Ellen Sutherland

I am a Criminal Defence lawyer at Strategic Criminal Defence Edmonton. Strategic Criminal Defence Law is a Full Service Criminal Defence Law Office, with central offices across Western Canada and Toronto.

My litigation style is client-focused.

Often those who are charged with criminal offences feel silenced or ignored by the justice system. My practice is driven by a desire to make my client’s voices heard at every stage of criminal proceedings.

I begin each file with an in-depth meeting to understand my clients’ unique personal circumstances, concerns, and thoughts before we ever step foot into a courtroom. Regular meetings and updates ensure that my clients always know what is occurring in their file and fully understand the court process.

Starting from this basis allows me to personalize your representation from our very first meeting and ensures we achieve the best results possible for your situation.

I received my Bachelor of Arts with Distinction in English Literature with a minor in History from the University of Alberta. During my degree I worked as the editor of the History department’s Constellations magazine, and regularly appeared as a lecturer within the History department and academic conferences.

I attended law school at the University of Calgary. I was heavily involved with the university’s Student Legal Assistance program, guiding marginalized individuals through their legal matters. I went on to serve as the Education Executive of that program for two years, educating student caseworkers in how to offer high quality and informed legal representation.

During law school I received a number of awards including:

• Scholarship of Merit,
• Student Legal Assistance Caseworker of the Year Award for Client Advocacy, and
• Donnel O. Sabey Q.C. Prize in Advocacy Law for Superior Oral Advocacy.

In my second year of law school I summered with the Edmonton Rural Prosecution, gaining valuable experience into how Crown Prosecutors approach charges. I continue to leverage this experience to my client’s advantage in reviewing files and using my positive working relationships with the Prosecution to negotiate and obtain excellent results for my clients.

Throughout law school I worked as a Gladue Report resource writer in preparing sentencing reports for Indigenous individuals. This work underscored my third-year research project into the impact of the most recent Criminal Code amendments on the court’s ability to effectively consider Gladue Reports.

Prior to practicing at Strategic Criminal Defence, I articled and launched my practice at a high-calibre Alberta defence firm where I assisted on serious trial matters including murder, sexual assault, trafficking, and fraud in preliminary inquiries, trials, and jury trials.

I am a current and active member of the Alberta Criminal Trial Lawyers Association  (CTLA). As part of CTLA Sub-Committee on Indigenous Incarceration, and I have appeared as a lecturer for Native Counselling Services of Alberta at their annual training session.

I also have a strong focus on Immediate Roadside Sanctions litigation in Alberta, and recently presented to CTLA lawyers on the latest changes and defences in IRS litigation.

In a short period of time, I garnered an impressive track record, effectively safeguarding the interests of numerous individuals across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia in their legal battles. Not only have I successfully defended cases at provincial trial courts, superior courts, and the Court of Appeal, but I’ve also appeared extensively at various tribunals, including the Parole Board of Canada, SafeRoads Alberta, and Edmonton District Soccer Association, to name a few. My practice continues to encompass all areas of criminal law, traffic offences, and quasi-criminal tribunal matters.

I have represented clients in the following practice areas with a high degree of success:

• Domestic assaults and Violent Crime
• Sexual Assault and Interference
• Child Pornography
• Fraud
• Firearms and Weapons Offences
• Trafficking and Simple Possession
• Impaired Driving and Provincial (IRS) Appeals
• Fraud and Property Offences
• Young Offenders
• Parole Board Hearings

I will represent any client on any charge. Whatever the circumstances you find yourself in, I am pleased to offer a personalized approach to your charges.

If you have been charged with an offence, expect to be charged, are seeking independent legal advice, or are simply unsure of what your legal options are, contact me for a free and flexible legal consultation, be it by video, over the phone, or in person.

• Domestic assaults and Violent Crime
• Sexual Assault and Interference
• Child Pornography
• Fraud
• Firearms and Weapons Offences
• Trafficking and Simple Possession
• Impaired Driving and Provincial (IRS) Appeals
• Fraud and Property Offences
• Young Offenders
• Parole Board Hearings

• Bachelor of Arts with Distinction in English Literature with a minor in History from the University of Alberta.
• Juris Doctor (JD) at the University of Calgary

• Alleged Beltline injunction violators granted release pending contempt hearing
• Alberta parole board heard fewer than 100 cases in its first 15 months
• Senior Crown ordered to recuse weeks after conduct questioned at COA