Toronto Sexual Abuse Lawyer

I'm Pam Hrick

Partner

My work is grounded in supporting survivors with dignity, clarity, and choice. I help people navigate some of the most difficult and complex moments of their lives, and I believe every survivor deserves to understand their options and feel in control of their decisions. My approach is steady, transparent, and respectful of the strength and autonomy each person brings to their own path forward.

phrick@lerners.ca

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Your Story on Your Terms

Survivors deserve legal support that centres their needs and their autonomy. I take time to understand what matters most to each client and ensure they feel safe sharing their story at their own pace. My role is to create space for choice — not pressure — and to provide clear information so you can make decisions that feel right for you. I strive to bring calm and clarity to a process that can otherwise feel overwhelming. My goal is that every client feels heard and supported, not only in the outcome of their case but in how we get there together.

Clarity in Complexity

The legal system can feel intimidating, especially for survivors. I work to demystify each step by explaining what to expect, why it matters, and how it connects to your goals. I encourage open questions and honest conversations, and I make sure you always understand the choices available to you. My priority is ensuring you feel informed and empowered, not rushed or overwhelmed. Together, we discuss the decisions you want to make in a way that supports your safety, your wellbeing, and your sense of agency.

let's talk

Office Address & Hours

Standing for Dignity and Equality

Strengthening Communities and Systems

Education

Awards & Recognitions

Publications & Media

Key Legal Matters

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Toronto Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Pam Hrick

Partner

phrick@lerners.ca

Your Story on Your Terms

Clarity in Complexity

Standing for Dignity and Equality

I have appeared as counsel at all levels of court in Ontario, as well as at the Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada. Before joining the firm, I served as Executive Director and General Counsel of the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF), where I helped lead national litigation to advance constitutional and equality rights, including the rights of sexual assault survivors.

These experiences have shaped my commitment to principled, thoughtful advocacy. I am known for bringing order to complex situations, providing strategic guidance, and advocating with clarity and purpose. Clients and colleagues often describe me as empathetic, deeply prepared, and unwavering when it comes to advocating for my clients’ rights.

Strengthening Communities and Systems

Beyond my work with clients, I serve as an elected bencher of the Law Society of Ontario and as an adjudicator with the Law Society Tribunal, where I help uphold fairness and accountability in the profession. I have also contributed to community organizations focused on equity and inclusion, including serving on the board of The 519, an organization that serves and advocates for 2SLGBTQ+ communities.

These roles deepen my commitment to addressing the systemic barriers many survivors face. They remind me that justice is not only about individual cases — it is about building legal systems and communities where dignity, respect, and equality are upheld for everyone.

Education

Admitted to Ontario Bar (2014)
ICD Directors Education Program, University of Toronto Rotman School of Management (2026)
GCU.D, General Counsel University Leadership Program, Women General Counsel Canada (2023)
Master of Laws, New York University (2019)
Juris Doctor, Queen’s University (2013)
Bachelor of Social Science, University of Ottawa (2007)

Awards & Recognitions

Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada (Canadian Lawyer Magazine, 2025)
President’s Award (Women’s Law Association of Ontario, 2025)
Excellence Awardee, Female Trailblazer of the Year, Academia & In-House (Canadian Law Awards, 2025)
Dan Soberman Outstanding Young Alumni Award (Queen’s Law, 2022)
Lexpert Rising Star, Leading Lawyers Under 40 (Lexpert Magazine, 2022)
Douglas Miller Rising Star Award (Canadian Bar Association, 2021)
Precedent Setter Award (Precedent Magazine, 2021)
Leader to be Proud Of (Start Proud, 2018)
Medal in Law – Second Highest Standing (Queen’s University, 2013)

