(604) 200-9080 lawyer@adriennesmithlaw.com
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Adrienne Smith is a transgender human rights activist and social justice lawyer. They recently argued a BC human rights case which clarified employers’ obligations to recognize correct pronouns for transgender and non-binary workers. Adrienne appeared at the BC Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada where they argued about the deleterious effects of mandatory minimum sentences for women, indigenous people, and drug users, and made submissions in defence of transgender children under section 15 of the Charter. As a trade union activist, they advocate for transgender inclusion in our unions and workplaces. Adrienne is the litigation director at the Catherine White Holman Wellness Clinic where they give free legal advice, take on human rights cases, and notarize name and gender change documents for trans people.
They hold a double honours undergraduate degree in English Literature and Geography (2000), a Masters in Human Geography (2005), and a Juris Doctor (2013) all from the University of British Columbia; and a Legum Magister (Masters of Law) from Osgoode Hall at York University (2024). They held a UBC undergraduate entrance scholarship for 4 years, and the Geography Alumni Award during their undergraduate degree. They received a University Graduate Fellowship and were named the Green College Scholar. They were called to the bar in British Columbia in 2014.
Adrienne is the recipient of the Canadian Bar Association BC Diversity Award; the Canadian Mental Health Association BC Branch Nancy Hall Public Policy Leadership Award; the Allard Law Alumni Achievement Award; the Vancouver and District Labour Council Syd Thompson Award for Community Service; the BC Federation of Labour Joy Langan Award for Social Justice, The Canadian Bar Association’s Sexual and Gender Diversity Alliance Section Hero Award for support to the 2SLGBT+ community, and The Advocates Society Joe Arvay Award for advancing the law under challenging circumstances.