Jacqueline Lewis
First Name
Jacqueline
Last Name
Lewis
Present Position / Designation
Founder and Managing Partner
Bio-Professional Background (Brief)
Marquis Who’s Who has honored Jacqueline Lewis, BA, LLB, LLM, for her expertise in the field of law. Ms. Lewis is a distinguished attorney, founder and managing partner of an eponymous refugee law firm - likely the largest woman owned firm in Canada and the largest refugee law firm in North America, consisting of 45 lawyers, 15 law students and several support staff. She is also an author and advocate for human rights, working to make a genuine difference. Backed by her robust work ethic and determination, Ms. Lewis fights to defend access to justice for all people and ensure a successful outcome for her clients. Her passion has met the complex and diverse needs of immigrants, refugees and the LGBTQ+ community worldwide. She has never faltered in her earnest passion for protecting human rights through her law practice and wider community initiatives.
Ms. Lewis’ Education
Ms. Lewis first pursued her education to prepare herself for a career in law. She received a bachelor’s degree in arts with honors from York University in 1985 and a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Western Ontario in 1989. After founding her law firm, Ms. Lewis earned a master’s degree in administrative law from the York University Osgoode Hall Law School in 2001.
Founding and Growing Lewis & Associates
Since its founding in 1991, Ms. Lewis has continued to serve as the managing partner of Lewis & Associates in Toronto, Canada. In this role, Ms. Lewis practices law and oversees the entire firm, working to create a culture of inclusivity and advocacy. She attributes her ongoing success to hard work, determination and her passion for diversity, which provides richer and more expansive opportunities to learn and grow. Her success is rooted in her ability to understand people, know their wants and needs and find a way to help them.
Awards and Accolades
Ms. Lewis received the Laura Legge Award from the Law Society of Ontario in 2020 and the Torch Bearers Award in 2023. She is especially proud of the Laura Legge Award, as it reflects her contributions to law in Canada, her dedication to creating access to justice and her work for the LGBTQ+ community.
Work and Passions Outside of Law
Beyond her law practice, Ms. Lewis served as president of the Two-Wheeling Women, an exclusively women's Bike Touring company from 2013 to 2020 while practicing law. She was a law instructor at Western University from 2011 to 2014 where she was voted, by her students, to be on the Dean's Honour Roll for Instructors. She was also a law instructor at Carleton University. She is the president of the Egale Canada Human Rights Trust, a role which she has held since 2015. She has also sat on the Board of Friends of Ruby. Ever the advocate, Ms. Lewis spearheaded the first LGBTQ+ shelter and transitional housing project in her city.
Outside of being a professional, Ms. Lewis is an avid kayaker, a painter and an author. She was the first woman to circumnavigate Prince Edward Island and has won seven medals from the Canadian National Masters Championship for Kayaking. Ms. Lewis is the author of the 2013 book “The Question of Identity.”
Moving Forward
In her law practice, Ms. Lewis’ motto is “When you work with us, you have a lawyer in your family.” This central concept drives her to serve every community member, considering more so the legacy she creates than the money she could make. Her remarkable dedication to the underserved and neglected has made her an outstanding figure in her profession. Looking to the future, she plans to pass the firm on to lawyers in the firm who will follow in her footsteps while she continues to impact her community.
More Details
Ms. Lewis has mentored dozens of young lawyers and has created a firm that is inspired by her strong family values. She treats all of those she works with and her clients as family members and is there to assist them in any way possible. By way of example, one late evening, she was contacted by one of her support staff who asked Ms. Lewis to loan her money to pay to euthanize her dog who was suffering from a spinal injury. Instead, Ms. Lewis paid for the 10,000 surgery to save the dog. This is just one example of many in how she gives back to the people she works with and her community.
Reviews
Location not specified
Firm / Company Name
Lewis & Associates LLP
Region
-
Americas
I have had the opportunity to work with Jacki on several files and have been impressed by her legal expertise and strategic thinking. Beyond her skills as a lawyer, she is an exceptional mentor. Her generosity, encouragement, and willingness to share her knowledge have had a meaningful impact on me. It is a privilege to work with her, and I have no doubt that her influence will continue to make a difference in the field of law.
