Cara Lebenzon

I’m a passionate, driven and experienced criminal defence lawyer at Strategic Criminal Defence, a full-service criminal defence law office, with central offices in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Victoria, Saskatchewan, and Toronto.

Unlike many lawyers who only travel to Southern Alberta occasionally, I am based and operate out of our dedicated Lethbridge office. From our local office center, I am able to service Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and other local Southern Alberta circuit points, including:

1. Taber,
2. Fort Macleod,
3. Pincher Creek,
4. Cardston, and
5. Brooks

Being criminally charged is one of the worst crises someone can experience. Those accused may feel helpless and alone in trying to navigate the complexities of the Criminal Justice System. Because of this, I assist every client with a compassion-forward approach, while fiercely protecting their rights and interests against the power of the state.

I received my Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Ottawa, steps away from the Supreme Court of Canada where I studied Trial Advocacy, Mental Health & Criminal Law and other advanced, specialized Criminal Law courses. I competed in an Appellate Moot Competition in my first year and completed 3 internships with high profile criminal defence lawyers.

I earned a Master of Arts degree in Political Science and lived abroad for 6 years working at global tech start-ups.

Before that, I received my Bachelor of Arts at the University of Calgary in International Relations, with a focus in Middle-East Security Strategy and a minor in Political Science.

I completed my Articles and have practiced law in Lethbridge and the Southern Alberta region since 2022, dealing with a diversity of cases involving first degree murder, criminal and administrative NAP impaired driving and DUI cases, sex assault, technology crime, property crime, fraud, domestic violence, drug and weapons offences and more.

I’ve been voted by ThreeBestRated as the best DUI Lawyer in Lethbridge, having cleared a 50-point professional inspection of reviews, history and legal mastery in this area.

I’ve developed a keen interest in helping people navigate the nexus between mental health, addiction and criminal justice both in Court and at the Review Board stage. I engage these sensitive cases with a trauma-informed approach where I lead with empathy while advocating zealously for marginalized clients.

I have an extensive youth practice with a particular interest in assisting exceptionally vulnerable youth in navigating their charges through the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). I have secured additional accreditation through Legal Aid Alberta to join the Legal Aid Youth Panel – a roster of lawyers with interest, aptitude, and experience representing young people facing criminal charges.

Being located next to the largest Indigenous Community in Canada, I’ve been fortunate to connect with members of the Kainai and Piikani First Nations to gain a better understanding of restorative justice, healing and reconciliation from an Indigenous perspective.

I have met and exceeded the Legal Aid Alberta competency standard to join the Legal Aid Designated Sexual Offence Panel due to my experience and competency in this ever-evolving area of the law. The minimum standards require, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Criminal law experience, particularly experience in sexual assault law.
2. Experience providing legal advice to complainants or witnesses in legal proceedings.
3. Training or experience in trauma-informed legal practice or client-centred lawyering.

Sexual offence cases are among the most complex and sensitive areas of criminal law, requiring strong legal and evidentiary skills. I am acutely aware of the grit necessary to deal with such cases and have the disposition and accreditation to handle any situation.

Beyond assisting individual clients, I play a critical role in my local community promoting access to justice and service to the legal profession.

President of Southern Alberta Defence Lawyers’ Association (SADL)

I am currently the President of the Southern Alberta Defence Lawyers’ Association (SADL). In this role, I represent the majority of the Southern Alberta criminal defence lawyers on various issues involving the Courts, Crown Prosecutors, Legal Aid, Access to Justice, and the community at large.

Lethbridge Bar Association (LBA) and Women in Canadian Criminal Defence (WICCD)

I’m also an active executive board member for the Lethbridge Bar Association (LBA) and the Southern Alberta regional representative for WICCD (Women in Canadian Criminal Defence), which is national organization with a membership of hundreds of female defence lawyers.

Lethbridge Legal Guidance

Finally, I ensure to make time as a regular volunteer at Lethbridge Legal Guidance, providing pro-bono legal advice to community members in need and I present at educational workshops for at-risk youth to help them better understand their legal rights.

I’ve had the benefit of receiving excellent mentorship throughout my career and believe in passing it forward onto the next generation of lawyers. Engaging in mentorship, teaching and positively contributing to the future of the profession are extremely important to me.

There’s often a barrier between the justice system and the public that creates myths and stereotypes about accused people and our Constitutional rights as Canadians. I believe it’s important to build bridges and connect with the community to provide different perspectives about the Criminal Justice System. I’ve even appeared numerous times on local news stations to discuss hot topics in criminal law to advance these efforts. One recent example is my commentary on Canadians’ ability to defend their homes without prosecution.

My diverse educational and professional background means I’ve worked with individuals from all over the world and from all walks of life. This experience has taught me the value of cultural humility and how to actively listen and learn from people. I’ve taken this skillset into client advocacy and am eager to get to know potential new clients so that we can figure out together how I can best assist them and advance their interests.