Maureen Silcoff is a leading Canadian refugee and immigration lawyer. She has practiced refugee and immigration law since 1988. She has litigated complex Charter cases, advocated for refugee rights and promoted access to justice. Maureen’s five years as a decision-maker at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada provide her with a unique perspective.
Maureen has expertise in strategic litigation. Whether it’s a refugee claim before the Immigration and Refugee Board or a complex test case, she develops a strategy to best achieve the client’s objectives. Maureen managed test cases for the litigation committee of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL) for 4 years. She represents individuals, public interest parties and interveners in complex litigation before all levels of court. Notable cases include: Brown v. Canada (MCI), 2020 FCA 130; M.A.A. v. D.E.M.E., 2020 ONCA 486; and Y.Z. v. Canada (MCI), 2015 FC 892.
Maureen has been at the forefront of numerous campaigns to promote access to justice and the rights of refugees and migrants in Canada, including advocating for sustainable legal aid funding and protection of rights at the Canada-U.S. border. She regularly meets with ministers, other politicians and policy advisors, and has appeared as a witness before the House of Commons Citizenship and Immigration Committee. Maureen was recognized for advocacy and leadership in 2013 with CARL’s Advocacy Award.
Maureen is a highly sought-after speaker at professional and academic conferences. She leads the next generation of refugee lawyers as a teacher and mentor. She is an instructor at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Lincoln Alexander School of Law and designed the inaugural courses in immigration law, refugee law, and public interest litigation. She was an instructor in refugee law at the University of British Columbia’s extended learning immigration course from 2017-2019 and has been a guest lecturer at the University of Toronto. Maureen is one of the course developers for Queen’s Law’s Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship. She has also been a mentor and peer review committee member for Legal Aid Ontario.
Maureen is a Past-President of CARL and continues to serve on its national executive. She had been a leader in numerous other community organizations, including serving as Chair of the Refugee Lawyers Association’s Access to Justice Committee, and co-founding the Jewish Refugee Action Network. She has also served on the boards and executives of the Canadian Bar Association – Immigration Law Section, the FCJ Refugee Centre, Sojourn House and the Rexdale Community Microskills Development Centre.
Maureen was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1988. She holds a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours in Political Science with Distinction) from Concordia University. Maureen participated in the Human Rights Intensive Program at the International Institute of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. She regularly participates in continuing legal education programs.