Publications & Media

Guest, “There Has To Be a Better Way: Rethinking Justice in the Hockey Canada Case” (Lawyer Life Podcast, September 2025)
Co-Author, “The criminal justice system keeps failing sexual assault survivors. There has to be a better way” (The Globe and Mail, June 9, 2025)
Panellist, “Hot Topics in Admin Law” (Canadian Bar Association, Administrative Law, Labour and Employment Law Conference, 2024)
Panellist, “Myths, Stereotypes, and Common Sense: Navigating the Legal Principles and Pitfalls of #IYKYK in Sexual Abuse Cases” (CNAR, October 2024)
Co-Author, “Advancing Equality Outside the Four Corners of Section 15” (Supreme Court Law Review, 2024, Vol. 114 (2d))
Panellist, “How to Navigate Hot Button Issues” (Ontario Bar Association 23rd Annual Charter Conference, October 2, 2024)
Guest, “Gender Equality Law” (Lawyered Podcast, September 2024)
Guest, “Addressing Inter-Partner and Gender-Based Violence” (Law Syrup Podcast by OJEN, August 2024)
Witness, Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF), Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs (Bill S-250, 2024; Bill S-12, 2023; Bill C-5, 2022), House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (Bill S-12, 2023; Bill C-28, 2022), Senate Standing Committee on Indigenous Peoples (Study on the constitutional, treaty, political and legal responsibilities to First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples: Canadian Human Rights Framework, 2023)
Panellist, “International Women’s Day – Inspiring Inclusion for a More Sustainable Future” (Women General Counsel Canada, March 7, 2024)
Faculty, The Advocates’ Society Women in Litigation Symposium: Forging Your Own Path (October 27, 2023)
Co-Author, “Survivors of sexual violence should have greater access to restorative justice” (The Globe and Mail, October 19, 2023)
Panellist, “Equality Rights: Reflections on the Current Landscape” (Ontario Bar Association 22nd Annual Charter Conference, October 4, 2023)
Presenter, “Intimate Partner Violence, Domestic Homicide and Firearms” (Canadian Academy of Health Sciences Conference, September 27, 2023)
Panellist, “Where Talent Meets Intersectionality” (Start Proud Out on Bay Street Conference, September 15, 2023)
Featured Speaker, “Queer perspectives on professional challenges and mental health” (Law Society of Ontario, OBA and OBA Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Community Pride Month Event, June 13, 2023)
Co-Author, “Sexual assault survivors need more control over publication bans” (The Toronto Star, June 12, 2023)
Panellist, “Intervening for Equality” (David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights, Litigating Equality in Canada Symposium, May 26, 2023)
Author, “Harassment and abuse are not limited to men’s hockey. We need a public inquiry into all of Canadian sport” (The Toronto Star, August 11, 2022)
Guest, “Should ‘self-induced extreme intoxication’ be a valid defence for murder or sexual assault?” (The Big Story Podcast, June 2022)
Co-Author, “The Saturday Debate: Should cameras be allowed in Canadian courtrooms?” (The Toronto Star, June 18, 2022)
Co-Author, “What is true and what is false about the Supreme Court of Canada’s extreme intoxication ruling” (The Globe and Mail, May 19, 2022)
Panellist, “Driving change through political and government channels” (RODA’s 7th Annual Diversity Conference with the OBA: Systemic Change What Role Will You Play?, November 23, 2021)
Panellist, “Rights in Real Life: Justice Abella’s Legacy in Constitutional and Human Rights Law” (CBA Leadership Online Symposium, Threading Equality Through the Law: The Legacy of Justice Rosalie Abella, October 7, 2021)
Co-Author, “Protecting against online gender-based violence and harassment” (The Toronto Star, April 28, 2021)
Author, “The Potential of Centralized and Statutorily Empowered Bodies to Advance a Survivor-Centred Approach to Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Women” (in The Emerald International Handbook of Technology-facilitated Violence and Abuse, Bailey, Flynn, and Henry, eds., Emerald Publishing, 2021)
Witness, The 519, Ontario Legislature’s Standing Committee on General Government (Bill 213, 2020)
Co-Author, “Judges need access to justice, too – or we risk public confidence in the entire system” (The Globe and Mail, June 8, 2020)
Co-Author and Panellist, “Justiciability and Jurisdiction in Judicial Review: A Primer on Recent Developments” (presented at the Canadian Bar Association, Administrative Law, Labour and Employment Law Conference, “Justiciability: What is a justiciable issue?” Panel, 2019)
Author, “Proposed change to Ontario law fails to protect against online sexual abuse” (The Toronto Star, December 12, 2019)
Co-Author, “Re-examining Defamation Law in a Digital Age: The Landscape of Law Reform in Ontario” (Media Law Resource Center London Conference, 2019)
Co-Author, “The Supreme Court’s Jarvis ruling delivers a win for privacy, but it’s a missed opportunity for equality” (The Globe and Mail, February 14, 2019)
Author and Panellist, “Public Interest Interventions Before Administrative Tribunals” (presented at the Canadian Bar Association, Administrative Law, Labour and Employment Law Conference, “Public interest intervention and standing in administrative hearings” Panel, 2018)
Co-Author, “Reasonable, Correct or Simply Fair?: Exploring the Standard of Review for Procedural Decisions” (presented at the Ontario Bar Association’s Institute, Ten Years Later: Coherence and Consistency in Administrative Practice Post-Dunsmuir, 2018)
Co-Author, “Sketching the Boundaries: Active Adjudication As a Means of Enhancing Fairness in Tribunal Proceedings” (presented at the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Six-Minute Administrative Lawyer Conference, 2017)
Co-Editor, In Furtherance of Justice: The Judicial Life of Thomas A. Cromwell (Markham, Ont.: LexisNexis Canada, 2017)
Co-Author, “A Guide to Third Party Records Applications Under the Mills Regime” (Ontario Bar Association Charter Conference, 2016)
Author, “A Dangerous Step Backwards: The Implications of Conditional Permanent Resident Status for Sponsored Immigrant Women in Abusive Relationships” (Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies, 2012)

