Michelle Lawrence

Michelle Lawrence is an Associate Professor at the University of Victoria Faculty of Law and Director of the Access to Justice Centre for Excellence, with prior experience as a national law firm partner in Vancouver specializing in criminal litigation, civil disputes, and regulatory proceedings. She currently serves as Alternate Chair of the B.C. Review Board.

Her educational credentials include a Master of Laws from the University of Cambridge and a Ph.D. in Criminology from Simon Fraser University, completed as a Trudeau Scholar.

Dr. Lawrence's research critically examines criminal law, evidence, sentencing, and Indigenous legal frameworks, driving innovation through Canada's first open-access criminal law casebook (Criminal Law: Canadian Law, Indigenous Laws & Critical Perspectives) and foundational contributions to Canadian Criminal Jury Instructions. Her work bridges scholarly rigor with practical legal reform, emphasizing marginalized communities' access to justice.

Her honors include:

• Trudeau Scholar
• Terry J. Wuester Teaching Award (awarded twice)

Administrative leadership defines her academic service: two Associate Dean appointments, chairmanship of UVic's Senate Committee on Appeals, and Associate Directorship of the FREDA Research Centre on Violence Against Women and Children demonstrate sustained commitment to institutional governance and gender-based violence research.

She directs the Access to Justice Centre for Excellence—a hub for systemic legal reform—and previously shaped anti-violence initiatives through the FREDA Research Centre, reflecting her dual focus on theoretical scholarship and community impact.