The Federation of Law Societies of Canada is pleased to announce that Teresa Donnelly has been elected President for 2024-2025. Ms. Donnelly, who joined the Federation Council in 2022, brings extensive public service experience through her career as a prosecutor with the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General since 1994. Her work focuses on increasing access to justice for victims of domestic and sexual violence, the overwhelming majority of whom are women and children. Since 2015, she has served as the West Region Sexual Violence Crown, part of a specialized team of prosecutors dedicated to enhancing the quality of sexual violence prosecutions in Ontario and across Canada.

With a reputation for dedicated leadership and a commitment to advancing the public interest, Ms. Donnelly served as Treasurer of the Law Society of Ontario from 2020 to 2022, where she focused on wellness, equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigenous reconciliation within the legal profession; and the important role that paralegals play in Ontario in increasing access to justice. 

In recognition of her career contributions, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the Law Society of Ontario in 2024. Ms. Donnelly’s work to support mental health, elevate professional standards, and promote inclusivity has strengthened the legal profession’s response to contemporary challenges, positioning her as a champion for progress within Canada’s legal community.

The Federation also recognizes outgoing President Erin Kleisinger of Saskatchewan, whose committed leadership over the past year has advanced key Federation initiatives, including wellness, anti-money laundering efforts, and professional standards. Her contributions have been invaluable, and the Federation expresses deep gratitude for her service.

The Federation of Law Societies of Canada is the national association of the 14 law societies mandated by the provinces and territories to regulate Canada’s legal profession in the public interest. It is the body through which Canada’s law societies collaborate at the national level and share information on trends and issues affecting the legal profession. It is also the national and international voice of the law societies on matters related to the regulation and core values of the legal profession. 

For more information about this release, or to acquire a photograph of the Federation President, please contact:

Giulia Doyle
Director, Communications
Federation of Law Societies of Canada
gdoyle@flsc.ca