In this episode of Lady Justice Talks by the Women in Law Association (WILA), host Anita Afraz sits down with criminal defence lawyer Hamna Anwar for a compelling conversation about justice, empathy, and the human realities behind criminal law.

Hamna practices exclusively in criminal defence and represents clients charged with serious offences at all levels of court in Ontario, from complex fraud and firearm cases to homicide and sexual assault matters.

Grounded in the belief that everyone deserves quality representation regardless of background, she has built her career around providing clients with a trauma-informed, judgment-free space while fiercely protecting their fundamental rights and freedoms.

Together, Anita and Hamna explore what it means to advocate for people at their most vulnerable, the emotional and ethical demands of defending high-stakes cases, and how systemic bias can shape legal outcomes. Drawing from her academic research on race, masculinity, Islamophobia, national security, and the law, Hamna offers thoughtful insight into the deeper structural forces influencing the criminal justice system.

The episode also highlights her leadership and mentorship work in the legal community, including her role with Women in Canadian Criminal Defence and her involvement in programs supporting women and underrepresented voices entering the profession. We discuss the barriers racialized women face in law, the importance of mentorship, and why representation matters, not just in courtrooms, but within the profession itself.

From redefining success beyond courtroom wins to envisioning meaningful reform in the justice system, this conversation invites listeners to reconsider assumptions about crime, advocacy, and fairness, and to see the law through a more compassionate, human-centered lens!

From the left: Anita Afraz, Hamna Anwar