Jacki is an amazing person. She is a great employer and a great lawyer. I feel truly honored and blessed to have the privilege to work in her company and grow with her awesome team. She is extremely compassionate and kind hearted to everyone. The employees, clients and everyone in general. She has a heart of gold and most importantly she is a great leader with a ton of experience to learn from. She is a very skilled lawyer and always fights for justice for everyone.
I am truly honored to nominate Jacqueline Lewis.
Above all, she is a deeply compassionate and empathetic individual. Driven by her love for refugees fleeing persecution, she founded a law firm that not only upholds the highest ethical standards but also boasts an unparalleled track record of success. I am grateful to work alongside her and receive the mentorship that has profoundly shaped my own values and perspective on life.
Jacki has already transformed many lives for the better, and her influence is set to impact many more.
Ms. Lewis was my professor at Carleton University, in Ottawa. Her passion and dedication to her students and helping others make her an excellent role model and a great candidate for this award.
While being her student at Carleton University, I can say that I noticed her genuine passion for refugees and her need to ensure that her students appreciated the nature of the Canadian refugee system and its impact on those who are most vulnerable and in need of Canada's protection. Her passion really came through in her teachings and I really enjoyed attending class.
Today, I am proud to say that because of her encouragement and commitment I have been able to fulfill two dreams. The first is I went to law school The second is that I have been able to use the skills I have gained from taking her class and apply it to my current position working for the federal government where I work in the area of refugee protection.
To say that she has had an impact on my life would be an understatement.
Jacki has been a person who has continuously grown her law practice, her philanthropic activity and her generosity. Jacki is a model for all women in Canada for how to lead a life of continuous growth and contribution.
Many will know Jacqueline Lewis from her pioneering practice and leadership in immigration law—which she continues to this day.
In her volunteer role as President of EGALE, Jacki has been instrumental in the construction of “Friends of Dorothy” a residence that provides both a home and support services for GLBT youth in Toronto.
Jacki is a teacher, an organizer, a sports woman extraordinaire, and a community builder. Jacki has been the founder of meetup groups and the owner of a Women’s Bike Touring Company and is continually encourage those around her to try something new.
Jacki’s contributions and creations—no matter what they are—demonstrate her kind and supportive nature, which she extends to all those who she meets.
Jacqueline Lewis is more than just an extraordinary lawyer, she’s a leader, a mentor, and a force for justice. Working at her firm, I’ve seen firsthand her unwavering dedication to her clients and her deep commitment to making a difference. She has built one of the most respected law firms in Canada, tirelessly championing human rights, refugee law, and LGBTQ+ advocacy. But beyond her legal brilliance, it’s her generosity in mentoring the next generation of advocates that truly sets her apart. Her nomination for the International Women in the Law Award is well-earned, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving.
It is with great enthusiasm that I write in support of Jacki’s nomination for the International Women in the Law Award by WONE Global. While I have not had the privilege of working directly with Jacki, her remarkable achievements and dedication to the field of Refugee Law and immigration issues are widely recognized and deeply inspiring.
Jacqueline Lewis is an outstanding lawyer, leader and human being. She never ceases to amaze me with her love for the profession, compassion, empathy and generosity.
I am blessed to have the privilege to work with and learn from her.
Jacki is an amazing, well-rounded, compassionate, jovial, energetic, and smart woman. She built one of the best immigration/refugee law firms in Canada. She is committed to diversity and helping people (and animals). I am proud that Jacki was my mentor and helped me grow as a professional. Her optimism is contagious!
Jacki is a great lawyer, one of the most compassionate advocates for vulnerable people and a great friend for anyone who worked with her. Having had the privilege of working under her supervision during my articling, I witnessed firsthand her remarkable dedication to the legal profession, her compassionate approach to advocacy, and her unwavering commitment to access to justice for vulnerable communities.
Her leadership, mentorship, and commitment to fostering a more equitable legal system have left a lasting impact on me and countless others who have had the honor of working with her. I wholeheartedly support her nomination and firmly believe that she is a deserving recipient of this distinguished award. Her contributions to the legal community and her relentless pursuit of justice continue to inspire those around her.