Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
References
Languages
Languages
References
Timeline
Generic

Conor Smith

Montréal,Canada

Summary

Accomplished refugee lawyer with extensive experience as a decision-maker, trainer, mentor, legal counsel, volunteer for refugee service organizations, and designated representative for vulnerable individuals.

Overview

17
17
years of professional experience

Work History

Volunteer Board Member

Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE)
09.2024 - Current
  • Review financial statements and monitor organizational performance against budgets.
  • Provide strategic direction to the organization by setting goals and objectives.
  • Attend regular board meetings.
  • Ensure that all legal requirements are met according to local laws and regulations.

Member

IRB - Refugee Appeal Division
Ottawa, ON
03.2023 - Current
  • As a RAD member, I adjudicate appeals of RPD decisions.
  • I work on English, French, and bilingual appeals.
  • Since September 2024, I have been a member of the RAD's Adjudicative Strategy Committee (ASC). The ASC is directly responsible to the Assistant Deputy Chairperson. It provides a forum for consultation, discussion, and decision-making on matters related to adjudications and fair administrative justice at the RAD.
  • I am also a member of an ASC subcommittee responsible for the identification of potential RAD Reasons of Interest (RROIs).

Member

IRB - Refugee Protection Division
Montreal, Canada
02.2017 - 03.2023
  • As an RPD Member, I was responsible for making legal and factual determinations regarding refugee claims, exclusions, and applications for cessation and vacation of refugee status.
  • Conducting hearings, delivering oral and written decisions.
  • As a Member at the RPD I conducted over 400 hearings.

Trainer and Mentor

IRB - Refugee Protection Division
Montreal, Canada
03.2019 - 07.2020
  • Part of the RPD New Member Training Team. Leading cohorts of new Members through 2 months of intensive training regarding refugee law, procedural fairness, hearing conduct, questioning techniques, oral and written decision making, and other subjects.
  • Mentoring of new RPD Members including file preparation, hearing conduct, and decision writing.

Designated Representative

IRB
Vancouver, Canada
01.2015 - 02.2017
  • I regularly acted as a designated representative for persons with matters before the IRB. This work was separate and distinct from my work as legal counsel. The persons for whom I acted as a designated representative included unaccompanied minors and persons who were unable to understand the nature of the proceedings.

Lawyer

Conor Smith Law
Vancouver, Canada
11.2013 - 02.2017
  • Legal counsel for clients with matters before the Immigration and Refugee Board, Federal Court of Canada, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (formerly CIC). These matters included refugee claims and appeals, detention reviews, admissibility hearings and appeals, stays of removal, judicial reviews, pre-removal-risk assessments, humanitarian and compassionate applications, spousal sponsorships, and economic-based immigration applications.
  • Owner, manager and administrator of the legal practice.

Volunteer and Board Member

Rainbow Refugee Society
Vancouver, Canada
11.2013 - 02.2017
  • Pro-bono legal work for a non-profit society that assists LGBTQ+ and HIV-positive persons making refugee claims in Canada.
  • Facilitation of private sponsorship circles who sponsor the resettlement of LGBTQ+ and HIV-positive refugees to Canada from abroad.

Personal Trainer

Conor Smith Fitness
Vancouver, Canada
08.2011 - 10.2013
  • Fitness trainer.
  • Business owner and operator.

Articled Student and Lawyer

McMillan LLC
Vancouver, Canada
09.2009 - 01.2011
  • National law firm dealing in corporate-commercial law and civil litigation.

Intern

First Nations Tax Commission
Kamloops, Canada
05.2008 - 08.2008
  • Federal agency that works with First Nations to develop self-administered taxation, assessment, rates and expenditure laws for property taxation on First Nations lands.

Education

Bachelor of Laws -

University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
05.2009

Study Abroad Student -

Hong Kong University
Hong Kong
12.2008

Bachelor of Arts - Political Science, Sociology

McGill University
Montreal, Quebec
10.2005

Skills

  • Legal research
  • Decision writing
  • Case management
  • Effective communication
  • Cultural competency
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Task prioritization
  • Multitasking Abilities
  • Interpersonal communication
  • Microsoft Word
  • Research
  • Organization and time management
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Fluent in English and French
  • Attention to detail
  • Multitasking

References

References available upon request.

Languages

  • English
  • French

Languages

English
Native/ Bilingual
French
Full Professional
Spanish
Limited

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Volunteer Board Member

Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE)
09.2024 - Current

Member

IRB - Refugee Appeal Division
03.2023 - Current

Trainer and Mentor

IRB - Refugee Protection Division
03.2019 - 07.2020

Member

IRB - Refugee Protection Division
02.2017 - 03.2023

Designated Representative

IRB
01.2015 - 02.2017

Lawyer

Conor Smith Law
11.2013 - 02.2017

Volunteer and Board Member

Rainbow Refugee Society
11.2013 - 02.2017

Personal Trainer

Conor Smith Fitness
08.2011 - 10.2013

Articled Student and Lawyer

McMillan LLC
09.2009 - 01.2011

Intern

First Nations Tax Commission
05.2008 - 08.2008

Bachelor of Laws -

University of Alberta

Study Abroad Student -

Hong Kong University

Bachelor of Arts - Political Science, Sociology

McGill University

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