Hamna Anwar, B.Sc., M.A, J.D.

Hamna is a dedicated advocate for her clients charged with serious criminal law offences for both trials and appeals at all levels of the Court in Ontario. Hamna believes that everyone deserves quality legal representation despite their backgrounds and personal histories. She strives to provide a judgement free and trauma-informed space for all her clients.

Hamna practices exclusively in the area of criminal defence law and represents clients for a variety of charges including sexual assault, impaired driving, complex frauds, firearm offences, drug crimes, arson disregard to human life and other serious charges. Hamna is dedicated in obtaining the best possible outcome in every case and advocates for upholding the fundamental rights and freedoms of her clients. She is known to treat her clients with empathy and respect.

Hamna is very active in the legal community. She is one of the executives for the National Advocacy group Women in Canadian Criminal Defence (WiCCD) and currently serves as their Co-Director of Social Media and Membership. Hamna previously served as an executive on the Criminal Justice Section and the Women Lawyers Forum of the Ontario Bar Association. Parallel to painting a busy criminal law practise Hamna is dedicated to her community and actively gives back. She mentors with the South Asian Women in the Law and Young Women in Law. She does pro bono work with the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic for their Criminalization of Women Program. Hamna also served as the co-lead of the MAX Mentorship Program Toronto.

Hamna obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Ottawa. During law school Hamna was a recipient of the Amatul Rahman Malik Social Justice Fellowship. Hamna worked as a Drop-in Clinic Worker for the Ticket Defence Program where she assisted homeless and street-involved individuals. Hamna volunteered her time with the Refugee Access to Justice Project, National Council of Canadian Muslims and Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF). She was also a co-chair of the Muslim Law Students Association.

Prior to obtaining her law degree Hamna attended the University of Toronto for a Bachelor of Science. Following which Hamna obtained a Masters of Art in Anthropology at the University of Toronto, where her thesis focused on the intersectionality of race, masculinity, Islamophobia, national security and the law.

• Law Society of Ontario (LSO)
• Criminal Lawyers Association (CLA)
• South Asian Bar Association (SABA)
• Women in Canadian Criminal Defence (WiCCD)
• Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association (CMLA)
• Group of Racialized Ontario Women Litigators (GROWL)
• South Asian Legal Aid of Ontario (SALCO), former Board Member

• Called to the Ontario Bar, 2018
• Juris Doctor, Faculty of Common Law (Social Justice option), University of Ottawa, 2017
• Masters of Art in Anthropology, University of Toronto, 2013
• Bachelor of Science, University of Toronto, 2011

Hamna is fluent in English, Urdu, Punjabi and versed in Hindi. We also have Cantonese, Mandarin and other language interpreters available onsite to assist you.