Dawne Way was called to the bar in 1997 and joined the Crown Attorney’s office in 2000. Dawne launched Way Law in 2007 and developed her practice primarily representing victims of crime in criminal proceedings and assisting organizations in criminal matters. The majority of Way Law clients are survivors of sexual assault, many of whom are children. She finds working with her clients intensely gratifying and fulfilling developing a special bond that transcends typical client/lawyer relationships. She is the author of “Representing the Victim in a Sexual Assault Proceeding” in Prosecuting and Defending Sexual Assault Offence Cases: A Practitioner’s Handbook 2nd Edition by Daniel Brown and Jill Witkin.
Dawne has extensive experience in representing victims of crime in sexual assault prosecutions including the following hearings:
- applications to adduce evidence of the victim’s other sexual activity pursuant to s. 276 of the Criminal Code
- applications to determine the admissibility of records in the possession of the defence pursuant to s. 278.92 of the Criminal Code
- applications for the production of third-party records pursuant to ss. 278.1 – 278.91 of the Criminal Code
Dawne has experience representing victims of crime in sexual assault prosecutions in Canadian military prosecutions. She has provided training to the Canadian Military Prosecution Service on the role of complainant’s counsel in sexual assault courts martial.
Dawne supports the Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology Law Clerk and Paralegal program as a field placement supervisor.
Way Law specializes in representing victims and witnesses of crime in criminal and quasi-criminal proceedings. Dawne’s primary focus is advocating for and representing sexual assault survivors with trial preparation and privacy protection. She also represents and advises organizations such as hospitals, counselling services, women’s shelters and corporations in criminal law matters and their obligations when subpoenaed. As a leader in the legal profession, Way Law will train other lawyers and organizations on victim’s rights.
Recent Lectures and Speaking Engagements
June 2024 Ministry of the Attorney General Crown School
Topic: Human Trafficking Course s. 276: Applicability, myths and relevance in the context of HT/Procuring prosecutions
March and April 2024 Law Society of Saskatchewan
Topic: Representing Complainants in Sexual Assault Proceedings
July 2023 Ministry of the Attorney General Crown School
Topic: Human Trafficking Course s. 276: Applicability, myths and relevance in the context of HT/Procuring prosecutions
June 2023 Training provided to Victim Services Toronto
Topic: Third Party Records Applications
June 2023 Third party records applications and the responsibility of record-holders
Topic: In house training at Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre
October 2022 Training to Canadian Forces National Investigation Service
Topic: Victim Advocacy
February 2022 Yukon Law Society
Topic: Navigating 276, 278 Applications in Sexual Assault Cases Since the Passing of Bill C-51
February 2022 Government of Yukon
Topic: ILA Training for Service Providers
February 2021 Government of Nova Scotia
Topic: Training Prosecutors and counsel for complainants on Bill C-51
December 2020 Canadian Military Prosecution Service
Topic: Training lawyers on the role of complainant’s counsel in sexual assault trials
February 2020 Ontario Bar Association – Panel member
Topic: Protecting Privacy Rights in the Electronic Age – Legal Issues and Strategies for Today’s Criminal Cases
March 2020 Government of Yukon – Leader Three day workshop
Topic: Independent Legal Advice Training for Lawyers
April 2019 Law Society of Ontario
Topic: Six-Minute Criminal Lawyer -Representing the Complainant
February 2019 Lecture at Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres
Topic: Third Party Records Applications and the Responsibilities of Record-Holders
July 2018 Lecture at Crown School
Topic: Third Party Records Applications and the Role of Counsel for the Complainant
February 2018 Guns and Gangs Conference
Topic: Mega-Trials – Witnesses and Social Media
October 2017 Ontario Bar Association
Topic: Smart Phones and the Law: Search, Seizure and Privacy
July 2017 Lecture at Crown School
Topic: Third Party Records Applications and the Role of Counsel for the Complainant
May 2017 In house training provided to Toronto Children’s Aid Society legal department
Topic: Accessing records under the Youth Criminal Justice Act
July 2016 Lecture at Crown School
Topic: Third Party Records Applications and the Role of Counsel for the Complainant