Cassandra Richards

Cassandra is a dedicated criminal defence lawyer, practising in Ontario, Quebec and Nunavut. She represents youth and adult clients facing all types of criminal charges, provides independent legal advice to complainants and witnesses, and equally represents clients on appeal. She has appeared at all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. No matter the case before the court, she is a fierce advocate for her clients.

Before joining Bayne Sellar Ertel Macrae, Cassandra worked at a boutique criminal law firm in Ottawa. She previously taught at McGill University’s Faculty of Law on Self-Represented Litigants. One of the first courses to be offered in Canadian law schools focused on self-represented litigants and access to justice. She currently teaches Appellate Advocacy at the University of Ottawa Law Faculty and in the Department of Criminology at Carleton University.

Beyond the courtroom, Cassandra is deeply involved in the legal and broader community. She serves on the boards of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association as the Co-Chair of the Legislation Committee and is the Vice-Chair of YouTurn, a youth empowerment organization. She previously served four years as a director for the Defence Counsel Association of Ottawa where she organized continuing education programs for young lawyers. She also mentors university students, supervises volunteers with the University of Ottawa’s Ticket Defence Program, and is an avid writer, publishing academically and in the media.

Cassandra is passionate about access to justice, community empowerment and alternative conflict resolution.

Cassandra est en mesure d’offrir ses services dans les deux langues officielles.