Statement

I practise exclusively in criminal defence at White & Jeet Law, appearing in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench. My work includes bail hearings, disclosure review, Charter litigation, resolution discussions, sentencing, and submissions on Indigenous background factors. Every day, I see how the justice system affects people at some of the most difficult moments of their lives, and how much depends on lawyers who are competent, ethical and trusted by the public.

I was called to the bar in British Columbia in 2022 and practised corporate-commercial and securities law in Vancouver before moving to Alberta, where I was called in 2024. Working in two jurisdictions and two very different areas of law has given me an appreciation for how regulation shapes lawyers’ daily work, and for the careful analysis and attention to detail that sound governance requires.

The principles at the heart of criminal defence matter just as much to a regulator: procedural fairness, the right to be heard, and decisions grounded in the evidence. I value these principles deeply and understand that regulation carried out fairly and on the evidence is essential to protecting the public and maintaining public confidence in the administration of justice.

I also offer the perspective of a lawyer in the earlier years of practice. Newer lawyers make up a meaningful part of Alberta’s profession and face particular pressures, including building a practice, managing demanding caseloads, maintaining their wellbeing and, for many, moving between jurisdictions. That experience informs my understanding of practice management and wellness issues in the profession, and how they bear on the public interest.

My path to law was shaped by service and by exposure to different cultures and legal traditions. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and German from the University of Manitoba, where I received the Emerging Leader Award and represented the Faculty of Arts on the Student Union. I studied international law in Germany at the University of Greifswald on scholarship, volunteered in Agadir, Morocco through AIESEC, and volunteered with the Vancouver Island Human Rights Coalition while completing my Juris Doctor at the University of Victoria. These experiences shaped my respect for the rule of law and my commitment to serving people from all backgrounds.

I am a member of the Southern Alberta Defence Lawyers’ Association, the Criminal Defence Lawyers’ Association, the Criminal Trial Lawyers’ Association, the Calgary Bar Association, the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Muslim Lawyers’ Association and the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers.

I have deep respect for the Law Society’s mandate to uphold and protect the public interest in the administration of justice. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to that work, to learn from colleagues across the province, and to serve the public interest as a Bencher.