Biography

Melody is a lawyer practicing solely in criminal defence and regulatory offences. She has a keen interest in protecting her clients' rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Her passion for defending her clients’ rights drives her to work tirelessly on their cases. She strongly believes that no matter what charges any of her clients face, they are still entitled to the principles of justice and freedoms as guaranteed by our Constitution.  

Melody obtained her Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto where she majored in the study of Criminology. She then pursued law school at Queen Mary, University of London, in the United Kingdom, where she wrote her thesis on the adaptability and legal changes to the right to a fair trial, the right to privacy, and the right to freedom of expression. Her thesis was awarded top marks. While at law school, Melody volunteered her time to assist with free legal clinics, and researched international criminal law for Lawyers Without Borders.

Melody went on to complete her articles at a busy downtown Toronto law firm in 2014, and has been a criminal defence lawyer since her call to the bar. Melody has appeared in both the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice, and has conducted jury trials, preliminary hearings, summary conviction appeals and pre-trial motions. Melody has experience defending clients charged with many serious offences including murder, human trafficking, robbery and sexual assault.

Melody is currently the criminal law columnist for LawNow magazine, where she continues to advocate for the rights of those charged with criminal offences. Melody is a member of the Rights Advocacy Coalition for Equality (R.A.C.E.), and enjoys her role as the editor-in-chief of R.A.C.E. Quarterly—a newsletter that advocates strongly for the eradication of all forms of discrimination in our criminal justice system. She has also been published as an author in the Advocate Daily where she wrote passionately about the privacy interests of our citizens in Canadian airports. Melody is also a member of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association, the Toronto Lawyers’ Association, and Innocence Canada.