About Chelsea
Chelsea is an associate at Beckett. She works primarily in the Sexual Abuse Department.
Originally from Markham, Chelsea graduated with an Honours Degree in Psychology and Sociology from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2005. She started her career as a Child and Youth Worker with children diagnosed with behavioural and psychological disorders. Chelsea managed a children’s treatment home for two years before deciding to pursue a career in law.
In 2012, Chelsea received her Juris Doctor from the University of Windsor. While in law school, she had the opportunity to clerk for the Honourable Justice Phillips and began her practice as a litigator with Community Legal Aid. Chelsea was selected to participate in the Canadian Lawyers Abroad Internship Program with ECPAT, an international organization working to prevent the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
In her final year at law school, Chelsea received the Sharon White Ducharme Memorial Award and the J.W. Whiteside Award in recognition of her service to the legal community, the community of Windsor, and her advocacy on behalf of children. She was called to the Bar in 2013 after completing her articles at Beckett.
Currently, Chelsea represents victims in both historical and recent sexual abuse cases including abuse by teachers, clergy, recreational volunteers, foster parents, and relatives. She also helps victims in cases when the institutions who employed or supervised the perpetrator may also be at fault. This may include school boards, recreational organizations, group homes, and churches. Chelsea’s practice spans across the country with a focus in Ontario (Ottawa, Toronto, London, Windsor and Northern Ontario) as well as in Western Canada (Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia).
In addition to civil litigation, Chelsea is dedicated to educating others about the legal rights of victims of sexual abuse and assault. She is a regular speaker at ANOVA’s Crisis Line volunteer training. Chelsea also provides legal information to non-profit organizations who serve populations who are more likely to have experienced sexual abuse, including the John Howard Society, Addiction Services of Thames Valley, the Family Transition Place (Orangeville), Chatham-Kent Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, and Sexual Assault Survivors Centre Sarnia-Lambton.
Chelsea attended the Harvard Negotiation Institute in June 2016 and attended the Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop through Osgoode Hall Law School in 2017. In her spare time, Chelsea enjoys travelling and spending time with her family.