Elevated Mediation

Julie Ralhan cares deeply about the wellbeing of families, and seeks to use her skills, diligence, and compassion to help people meaningfully resolve conflict.

Julie obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from York University in 1999, a Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2002, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2003.  Julie then practiced family law with a focus on child-related issues for two decades in various contexts, including as legal counsel for the Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton, and subsequently as a lawyer for parents, grandparents and other family members in Children’s Aid Society cases.  Julie also obtained a (part-time) Master of Laws in family law from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2009, while working full-time as legal counsel for the Hamilton Children’s Aid Society. Additionally, Julie has had the opportunity to engage in special projects and contractual arrangements during her time as a lawyer, including being outside counsel to the Motherisk Commission, which was established by the Ontario government to examine the reliability of drug testing in child protection cases; and as contract counsel for the Law Society of Ontario, where she dealt with professionalism issues pertaining to family and child protection files.

During and subsequent to the pandemic, Julie became increasingly interested in various issues affecting seniors, including the issue of how to help families in the midst of conflict related to the care of an aging loved one. Julie engaged in the Ontario Association for Family Mediation’s (OAFM) training program in intergenerational (elder) mediation. Julie holds accreditation through OAFM as an intergenerational (elder) mediator. Julie is also accredited as a family mediator through OAFM.