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.

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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.

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.