I am forever grateful to Erin Cowling on Twitter as @Cowlingerin for this once in a lifetime opportunity to speak candidly about my experience as a woman in the law. The exercise was life-changing.
I do hope something within it resonates with young women starting out. Honoured & privileged to contribute!
There are so many exceptionally talented women lawyers featured in Erin’s blog. Time well spent learning about each and every one.
Check out the Blog and My Profile here:
https://www.cowlinglegal.com/blog/women-leading-in-law-anita-szigeti
About Anita Szigeti
• Called to the Bar (1992)
• U of T Law grad (1990)
• Sole practitioner (33 years)
• Partner in small law firm (Hiltz Szigeti) 2002 - 2013
• Mom to two astonishing kids, Scarlett (20+) and Sebastian (20-)
• (Founding) Chair of Mental Health Legal Committee for ten years (1997 to 2007)
* Founding President of Law and Mental Disorder Association - LAMDA since 2017
* Founder and Secretary to Women in Canadian Criminal Defence - WiCCD - since 2022
• Counsel to clients with serious mental health issues before administrative tribunals and on appeals
• Former Chair, current member of LAO’s mental health law advisory committee
• Educator, lecturer, widely published author (including 5 text books on consent and capacity law, Canadian civil mental health law, the criminal law of mental disorder, a law school casebook and a massive Anthology on all things mental health and the law)
• Thirty+ years’ experience as counsel to almost exclusively legally aided clients
• Frequently appointed amicus curiae
• Fearless advocate
• Not entirely humourless
anitaszigeti 