Debbie Rachlis Law
1 lawyer · City of Toronto
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 425 handling Immigration Law.
About Debbie Rachlis Law
Debbie Rachlis Law is a solo immigration and refugee law practice on Danforth Avenue in Toronto. Debbie Rachlis was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2015 after earning a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, a BA from Trent University, and an MA in political economy from Carleton University. Rachlis articled and then worked as an associate at Waldman & Associates, a Toronto immigration firm, until 2018, spent several years as a staff lawyer at the HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario, and returned to private practice in October 2022.
The practice handles refugee claims and appeals, permanent residence and Express Entry applications, temporary residence, family sponsorship, inadmissibility matters, and citizenship applications. Rachlis appears before all divisions of the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada, and has represented public interest interveners at the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. Rachlis also teaches a course on refugee protection and trauma-informed client service in Queen's University's Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law program and serves on the board of directors of the Junior Refugee & Immigration Lawyers Network, and speaks English with intermediate French.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Called to the Bar of Ontario in 2015 and has practiced exclusively in immigration and refugee law since.
- Articled and worked as an associate at Waldman & Associates, a Toronto immigration and refugee law firm, until 2018.
- Worked as a staff lawyer at the HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario from 2019, then returned to private practice in October 2022.
In the community
- Teaches ICL 860, Refugee Protection and Trauma-Informed Client Service, in Queen's University's Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law program.
- Serves on the board of directors of the Junior Refugee & Immigration Lawyers Network.
- Accepts Legal Aid Ontario certificates for refugee appellate and refugee general matters.
Good to know
Woman-owned
LGBTQ+ friendly
Free parking
In-person servicesLawyers 1
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
The office sits on Danforth Avenue, the long east-west strip that begins near the Prince Edward Viaduct and runs through Toronto's east end. Because the practice's work is federal immigration and refugee law rather than local litigation, it deals mainly with the Immigration and Refugee Board, the Federal Court of Canada, and federal immigration offices rather than a nearby courthouse. Clients meet with the firm by appointment only, Monday to Friday.
Frequently asked questions
- Can Debbie Rachlis Law help with a refugee claim or appeal?
- Yes. The practice represents clients in refugee claims and appeals before all divisions of the Immigration and Refugee Board, and before the Federal Court of Canada when a matter goes further.
- Does the firm handle permanent residence and Express Entry applications?
- Yes. Debbie Rachlis Law handles permanent residence applications, including Express Entry, along with temporary residence and family sponsorship applications.
- Does Debbie Rachlis Law accept Legal Aid Ontario certificates?
- Yes, for refugee appellate and refugee general matters, according to the firm's Legal Aid Ontario listing.
- What languages does the firm work in?
- Debbie Rachlis speaks English and has intermediate French.
- Does the firm appear in court, or only at immigration hearings?
- Both. Rachlis appears before the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada, and has represented public interest interveners at the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.
- Where is the office and how do I book a consultation?
- The office is at 253 Danforth Ave in Toronto. It's open by appointment Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, and consultations can be requested through the firm's website.
Where to find them
253 Danforth Ave, Toronto, Ontario M4K 1N2 · 647-692-7120
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