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 Letter to the LSO regarding CEO Compensation and O’Connor Report — March 7, 2025

Posted on March 8, 2025 by Anita Szigeti

Women in Canadian Criminal Defence (WiCCD) has sent a letter to the Law Society of Ontario’s Treasurer expressing concerns about recent events. You can read the letter here: WiCCD’s Letter to LSO re CEO Compensation and O’Connor Report On March … Continue reading →

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Happy International Women’s Day to WiCCD and to my earliest career mentor Mary Eberts

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Anita Szigeti

LinkedIn prompted me to ask myself who was a woman who inspired me in my career and use this hashtag #IWD25 — good for LinkedIn!! As luck would have it I spent most of today with my first ever career … Continue reading →

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LAMDA’s Letter to the Treasurer of the Law Society regarding the CEO Compensation and O’Connor Report issues — March 7, 2025

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Anita Szigeti

Law and Mental Disorder Association has sent this letter to the Treasurer of the Law Society seeking assistance with our annual fees and expressing our concerns about recent developments as reported in the Toronto Star and Legal Media. LAMDA Letter … Continue reading →

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Celebrating my daughter and Some Good News

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Anita Szigeti

I don’t normally post personal news here and I will keep the mystery alive but suffice it to say our family got some good news finally. My eldest daughter learned she was admitted to her program of choice for further … Continue reading →

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CEO Diana Miles “No Longer Employed” by LSO — March 6 2025

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Anita Szigeti

Betsy Powell of the Toronto Star continues to report on this breaking story. Here is my blog entry on her earlier reporting and the LSO’s News Releases on the issue: Toronto Star Reporter Betsy Powell today reports on the departure … Continue reading →

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Stabbing of child in Halifax reflects lack of mental health care access – St. Albert News

Posted on February 27, 2025 by Anita Szigeti

CTV News piece here: https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/nova-scotia/article/stabbing-of-child-in-halifax-reflects-lack-of-mental-health-care-access-legal-expert/ Local to Halifax media, the Stalbert Gazette, for the Canadian Press, Lindsay Armstrong https://www.stalbertgazette.com/nova-scotia-news/stabbing-of-child-in-halifax-reflects-lack-of-mental-health-care-access-10291032 I’m quoted at some length in this piece. I have a lot of thoughts about where the “system” of mental health … Continue reading →

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WiCCD is among the organizers of the LSO’s IWD Celebrations this year happening on March 6 2025

Posted on February 27, 2025 by Anita Szigeti

WiCCD is grateful to be included in the LSO’s annual International Women’s Day Celebration. Update now that it’s over! Our Treasurer – Cassandra DeMelo did a wonderful job of explaining the challenges we face as women in criminal defence and … Continue reading →

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WiCCD is Brewing Something New For You!

Posted on February 27, 2025 by Anita Szigeti

WiCCD is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Emond: The WiCCD BREW! WiCCD and Emond will begin publishing a net-letter in the coming months, and twice annually after that every April and November or so. “The Brew” will have … Continue reading →

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Dr. Ruby Dhand and I complete teaching the Mental Health Law Course in the Health Law Professional LLM at Osgoode PD – Feb 20-22, 2025

Posted on February 22, 2025 by Anita Szigeti

This was the second time that Ruby and I served as co-Directors of this important program offered as an elective through Osgoode PD within the Health Law Professional LLM degree. We choose to offer it as an “intensive” module, which … Continue reading →

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LSO CEO’s dramatic pay hike under review – a Story by Betsy Powell on the Front Page of the Toronto Star today

Posted on February 17, 2025 by Anita Szigeti

17 Feb 2025 You can find the article in the physical paper on the front page and here online in the e-reader https://torontostar.pressreader.com/1038/20250217/281483577105053 or now on the Star’s website here: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/law-society-of-ontario-hires-retired-senior-judge-to-investigate-ceo-s-new-near-/article_2d92d516-ea50-11ef-bdb7-13c159694a03.html CEO’s dra­matic pay hike under review Salary was boos­ted … Continue reading →

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