Jemma O’Malley

I am an articling student at Strategic Criminal Defence, a full-service criminal defence law office, with central offices in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Victoria, Saskatchewan, and Toronto.

My practice is based in Calgary.

I earned my Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies at McGill University, where I wrote my Honours thesis on the legal recourse available to irregular migrants. I went on to earn my Juris Doctor from the University of Victoria, Faculty of Law, where I was awarded scholarships for academic excellence.

During my second year of law school, I spent a semester on exchange at University College Cork in Ireland, where I completed postgraduate coursework in International Human Rights and Criminal Law, developing a deeper understanding of jurisdictional issues in transnational prosecutions.

I gained significant practical experience working as temporary articling student at a busy criminal defence firm in Victoria, BC during law school. Drafting applications, appearing daily in courthouses across BC, and working with clients on bail and sentencing matters, taught me that good advocacy is built on trust, empathy, and a commitment to thorough preparation.

During law school, I also reviewed criminal disclosure and prepared initial legal strategies for a defence firm in Calgary. This sharpened my ability to identify early strategic decisions that can affect a client’s entire file. I also wrote blog content for Strategic Criminal Defence, lending me insight into criminal procedure in Alberta.

I bring diligence and compassion to my work, and care deeply about walking alongside clients through some of the hardest moments of their lives. I am committed to listening closely to clients, understanding what matters most to them, and working under the guidance of the experienced lawyers at Strategic Criminal Defence to pursue the best possible outcome for every person I represent.