November 25, 2022

The Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (British Columbia) Society (FACL BC) expresses its warmest congratulations to Justice Mabel Lai on her appointment to the Ontario Court of Justice. Prior to her appointment, Justice Lai was the President of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers Ontario (FACL ON), having previously served on the organization’s board of directors for a number of years.

Justice Lai graduated from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering in 2006 and the University of Toronto Faculty of Law in 2009. Following graduation, she clerked for the Court of Appeal for Ontario before being called to the Ontario Bar in 2010. Prior to her appointment, she was Crown Counsel at the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Crown Law Office (Criminal) and her practice included prosecuting allegations against police and cases involving large-scale fraud. Justice Lai appeared before the Court of Appeal for Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada on numerous criminal law appeals. She has also made numerous presentations to the judiciary about digital and expert evidence in criminal law and since 2019, she managed the training of provincial wiretap agents and advised and provided education to federal Crown and other policing partners.

In addition to her involvement with FACL ON, Justice Lai also served on the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Research Ethics Board, participated in mentorship programs, and coached the Osgoode Hall Gale Cup moot team for eight years.

The judicial appointment of Justice Lai is a monumental and celebratory occasion for the national Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers network. A diverse bench that reflects Ontario’s diverse communities and their perspectives and experiences increases public trust and confidence in the judiciary and improves the administration of justice. FACL BC strongly believes that the appointment of an Asian Canadian woman with a demonstrated history of being committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within the legal profession will strengthen Ontario’s judicial system, access to justice, and the ability of other young Asian Canadian women to see themselves reflected in positions of authority and repute.