Justice Annik Sonia Wills, LLB ’04, was called to the Ontario bar in 2005. Bilingual in French and English, she ran a successful criminal defence practice for 10 years, representing clients in both official languages before the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice. In 2015, she began working with Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) as senior counsel representing the most vulnerable Ontarians before becoming director general in the eastern district. In 2022, she became vice-president of operations, working to extend LAO’s intake services to improve access to justice for clients. Most recently, in 2024, she became vice-president of regional services, overseeing the delivery of LAO’s legal services across Ontario.
Justice Wills has taught courses on evidence and criminal law at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Common Law since 2013. She has been an active member of the community and has sat on the board of directors at the Amethyst Women’s Addiction Center and volunteered with the Action Ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes, a group of Francophone organizations working to eliminate violence against women. Justice Wills has also volunteered her time mentoring students, helping them prepare for mock trials as well as Ontario’s bar admission exam. In addition to her legal volunteer work, she has coached young athletes as part of the Nakkertok Nordic cross country ski club.
Chief Justice Sharon Nicklas has assigned Justice Wills to Ottawa.
Congratulations to Justice Duchesne on this appointment!
See the September 24, 2024, news release from the Attorney General of Ontario for more information.