Author Archives: Anita Szigeti

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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

WiCCD’s Award Winning YouTube Channel Features Full Day Conferences on Bail and Mental Disorder Law

WiCCD has begun rolling out our Mental Disorder and the Criminal Law panels – each of the 8 will be uploaded and available, released on Sundays when we are not premiering other new content. Fist panel on Bail and Mental … Continue reading

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WiCCD’s Statement Against State Intimidation of Defence Counsel – May 15 2025

Earlier this week some WiCCD members brought to our attention this statement by the law firm Judson Howie, a defence firm in Fort Frances Ontario. https://www.judsonhowie.ca/post/law-firm-denounces-practice-interference-by-police-and-prosecutors WiCCD’s Executive has decided to lend our support to the affected firm and has … Continue reading

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Celebrating 20 years of working together and students completing the 2024-2025 term

Throughout my entire life, I have been fortunate to maintain long-standing relationships built on decades of mutual trust and affection. I have a group of close friends to this day whom I first met upon arrival to Canada nearly 50 … Continue reading

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Hanging Up my LSO Correspondent \ Analyst Shoes for the Summer

For a host of intersecting reasons that all came to a head over the last few days, I devoted a bit of time over this past Mother’s Day weekend to reflecting on the questionable utility of my contribution to any … Continue reading

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Law Society of Ontario hires Governance Expert to implement O’Connor Report Recommendations

Here is the article by Law Times’ Jessica Mach today May 8 2025 https://www.lawtimesnews.com/resources/professional-regulation/lso-retains-governance-expert-to-help-respond-to-dennis-oconnors-report-on-ceo-pay-controversy/392449 The expert selected is Richard Leblanc, a professor of governance, law and ethics at York University. Here is the LSO’s announcement of the retainer and their … Continue reading

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Mental Health of the Legal Profession and the LSO – May 6, 2025

The obligatory LinkedIn Preamble: Today, as I have done every year for five years running now, I attended the Law Society of Ontario‘s Mental Health Summit, pioneered and co-Chaired by my cherished colleague Beth Beattie and former Treasurer @Teresa Donnelly. … Continue reading

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WiCCD reaches new milestone – 700 STRONG!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WiCCD WOMEN DEFENCE LEGAL PROFESSIONALS WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN IN JUST A SHORT 3 YEARS 40 months into our young organization’s existence we are suddenly 700 members strong!! I couldn’t be more proud of The Amazing … Continue reading

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LAW SOCIETY OF ONTARIO – CEOSS UPATES, PODCASTS AND MOTIONS AT THE AGM THURSDAY SEPT 18 at 5:15 pm

For those following the fallout from the LSO CEOSS – pronounced CHAOS – stands for CEO Salary Scandal, there are some recent podcast / video interviews that may be of interest. Obviously, the opinions expressed by the people appearing and … Continue reading

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Ontario’s proposed involuntary treatment of drug users – my comments in the Globe and Mail May 1 2025

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ontario-mulling-involuntary-addictions-treatment-for-people-involved/ Ontario mulling involuntary addictions treatment for people involved in corrections Colin Freeze Jeff Gray Queen’s Park Reporter Toronto Published Yesterday 4 Comments Listen to this article The Ontario government says it will explore whether it can impose mandatory drug … Continue reading

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Justice in Pieces – The Law Society CEO Salary Scandal April 30 2025

Thank you to J.P. Rodrigues, host of the podcast program Justice in Pieces for hosting lawyer Michael Cochrane and me to discuss the recent scandal at the Law Society of Ontario regarding the CEO’s compensation and the resulting fall-out, including … Continue reading

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