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

FEBRUARY IS MENTAL HEALTH JUSTICE MONTH!!

We’ve changed the Name from Mental Disorder Law Month. Mental Health Justice Law is a fresher, brighter outlook on life. To celebrate this and our February 20, 2021 6th Annual Mental Health Law conference Jointly held between the Criminal Lawyers’ … Continue reading

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Anita Participates in OBA WLF’s First Mentoring Week by becoming a Mentor in a Fun Speed Mentoring Event Jan 26!

The OBA Women Lawyers Forum (“WLF”) continues their 2020-2021 efforts to build inclusivity in the profession by hosting their very first Mentorship Week this January. The highlights of the Mentorship Week will be virtual speed mentoring sessions, a joint effort … Continue reading

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LAMDA co-hosts UNIQUE ADVOCACY Event with CLOC – SIX JUSTICES OF ONTARIO’S COURT OF APPEAL JOIN US JAN 28

The Law and Mental Disorder Association (LAMDA) has arrived!! Just starting our 5th year of life, we are incredibly honoured to co-host a fabulous and timely event together with Crown Law Office Criminal (CLOC), affectionately known among the defence bar … Continue reading

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ASA Firm Zoom Meetings are Fun but In Person will be Better

We are trying our best. Zoom is allowing us to connect. Then again I had 8 Zoom events in one day on January 18 2021 and that’s too much. Still, here we are enjoying ourselves.

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6th Annual LAMDA CLA Mental Health Conference Feb 20 2021

This is going to be a fabulous, unique, informative and entertaining event. I expect we will get a lot of CPD bang for our buck. Check out the Agenda and Register here for $45 as a LAMDA or CLA member…., … Continue reading

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Tom Jones Steakhouse Set to Close – Cherished Memories

Tom Jones steakhouse. Throughout my articling year my mentor took me here and we had steaks and he had red wine almost every evening. He’d then go home to his family and I would work throughout most of the night, … Continue reading

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LAMDA Member Dr. Ruby Dhand’s Great Webinar on MH Courts

LAMDA member Dr. Ruby Dhand presented this amazing Webinar on “Mental Health & Specialized Courts in Canada: Access to Justice from the Perspective of Stakeholders” in December 2020 for NARPA. One of the best talks we’ve seen. Should be mandatory … Continue reading

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Ask Me Anything CLA Women’s Committee Event SELLS OUT!

I can’t believe 100 people have signed up to hear me Answer Anything on Feb 12. So humbled to be the first presenter of this Series for the Women’s Committee of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association. I am trying to prepare … Continue reading

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Cross-Examination Tips! 30 years nearly in the trenches says:

I am growing weary of reviewing transcripts with open ended questions to testifying doctors, such as: “How would you describe my client’s symptoms of schizophrenia?” Here are some thoughts on how to cross-examine any witness. Goes equally for expert witnesses, … Continue reading

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Our Paper on Mental Health Tribunals in Ontario and Coronavirus makes ANOTHER TOP-10 list in just 3 weeks on SSRN!

Maya Kotob, Michael Kennedy, Dr. Ruby Dhand, Rebeccay Ye & I are thrilled to learn that: Our paper, “LITIGATING IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS: MENTAL HEALTH TRIBUNALS’ RESPONSE TO COVID-19”, made SSRN’s Top Ten download list in a new category: … Continue reading

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