About us

Juliana Dalley (she, her)

Acting Clinic Director 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)

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)

Staff 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)

Staff Lawyer

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.

Xilonen Hanson Pastran (she/her)

Articled Student

Xilonen is an articled student working at the clinic. She just completed her J.D. from 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.  

Lesley Stalker (she, her)

Staff Lawyer

Lesley met her first refugee “client” at the student clinic at the law school where she studied. Decades later, she continues to be impassioned by the stories that refugees and migrants carry. Early in her practice, Lesley realized there is a conundrum in refugee law: those who are most in need of protection are often the least able to articulate that need due to the effects of trauma. She took a gap in her practice to work as regional legal officer with the UNHCR in Vancouver for 3-1/2 years, and worked with local groups to establish the READY Tours, a project which helps claimants understand the refugee process. Lesley also served as a Member (decision-maker) with the Immigration and Refugee Board for 4-1/2 years. She is delighted to be at the IRLC, and looks forward to meeting more people with remarkable stories.

Her favourite things include, in no particular order of importance, blueberries, chocolate and the green of the first leaves of spring.

Michelle Markell (she, her)

Staff Lawyer

Michelle Markell (she/her) graduated from UBC Law in 2022. She was called to the BC bar in 2023 after completing her articles at a migrant rights non-profit. She has assisted many caregivers, agricultural workers, and migrant workers in other industries with immigration applications, employment issues, and human rights complaints. Michelle speaks English and Spanish, and she can fumble her way through conversations in French and Portuguese. Outside of work, she enjoys cycling, gardening, and spending time in nature.

Anisha Sangha (she, her)

Summer Student

Anisha is a summer student working at the clinic. She is entering her third year of the JD program at Thompson Rivers University (‘TRU’). Prior to law school, Anisha played varsity soccer at the University of British Columbia where she completed her BA in Sociology. Anisha has legal experience working at the TRU Community Legal Clinic and volunteering with Legal Aid BC on their family law LiveHelp project. She enjoys being involved with her community and has acted as the co-representative of the TRU Law Equity Committee and is currently the Chair of 3L Students at the law school.

Jinhee Lee (she, her)

Operations Manager

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, 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 and developed her management skills. She is fluent in Korean, and in her spare time, she enjoys knitting.

Omar Chu (he, him)

Manager of Community Connections

Through his involvement with grassroots migrant justice movements, Omar Chu has been assisting with immigration and refugee legal issues for over ten 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.

Niamh Stowell (she, her)

Legal Assistant

Niamh previously worked in immigration law in the UK. She has an MSci in International Relations and Global Issues from the University of Nottingham. After graduating she obtained her legal qualifications and has worked in both immigration private practice and third sector. Whilst in the UK she worked primarily on refugee and human rights claims, as well as running a legal outreach advice program. She recently emigrated to Canada, and in her spare time she enjoys exploring British Columbia, reading and sewing.

Nathalia da Silva Oliveira (she, her)

Legal Assistant

Nathalia obtained a Bachelor of Law degree in Brazil, and she immigrated to Canada in 2014. She works with immigration law since 2015, and she is passionate about refugee law and humanitarian and compassionate causes. She is currently completing her LLM in Common Law at Osgoode Hall Law School. Nathalia is fluent in Portuguese (Brazil) and Spanish. In her free time, she loves baking, meditating, and reading.