— Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
Nicole DeBellefeuille completed articles with the Firm in May of 2021, commencing her Associateship in July of the same year.
Following her 2017 Criminology degree from Saint Mary’s University in her hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Ms. DeBellefeuille went on to complete her J.D at Queen’s Law in Kingston, Ontario. It is here her passion for criminal law directed her to enrol in classes such as sentencing, bias in the criminal justice system, criminal law theory and international criminal law. This passion culminated with a supervisory role at Queen’s
Legal Aid clinic upon her graduation, where she worked throughout her tenure at Queen’s Law School.
Ms. DeBellefeuille came to realize marginalized populations faced inequities and barriers at every stage of the criminal justice system. This solidified her decision to focus her legal career on criminal defence. Ms. DeBellefeuille sees her role as not only providing the best possible defence, but also aiding her clients in navigating the complexities of the criminal justice system.
Given her extensive exposure to “search and seizure” element during Articling, Ms. DeBellefeuille believes ensuring the loft principles found within the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms are realized by the State agents driving the criminal justice system. She sees her role in this equation practiced through her career thusly; “If there is a legal argument to be made in upholding a client’s Charter freedoms, I will be there.”
When not advocating for her clients, Ms. DeBellefeuille enjoys reading, painting, and spending time outdoors.
