Experience

Leela Wright completed her articles with Parlee McLaws and joined the firm as an Associate in 2021. Since beginning work with Parlee, Leela has practiced written advocacy at various levels of court, including Provincial Court, Court of Queen’s Bench, Federal Court, and the Supreme Court of Canada. She has appeared in the Court of Queen’s Bench and in front of Alberta tribunals.

Leela’s diverse educational background supports a well-rounded approach to the law. Her B.A. Honours thesis focused on postcolonial literature and her B.Sc. degree focused on neuropsychology and neuroscience. She has been published in Glass Buffalo Literary Magazine and Student Health 101 Magazine. She has presented at Global Health Rounds through the faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta.

Leela has always held a strong commitment for volunteer work both locally and globally. Her volunteer work has focused on public health initiatives and work with low-income populations. Her efforts within the Edmonton legal community include involvement with Student Legal Services (Outreach Project and Legal Reform Project (focus on Alberta’s Mental Health Act)), Pro-Bono Students Canada (Queen’s Bench Amicus Court Assistant Program, and Centre for Public Legal Education Writing Program). For her work with Queen’s Bench Amicus Program, Leela won the volunteer of the year award. Leela also had the unique opportunity to work in Alberta’s new Mental Health Courts, where she assisted Legal Aid with clients whose needs are not met by the traditional criminal justice system. She is currently maintaining her commitment to the Edmonton legal community through her volunteer work with Edmonton Community Legal Clinic.

Awards

  • Miller Thomson LLP National Entrance Scholarship in Law
  • Histories in Texts Prize
  • American Literature and Culture Prize
  • Book Prize in Non-Fiction Writing
  • Women’s Writing Prize (nominee)
  • Allison White Prize in Children’s Literature (nominee)
  • Watson Prize in Postcolonial Literature (nominee)
  • Education Abroad Award
  • Green and Gold Student Leadership and Professional Development Grant

Community

  • Edmonton Community Legal Services
  • Mental Health Court Edmonton (past)
  • Pro Bono Students Canada, University of Alberta Chapter (past)
  • Student Legal Services (past)
  • Angels Anonymous Connection (past)
  • Students Invested in Health Association (past)
  • University of Alberta Wellness Services (past)