I recently interviewed Orlando Da Silva, LSM about his life, career and his important new book “Thank God I Failed”, which I’ve had the privilege to read and couldn’t recommend more highly to any legal professional in particular.
His book, about his life, career and living with major depression, among other things, is available now for pre-order and will be in print very soon, on June 2nd. There is information about where you can get it in the Decription along with Women In Canadian Criminal Defence‘s YouTube release of “WiCCD Presents: Orlando Da Silva” available this morning.
I am grateful to Orlando for the time he spent with me and the candour, insight, compassion and humanity he brings to everything he does.
• 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 