Kira Berkely
Research Associate, Faculty of Law
kira.berkeley@utoronto.ca
Kira Berkeley is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of AEL Advocacy, Canada’s first non-profit taking an intersectional approach to animal and environmental law. Kira holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music from York University in Toronto and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law in June 2020. During her academic journey, Kira actively contributed as an executive member of uOttawa’s Animal Justice Association and interned in animal law at organizations including Animal Justice, Breder Law (Vancouver), and Gartner & Associates Animal Law (Toronto). Kira completed her articles at OLLIP Professional Corporation, handling cases before the Trademarks Opposition Board, Federal Court, and Federal Court of Appeal. Her commitment to pro-bono work during this time helped those in need access justice. Following articling, Kira practiced real estate, wills & estates, and business law at Scott Law Group, where she also launched the firm's animal law department.
Krystal-Anne Roussel (on leave)
Research Associate, Faculty of Law
krystal.roussel@utoronto.ca
Krystal-Anne graduated in 2020 from the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, where she pursued her research interests in animal law, environmental law, and Indigenous laws and legal traditions. During this time, she was the founder and president of the University of Ottawa Animal Justice Association and was co-president of the University of Ottawa Environmental Law Students’ Association. While completing her studies, she was awarded the Newton Rowell Scholarship for academic excellence and interest in public service. She also has an undergraduate degree in criminology and anthropology from St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick and a Certificate in Humane Education and Advanced Animal Legal Issues from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia. Krystal-Anne worked as a summer student with Animal Justice in 2018 and East Coast Environmental Law in 2019. She was called to the Bar in Ontario in May 2021 and articled with the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA). She continued to work for CELA as legal counsel and Water Policy Coordinator, Healthy Great Lakes and was awarded a TBCG Young Lawyers Mentorship Fund Award by CELA in November 2022. Along with Kira Berkeley, Krystal is Co-Founder and Co-Director of AEL Advocacy.
Publications
Canadian animal law projects they are working on at the Faculty:
Learn more
The Research Associate role helps produce content for the Animal Law Digest – Canada Edition, a free online resource that provides twice monthly updates on the development of animal law in Canada. The Digest is published by the Brooks Institute for Animals Rights Law, in partnership with the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, and under Professor Angela Fernandez’s leadership.
Subscribe to the Digest, and let our Research Associate know of any important animal law updates to be included in the Digest at animallawdigestcan.law@utoronto.ca.
Professor Fernandez is working with the amazing team at the Bora Laskin Law Library to produce an Animal Law Research Guide, consisting of lists of sources (books, chapters, book reviews, theses, journal articles, legislation, and leading cases) in Canadian animal law, perfect for students looking for a research paper topic and getting started in their literature review or for more senior scholars looking for orientation in terms of sources available in Canadian animal law. This research resource is now available for use to members both inside and outside the University of Toronto community through the Law Library’s website.
