Ronald is one of the most experienced immigration and refugee lawyers in Canada, having practised law since 1983. His approach to each client’s case involves a unique combination of in-depth legal insight and compassion, drawn from his social work background.
Ronald represents clients who seek temporary and permanent residence in Canada. His practice is focused on economic immigration, family reunification, citizenship and refugee matters.
Ronald appears regularly before the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court, offering full representation in both English and French. He is a member of the Ontario and Quebec bars.
Ronald served as the staff immigration lawyer at Parkdale Community Legal Services from 1990-1997 supervising law students.
Ronald played an instrumental role in changing the landscape of refugee law in Canada when he represented the Canadian Council for Refugees as an intervener at the Supreme Court of Canada in Canada (Attorney General) v. Ward, [1993] 2 SCR 689. He represented the same organization in Chan v. Canada (Minister of Employment and Immigration), [1995] 3 SCR 593 before the Supreme Court of Canada, which further defined the law.
He authored two articles analyzing these decisions: Shacter, Ron. “The Cases of Ward and Chan”, Osgoode Hall Law Journal 35.3/4 (1997): 723-736b and Shacter, Ronald. “Commentaire d’Arret: Le Procureur General du Canada c. Patrick Francis Ward.” Journal of Law and Social Policy 6. (1990): 256-277
Ronald speaks at conferences on immigration and refugee matters, sharing what he has learned during his many years of experience with his colleagues.
He has appeared as a featured speaker at conferences held by the Canadian Bar Association and Legal Aid Ontario.
Ronald is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, Immigration Section, the Refugee Lawyers Association of Ontario and the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers.
He is also licensed by both the Law Society of Ontario and the Barreau du Quebec.
Ronald has served on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants and MIDAYNTA, an organization supporting Somali family reunification.
Ronald obtained a Bachelor of Laws in civil law from the University of Sherbrooke.
Prior to receiving his law degree, he received a Masters of Social Work from Fordham University and a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University.
