Laurie Pawlitza

Laurie H. Pawlitza is a former Treasurer of the Law Society of Upper Canada.^[1]

Early life

Pawlitza was born and raised in rural Saskatchewan.^[2]

Education

Pawlitza earned a B.A. in 1980 and an LL.B. in 1983, both from the University of Saskatchewan.

Legal career

Pawlitza received her call to the bar in Ontario in 1986.

Pawlitza is a lawyer at Torkin Manes.^[3]

Pawlitza is credited with litigating on behalf of the first successful same-sex adoption in Canada.^[4] The litigation included a challenge to the constitutionality of the law, which banned same-sex adoption.^[5]

Paulitza was first elected a Bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada in 2003 and was elected by Convocation to lead The Law Society of Upper Canada as its 63rd Treasurer (and third female Treasurer) in 2010.^[6] He portrait for the Law Society was painted by Richard Thomas Davis.^[7] During her term, the Law Society dealt with the issue of articling as a requirement to become a lawyer in Ontario.^[8]

In 2012, she was selected by Canadian Lawyer Magazine as one of the "Top 25 Most Influential" people in the justice system.^[9]

Awards and honours

The Law Society presented Pawlitza with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2014.^[10]

References