Alefia graduated with Distinction with an Honours in Bachelors of Arts. She majored in Criminology and African Studies. She then completed her Juris Doctorate from the University of Ottawa in 2020. She was on the Dean’s Honour List in her second year. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2021.
Alefia grew up in Tanzania and spent some of her childhood in India in boarding school. She saw first-hand the effects that the law had on her community.
Alefia always knew she wanted to practice in criminal law and human rights. Even as a kid, she would stay up late at night watching detective shows. It was criminal law/human rights or nothing for her.
Alefia volunteered at 2 law firms during as she was completing her undergraduate degree. She worked for a financial services firm in Toronto and a civil litigation firm in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
During law school, Alefia was committed to Indigenous Law issues. She worked with the Feminist Alliance For International Action (FAFIA) where she reviewed and sorted through evidence to be presented to the “National Inquiry of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.” This was some of the most emotionally difficult work Alefia has done and it gave her a new appreciation for Indigenous issues and the root causes. Alefia hopes to use this very limited experience to help Indigenous offenders navigate the justice system.
Along with criminal law, international human rights has always been a passion for Alefia. Alefia was also honoured to work on a special project with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Housing where she conducted research on the right to adequate housing in Canada and how the issue is being addressed. She also evaluated research for the annual report to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women.
Alefia also undertook in an Access to Justice Practicum which included going out into the local Ottawa community and providing legal information to people facing legal issues. Alefia also worked with her professors to develop a Muslim Legal Clinic that specifically grappled with legal issue facing Muslim communities. After law school, Alefia briefly worked with the Canadian Muslim Lawyer’s Association as well and created public legal education workshops.
Throughout law school Alefia worked in criminal defense. She interned at the Crown Attorney’s office in Ottawa during summer where she worked with a Crown who specialized in appeals. She gained a unique perspective on how the Crown views cases. She also worked for two sole practitioners in Toronto during her second year. Alefia worked on several criminal cases and a few appeals.
Alefia articled at Cooper Sandler Shime and Bergman in 2020-2021. In addition to assisting with criminal cases, she had the privilege of being a part of the “Missing and Missed – the Report of the Independent Civilian Review into Missing Person Investigations.” The inquiry was headed by Her Honourable Judge Epstein and arose out of the murders committed by Bruce McArthur.
Following her call to the Bar, Alefia joined a firm in Oshawa where she further developed her legal skills. Alefia also speaks several languages. She is fluent in English, Kiswahili, Gujarati, Hindi She has an intermediate knowledge of French. French She is still working on her skills in Marathi, Arabic, Urdu.
Alefia joined Barrison Law in 2022, where she will continue to work tirelessly to zealously to defend her client’s rights and make sure they receive fair adjudication of their case.
In her spare time Alefia likes to make handmade cards, cook and bake, and eat desserts. Her comfort movie is Harry Potter.
Education
University of Toronto
2012-2016 Honors Bachelor’s of Arts – double major in Criminology and African Studies Graduated with Distinction
University of Ottawa
2017-2020 Juris Doctor