Key Legal Matters

Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia (SCC File No. 41061; decision pending). Acted for the intervener Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund in an appeal dealing with whether the Court should recognize a common law tort of family violence.
Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform v. Attorney General, 2023 ONSC 5197: Acted for the intervener Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund in an application challenging the constitutionality of Canada’s sex work laws.
Canadian Federation of Students v. Ontario (Colleges and Universities), 2021 ONCA 553: Acted for the interveners Start Proud and Guelph Queer Equality in this appeal dealing with the lawfulness of Ontario’s “Student Choice Initiative” ancillary fee framework applicable to post-secondary institutions.
R. v. Lim #4, 2021 ONSC 45: Acted for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in an application for production of materials in its possession in the context of a criminal sexual assault trial.
Smith v. Canada (Attorney General), 2020 FC 629: Acted for the applicant Ontario Superior Court judge on a successful judicial review related to a Canadian Judicial Council proceeding.
1704604 Ontario Limited v. Pointes Protection Association, et al., 2020 SCC 22: Acted for an intervener coalition of the Centre for Free Expression, the Canadian Association of Journalists, and the Communications Workers of America / Canada in an appeal dealing with the scope and application of Ontario’s anti-SLAPP legislation.
Hamlet of Clyde River et al. v. Petroleum Geo-Services Inc. et al., 2017 SCC 40: Successfully represented the Inuit appellants in this case dealing with the Crown’s constitutional duty to consult Aboriginal peoples in the context of a National Energy Board authorization process for seismic testing. In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court agreed that the NEB’s authorization should be quashed due to a lack of adequate consultation.
S.C. v. N.S., 2017 ONSC 5566. Acted for the intervener, Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, in a civil appeal addressing the issue of whether parties must seek directions from the court prior to using evidence subject to the deemed undertaking rule pursuant to exceptions to the rule.
Acting as counsel for various individual and institutional clients in judicial review proceedings before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Federal Court, and the Federal Court of Appeal.
Representing and advising sexual assault survivors on civil remedies and on applications affecting their rights in criminal proceedings.

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