About us

Juliana Dalley (she, her)

Clinic Co-Lead and Staff Lawyer

Juliana is a passionate advocate for newcomers to Canada. Prior to joining the IRLC, Juliana worked as an immigration and refugee lawyer in private practice and at a legal clinic where she helped migrant workers with immigration and employment issues. She has appeared before all levels of the Immigration and Refugee Board as well as the Federal Court and has testified before House of Commons standing committees. Juliana clerked for Madam Justice Hansen at the Federal Court of Canada after receiving her law degree in 2013.

Darcy Golden (she, her)

Clinic Co-Lead and Staff Lawyer

Darcy Golden is a dedicated legal advocate. Prior to joining the IRLC, Darcy worked with newcomers to Canada as a sole practitioner in private practice. Darcy’s legal education includes an internship at the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative in Accra, Ghana, a fellowship at the Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto and an internship at the Together Against Poverty Society in Victoria, BC. Darcy has represented clients at the Immigration and Refugee Board, the Federal Court and the Provincial Court of British Columbia.

Laura Best (she, her)

Lawyer

Laura believes that everyone has a right to live in safety, and that Canada should be a safe haven for those who need it. She is experienced in helping reunite families, aiding those fleeing war or persecution, and assisting students and workers find their way in Canada. She has over 10 years of experience in immigration and refugee law in both British Columbia and Ontario. Laura regularly appears before all levels of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada and the Federal Court of Canada. She is frequently relied upon by various media outlets to comment on issues relevant to Canadian immigration and is often asked to speak at legal conferences and community events.

Karen Jantzen (she, her)

Associate

Karen graduated from UBC with a law degree in 2021. She previously worked and volunteered with various organizations that support refugees, immigrants, and migrant workers in Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Vancouver. She plans to use what she is learning to continue advocating on behalf of newcomers to Canada. In her free time, Karen enjoys baking, crocheting, and cycling.

Dunni Awe (she, her)

Articled Student

Dunni obtained her law degree and was called to the Bar in Nigeria before moving to Canada to pursue her master’s degree. Before joining IRLC, Dunni worked as a legal advocate providing a range of advocacy services to marginalized persons in Vancouver. She intends to continue honing her advocacy skills to promote access to justice.

Jinhee Lee (she, her)

Legal Assistant

Jinhee obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree from South Korea, and immigrated to Canada in 2015. After arriving in Canada, Jinhee worked at a legal clinic in Edmonton, Alberta, where she found her passion providing legal support to people who are in challenging circumstances. She continued working at an immigration law firm after relocating to Vancouver where she gained extensive knowledge of immigration & refugee law. She is fluent in Korean, and in her spare time, she enjoys knitting.

Omar Chu (he, him)

Community Legal Worker

Through his involvement with grassroots migrant justice movements, Omar Chu has been assisting with immigration and refugee legal issues for over five years.  He has a BA in Peace Studies from the University of Bradford, and he has worked fighting for rights and better policy with the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition and the BC Health Coalition. He can speak French conversationally and can tell when his friends are making fun of him in Spanish.

Priscila Pimont Berndt (she, her)

Student Legal Worker

Priscila is a newcomer to Canada and started volunteering with refugee and immigrant support organizations since she started her Master’s degree at the University of British Columbia in 2021. She speaks Portuguese, Spanish and French, and hopes to become a lawyer in Canada soon and continue to assist and advocate for other immigrants and refugees. In her spare time, she enjoys singing, reading, and taking long walks.

Xilonen Hanson Pastran (she/her)

Volunteer

Xilonen is a law student working at the clinic for summer 2022. She just completed her second year of law at the University of Victoria. Before joining the IRLC, Xilonen worked as a research assistant on projects involving family law, class-action settlements, and restorative justice. She was a recipient of the 2020 BC Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medal for Democracy, Inclusion, and Reconciliation.  In her free time, she enjoys walking with her dog, Mijo.  

Fran Gallo (she, her)

Volunteer

Fran has been working or volunteering to support refugee claimants since arriving in Canada in 2001.  She received a B.A. in International Relations from Pitzer College and a M.A. in Latin American Studies from Georgetown University.  Fran enjoys improving her Spanish language skills and studying beginner level French.