Julia began her work with our firm as an articled student in 2017. She is now part of our civil litigation team with a special emphasis in family law.
Within the litigation sphere, people sometimes find the idea of retaining a lawyer to be stressful and intimidating. Whether that is due to the unpleasant conflict in their life or the unfamiliarity they have with the law, I aim to change this perception through my practice. Doak Shirreff has a great team of approachable and dedicated lawyers and I hope to continue to grow that culture by bringing a welcoming and open-minded attitude and fostering meaningful relationships with each client.
My practice has a focus in family law, but I also do work in personal injury and employment law. In many instances, these practice areas mean I am confronted with clients who are dealing with a struggle in their personal lives that is not only incredibly important to them, but also deeply emotional. I understand that my clients are trusting me to guide them through a significant life event with empathy and patience, while tirelessly pursuing their best interests. I appreciate the impact these issues can have on the day to day life of my clients, and therefore find great pleasure and fulfillment in being able achieve a resolution.
Although I’ve travelled much of the world, Kelowna struck a cord with me after spending a summer here. So, I packed up my life in Toronto and moved across the country for the beauty and lifestyle Kelowna has to offer. Living and working in Kelowna truly is a dream come true for me – between the beaches, mountains and lakes, the Okanagan is a grown-up’s playground and I take advantage of it every opportunity I get! I’m a life-long athlete, and while soccer and hockey were my childhood passions, now you can find me either hiking, biking, snowboarding or training at the local Crossfit gym.
As travelling is a passion of mine, I’ve done two exchange programs and attended a number of universities around the world, including Oxford. It was this same passion that took me to Kenya to volunteer at an orphanage in Nairobi. Other volunteer experience includes work done with the Women’s Legal Mentorship Program, ALS Canada,ARCH Disability Law Centre, Environmental Law Clinic, JCI Kelowna, Kelowna Bar Association, and the Kelowna Women’s Shelter.