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The Law of Bail in Canada
Whether an accused person is released on bail or detained before trial can have profound consequences for their criminal case and their life. In this presentation, criminal defence lawyer Shailaja Nadarajah will discuss Canada’s bail laws, recent reforms, and ongoing debates—and explain why bail should matter to everyone.

Shailaja is an associate at Savards LLP. She practices criminal law at all levels of court, and represents clients before the Ontario Review Board. Shailaja has experience defending clients against a wide variety of offences, including firearm offences, sexual assault, and murder. She uses her role as a lawyer to advocate for victims of state oppression and marginalized individuals.

Shailaja obtained her law degree at Queen’s University, Faculty of Law, where she obtained several awards including the Bronze and Silver Scholar awards. During law school, Shailaja worked for a prison and immigration lawyer, assisted low-income individuals with navigating the family justice system at the Queen’s Family Law Clinic, and competed in the Gale Cup Moot, a criminal appellate moot, for which she was awarded the top oralist prize in the final round by three justices of the Supreme Court of Canada. Shailaja completed her undergraduate degree in life sciences at McMaster University.

Before joining Savards LLP, Shailaja clerked at the British Columbia Court of Appeal and summered and articled at a national full-service firm.

Shailaja is a member of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association, Women in Canadian Criminal Defence, the South Asian Bar Association of Toronto, and the Tamil Bar Association.