Claire Hatcher

About Claire

Claire Hatcher has practiced as a criminal defence lawyer in Vancouver since 2003, handling trials from Provincial Court through the Supreme Court of British Columbia and appeals to the British Columbia Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. She represents clients from across the province and has become known for defending impaired driving and drug cases as well as sexual assault cases involving a breach of trust, including offences committed by teachers against students. She was invited to act as counsel for participants in the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, examining the police investigation and prosecution of serial killer Robert William Pickton, and has a substantial practice in civilian oversight of policing, regularly appearing in Police Act proceedings and before the Human Rights Tribunal. She is occasionally retained by the Attorney General to act as ad hoc Crown counsel. Claire graduated from the University of Victoria's Faculty of Law and holds an Honours degree in Sociology and Family and Child Studies from the University of Guelph. She is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Criminal Defence Advocacy Society, and the Association of Legal Aid Lawyers, sits on the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia's Criminal Defense Committee and the International Federation for Criminal Law Reform, and serves on the board of the REACH Child and Youth Development Society.

Practice areas

Education & credentials

Law school

University of Victoria

Undergraduate

University of Guelph, Honours Sociology and Family and Child Studies