Kristin E. Knoepfli, B.Sc., Hon.B.Sc., LL.B., LLM.
Kristin and Zoë
Education
Ms. Knoepfli holds Bachelor Degrees from Queen’s University (life sciences)and the University of Toronto (zoology specialist, with high distinction), after which she began her Masters of Science in Collaboration with Environmental Studies at the University of Toronto and the Royal Ontario Museum.
Although originally trained as a field biologist, Ms. Knoepfli wanted to gain an understanding in law as she saw our legal system as a mechanism for change. Although still interested in the relationship between law and environmental protection, by the time she graduated from Queen’s University Law School in 2004 she also was developing an interest in family law and issues relating to children. She was called to the bar in 2005 and in 2008 graduated with her Master’s in Family Law from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto.
Professional Experiences
After graduating from Queen’s Law, Ms. Knoepfli articled at Birchall Northey, an environmental litigation boutique in Toronto. Not wanting to become too specialized, she joined a general litigation firm in Mississauga where she worked on a wide range of files. Although she enjoyed the diversity of work, her interest in issues involving children continued to grow. This interest is not surprising, given Ms. Knoepfli’s long standing involvement with Brant Children’s Centre, a large school for young children in Burlington that has been owned and operated by her family for over 28 years.
Ms. Knoepfli has worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Toronto, Research Assistant to the Dean of Law at Queen’s, and as a Caseworker, Public Relations and Resource Coordinator and Steering Committee member for Queen’s Legal Aid. She also sat on the Appeal Committee for Legal Aid Ontario in Kingston. She has received academic awards and has given presentations at scientific conferences. Her publications include, for example, an article written in collaboration with FLAP (a Toronto based NGO) that examined the legal initiatives that the organization has taken to reduce the negative impact urban lights have on migratory birds (published in Bird Watch Canada magazine, Fall 2005).
Ms. Knoepfli is committed to exploring how non-litigation processes can assist her clients. To this end, she completed a Certificate Program in Alternative Dispute and Conflict Resolution at the Mediation Centre of Southeastern Ontario. Subsequently, she assisted with clinics and courses offered by the Centre. She also is trained as a Collaborative Family Law lawyer and is a member of the Halton Collaborative Family Law Practice Group.
Although Ms. Knoepfli’s private practice is focused primarily around children, she is also a member of the Criminal Duty Counsel panel for Legal Aid Ontario and may be found advocating for both adults and youth in local criminal courts. She also is a member of Halton’s Youth Justice Committee.
Ms. Knoepfli has been a part-time instructor for the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Bar Admission Course. She teaches at Humber College and over the last few years has taught Procedures and Professional Conduct; Law, Family and Gender; Family Law Procedures; Advocacy and Legal Research.
Ms. Knoepfli also has been appointed to the Children’s Lawyer Personal Rights Panel for the Office of the Children’s Lawyer, Ministry of the Attorney General where she represents children in custody/access, child protection, minor parent and adoption files.
Personal Level
When Ms. Knoepfli is not working, she may be found exploring remote parts of the world. Her travels have taken her to such places as Churchill, Manitoba in the far north to the Equator jungle. She has traveled throughout Europe. She has hiked the entire West Coast Trail in British Columbia and visited the beautiful countries of Tanzania, Rwanda and Malawi where among other things, she trekked in the Parc National des Volcans among the mountain gorillas and visited bushman, Tatoga and Masai communities.
