Miriam Wallbridge has extensive education and experience in labour and employment law. She holds an LL.M from Université de Montréal and law degrees from McGill University. Her current position is as a union-side labour lawyer at Gibson & Barnes LLP, representing construction and industrial unions. She has previous experience founding a legal clinic for the Cree Nation of Wemindji and legal research roles. Wallbridge has received numerous academic awards and scholarships and has a publication pending in the Canadian Journal of Law and Society.

1. MIRIAM WALLBRIDGE
EDUCATION
LL.M. Candidate, Droit – option générale (Thesis in progress)
Université de Montréal, Faculté de droit
• CGPA: 3.6; top mark in Chartes des droits et travail (Labour Law and the Charters) (A+/98%)
• Thesis title: “The impact of the constitutionalization of labour law on organized labour’s collective
autonomy” (Prospective submission: Summer, 2016)
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Bachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L.), Minor in Philosophy (graduated 2007)
McGill University, Faculty of Law
• Graduated with “Great Distinction” (CGPA: 3.34 [top 20% of class]; last two year GPA: 3.52)
MPhil Candidate, Political Theory
University of Oxford, Faculty of Social Studies
• Thesis title: “Contribution of philosophical hermeneutics to the understanding of political action”
• Fully-funded, first year completed in good standing (studies interrupted but could be resumed)
Four-Year Bachelor of Arts, Specialist Program in Political Science, Minor in History
University of Toronto, Faculty of Arts and Science
• Graduated with “Very High Distinction”; 1st
in class of ≈ 1100 (CGPA: 3.91)
WORK EXPERIENCE
Labour Lawyer
Gibson & Barnes LLP (Toronto, Ontario) Sept. 2014 – present
• Union-side labour lawyer practising primarily in the construction and industrial sectors
• Representing construction and industrial labour unions and their members in grievance arbitrations, and in
the litigation of applications for certification, unfair labour practice complaints, single employer applications,
jurisdictional disputes, etc.
Consultant to the Grand Council of the Cree Feb. 2015 – present
• Co-authored report, together with Gowlings, Montreal office, on the feasibility of establishing a regional
legal information clinic in Eeyou Istchee (Cree territories in Northern Quebec)
• Providing ongoing consultation with respect to the training of Cree National Government staff in providing
legal information to members of Eeyou Istchee
Freelance Legal Editor June – Nov. 2014
Lancaster House Publishing (Toronto, Ontario)
• Analyzing and writing summaries of key labour arbitration, employment law and human rights cases
Student at Law July 2013 – June 2014
Goldblatt Partners LLP (formerly Sack Goldblatt Mitchell LLP) (Toronto, Ontario)
• Completed combined labour law/civil litigation articling program
• Carried out extensive legal research and drafting of memoranda and pleadings in respect of various
matters: grievance arbitrations (construction and non-construction sectors), Labour Board proceedings,
non-profit co-operative housing matters, professional negligence (LawPRO defense work), defamation,
bankruptcy & insolvency, foreign enforcement and recognition of civil judgments, underfunded pensions
• Brought five new IAP (Independent Assessment Process) clients from James Bay region into the firm
Legal Consultant, Wemindji Law and Justice Program 2010 – 2013
Cree Nation of Wemindji (Wemindji, Quebec)
• Founded legal information clinic and access-to-justice program, including seminar series for the community
33 Ontario Avenue
Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 2X1
tel. (647) 527-9083
miriam.wallbridge@gmail.com

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• Prepared detailed and comprehensive IAP applications, arranged psychological assessments of
abuse survivors, represented applicants at hearings, tendered post-hearing submissions
• Served as consultant to the Cree Nation on matters of local justice (the justice committee) and restorative
justice
Freelance Legal Researcher, Writer and Editor 2008 – 2009
LexisNexis Canada Inc., (Markham, Ontario)
• Overhauled the real property, trusts, wills & estates, and health law Quickwords classification schemes
• Drafted, edited and classified a very high volume of common law case summaries to strict deadline
Graduate Student Advisor (Management level) 2007 – 2009
McGill University, Faculty of Education
• Managed the administration of eight graduate programs in education
• Advised students in respect of admissions, program requirements, dissertations, oral defences
• Nominated for Graduate Studies Service Award of Excellence by students
Research Assistant in Law and Psychiatry 2005 – 2008
McGill University, Faculty of Law
• Engaged by Professor Ronald Sklar to research issues at intersection of law and psychiatry
• Researched mental disorder defences, fitness to stand trial, right to refuse treatment, dangerous offender
• Performed legal research and editing for “Starson v. Swayze: The Supreme Court Speaks Out On
The Question of Capacity” (Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, June 2007)
McGill Legal Information Clinic Assistant 2003 – 2005
McGill University Legal Information Clinic
• Provided legal information, educational resources and community referral services to clinic clientele
Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant (part-time) 2000 – 2002
Read Rehabilitation (Timmins, Ontario)
• Case-managed WSIB claimants undergoing academic upgrading and vocational re-training
• Carried out pre-rehabilitation cost-benefit analyses, labour market forecasting & re-entry planning
Research Associate 1998 – 2003
Wallbridge, Wallbridge, Trial Lawyers (Timmins, Ontario)
• Entrusted with task of documenting abuse of aboriginal students at St. Anne’s Residential School
• Drafted responses to 100+ demands for particulars in residential school cases (pre-IAP framework)
• Researched issue of whether claims of cultural abuse disclosed a valid cause of action at law
• Drafted 200+ personal injury pre-trial/mediation memoranda (MVA and residential school combined)
ACADEMIC AWARDS
• McGill University National Program Entrance Scholarship
• Commonwealth Scholarship Nomination for DPhil in Political Theory (Oxford)
• Commonwealth Scholarship for 2nd
year of MPhil in Political Theory (Oxford)
• British Chevening Scholarship for 1st
year MPhil in Political Theory (Oxford)
• Overseas Research Award (Oxford)
• London Goodenough Fellowship (for studies at LSE, declined)
• New School for Social Research Entrance Scholarship (declined)
• Helen and David Eisen Graduation Fellowship
• Suzanne and Edwin Goodman Prize in Political Science
• Canadian Institution of International Affairs/NATO Scholarship
• L. Nathanson Scholarship in Political Science

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• William and Kathleen Davis Scholarship
• Andrew Nigrini Senior Memorial Scholarship in Political Science
• C.L. Burton Scholarship, and University College In-Course Award
• University College Special Admission Scholarship
PUBLICATIONS
Publication pending: “The Changing Law of the Workplace: The Impact of the Charter on the Delivery of Post-war
Canadian Labour Regulatory Principles” (Canadian Journal of Law and Society)
INTERESTS
Core Classical Pianist: Performance Diploma, RCM Glenn Gould School Scholarship winner, competitor at Nat’l
Competitive Festival of Music; appearances: Massey Hall, RCM Concert Hall, Oxford, Timmins Symphony
Orchestra, RCM Orchestra; appearances as member of duo Court ‘N’ Fiddle performing American jazz standards
arranged for violin and piano