Florence Ashley is a transfeminine jurist, bioethicist, public speaker, and activist who uses they/them pronouns. They received the CBA SOGIC Hero award in 2019 and have just published their first book Banning Conversion Practices. After speaking with them for some time you realise the depth of their thinking as, again and again, they twist a detail like which database to use into a reflection on how and how not to use the law to empower yourself or sometimes they twist it back as in the midst of a discussion about access to justice, seemingly out of the blue but not: "interpersonal relationships is the single most important high school class we don’t have!!"  

In this episode of the Every Lawyer we gain insight into the drafting process behind Bill C4 Banning Conversion Practices in which Florence Ashley participated extensively, their guidance on working with clients who are survivors and a plea that the hard work of litigation continue.

"The (legal) system is one of the ways in which we can create a  small shelter of temporary reprieve from the rain." By the end of this podcast, you will agree that Florence is indeed “cynical with a solution”.  

Florence advocates for an improved uptake of science and a more intersectional approach  by the courts in their decision-making process and within the legal system generally.

Julia is a lawyer (Quebec Bar) working as a Legal Counsel in Sexual and Reproductive Rights for Lawyers without Borders Canada (ASFC) in Quebec City.