high income clients with parenting issues, child support, spousal support and property division, both in and out of court. My litigation work includes cases at both the Ontario Court of Justice and the Ontario Superior Court in the Toronto region.
PRACTICAL I make sure that the family law work I do helps your legal case, and more importantly, that it helps to solve the real life challenge that you are facing. So, even though I really do love reading case law and thinking about the technical nuances of family law, I won’t lose sight of the bigger picture. I will make sure that my work is practical and on point for what you really need.
COST EFFECTIVE All people deserve thoughtful, practical and efficient help when dealing with family law issues, regardless of their financial status. My freelance and limited scope work allows lawyers and clients to make the most of their financial resources by only hiring me for what they really need. My commitment to access to justice goes beyond my work as a freelance family lawyer. I worked as duty counsel for Legal Aid Ontario in the Toronto family courts for 20 years. I have been involved in several access to justice projects including the Family Law Limited Scope Services Project ( https://www.familylawlss.ca/ ) and the Advice and Settlement Counsel Project Toronto ( https://ascfamily.com/ ).
RELIABLE I have been a member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario since I was called to the bar in 1998. I keep up to date on developments in the law by attending a variety of continuing professional development programs each year. I am a member of the Toronto Family Lawyer’s Association, Ontario Bar Association and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts . I am a contributing author to Lexis Practice Advisor Canada and have co-authored papers presented at continuing legal education conferences.
CARING As a family lawyer, I know that I am involved in the most critical personal issues affecting families. I take that involvement and responsibility seriously. I respect the lawyers and clients I work with and genuinely care about finding solutions to meet their needs.
When I am not working in family law, I am busy with “field research”, or in other words, managing the ups and downs of life in Canada’s biggest city where my husband and I have raised our own 3 children. I have personal experience with each stage of parenting from new-born to young adult, so I understand both the legal and practical issues related to parenting, and that each child and family is unique. I work remotely from a home office, where our loyal dog helps keep the “empty nest” less empty.
I know that time and financial resources are precious in life and in family law. I enjoy working together with clients and lawyers to find fair and practical solutions to family law issues.
Equity & Diversity Policy
As an individual, a lawyer and a member of the Law Society of Ontario, I have an obligation and opportunity to contribute to the promotion of equality, diversity and inclusion regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation or economic status.
What does that mean for you as a client of Blackwell Family Law?
It means that I will act with integrity, respect and fairness towards you and everyone who I deal with in the course of my work and I ask you to do the same. Showing respect to others is a strength that will lead to a better outcome for you and your family.