Leah Shafran Law
1 lawyer · Established 2020 · City of Toronto
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 455 handling Criminal Defence.
About Leah Shafran Law
Leah Shafran Law is a solo criminal defence practice with an office on University Avenue in downtown Toronto, serving clients across the Greater Toronto Area. Shafran founded the firm in 2020 after five years as an associate at a criminal defence firm, having articled with two criminal defence lawyers earlier on. The path to the bar was cross border: an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario, then law degrees from both the University of Windsor in Canada and the University of Detroit Mercy in the United States, with a law school internship at the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office in Detroit.
The practice covers indictable and summary criminal matters in the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice, and extends to hearings before the Ontario Review Board and the Parole Board of Canada. Case types range from driving offences, assault, and property crimes up to more serious matters such as murder, manslaughter, and drug and firearms charges. Legal Aid Ontario lists Shafran as a roster lawyer for criminal matters, extremely serious matters, Ontario Review Board work, and Gladue submissions.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Founded the firm in 2020 after five years as an associate at a criminal defence firm.
- Holds law degrees from both the University of Windsor in Canada and the University of Detroit Mercy in the United States.
- Licensed with the Law Society of Ontario.
- Belongs to the Criminal Lawyers' Association, Women in Canadian Criminal Defence, and the Law and Mental Disorder Association.
- Listed as a Legal Aid Ontario roster lawyer for criminal, extremely serious, Ontario Review Board, and Gladue matters.
Good to know
By appointmentLawyers 1
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
The office sits at 439 University Avenue, on the same downtown Toronto street as the Superior Court of Justice location at 361 University Avenue, which hears criminal trials along with detention reviews, applications, and motions. For a practice built around indictable and summary criminal matters, that puts the firm within an easy walk of one of the courthouses where the work actually gets argued, rather than commuting in from further out.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Leah Shafran Law accept Legal Aid Ontario certificates?
- Yes. Legal Aid Ontario lists Leah Shafran as a roster lawyer for criminal matters, extremely serious matters, Ontario Review Board hearings, and Gladue submissions, so clients who qualify for legal aid can retain the firm on a certificate.
- What kinds of criminal charges does the firm handle?
- The firm's services page lists a wide range, from driving offences, assault, and property crimes like theft and fraud to more serious matters including drug and firearms charges, sexual offences, and murder and manslaughter.
- Does the firm represent clients at parole hearings or Ontario Review Board hearings?
- Yes. Alongside criminal trials in the Superior Court of Justice and Ontario Court of Justice, the firm appears before the Ontario Review Board and the Parole Board of Canada.
- Can Leah Shafran Law help with a Gladue sentencing submission?
- Legal Aid Ontario's roster lists Gladue as one of the firm's areas of practice, alongside criminal and extremely serious matters.
- How long has Leah Shafran Law been practising?
- Leah Shafran founded the firm in 2020, after five years as an associate at a criminal defence firm and time spent articling with two criminal defence lawyers before that.
- Where is the office and how do I reach it?
- The office is at 439 University Avenue, Suite 1530, in downtown Toronto. The firm can be reached by phone or text at 416-907-0501, by email, or through the contact form on its website.
Where to find them
439 University Avenue, Suite 1530, Toronto, Ontario M5G-1Y8 · 416-907-0501
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Personal InjuryListing compiled from the firm’s public website in August 2026. Verify licence status in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