Joanna (she/her) is an Articling Student at WCEL supporting the Revitalizing Indigenous Law for Land, Air and Water (RELAW), Access to Justice, and Climate teams. Born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, Joanna is a forced migrant who is honored to have since grown up across Kwikwetlem, S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), Semiahmoo, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil Waututh Territories.
After earning her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Joanna graduated in 2024 with a J.D. from the Peter A. Allard School of Law at UBC. At law school, she completed the Indigenous Legal Studies Concentration, and studied business law, Indigenous economic development, and environmental law throughout her coursework. She greatly enjoyed her work as a corporate clinician at the Richards Buell Sutton LLP Business Law Clinic, received litigation training through the Allan McEachern Advanced Trial Advocacy program, and honed her negotiation skills as simulated counsel for an Indigenous Nation in the national multi-juridical Kawaskimhon Moot.
Her legal interests are shaped by her unique positionality as reflected in her academic work: a paper exploring the connections between Haida and Islamic environmental laws, a blog post discussing colonial ecocide as a global genocidal tool against Indigenous Peoples and a driver of global climate catastrophe, a paper analyzing the legal foundation for re-extending the Aboriginal tax exemption from reserves to traditional territories, a podcast discussing the pros and cons of using Canadian copyright laws to protect and generate revenue streams for Indigenous dance performances, and an informational deck translating ongoing histories and systemic violence against Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island into Arabic to promote community dialogue, connection, and solidarity.
Joanna is passionate about supporting sustainable investments and economic development with a focus on global climate justice. She is committed to amending corporate, commercial, legislative, and regulatory practices to align with the rights of Indigenous Peoples and marginalized communities. Eager to work with and for IBPOC communities, she seeks to use the law as a tool to promote their goals for a thriving, balanced, and biodiverse environment for future generations.
She genuinely enjoys crafting nuanced legal arguments and devising strategic solutions to advance causes for a better future. However, in case that does not count as a hobby, her favourite pass-times also include reconnecting with her rich Lebanese and Muslim heritage, sampling niche hobbies with her friends, and marveling at her endlessly entertaining wolfy dog, Winter, with her family.
This articling position is supported by the Joe Arvay Initiative for Public Interest Law, a unique fellowship via the Law Foundation of BC to advance access to justice.