Joanna M. Shaw Hons., BA, LLB, MES, LLM, ACC. MEDIATOR, NOTARY

As the principle lawyer of JMS Law it is my goal to encourage and foster a practice of law that is compassionate and mindful, not only of clients but of the JMS Law team.

I consistently remind my team that everyone has a story, and every story is valid and deserving of attention and non-judgement. I challenge my team and clients to become more self-aware and reflective in efforts to find solutions that allow for inner-growth and success not just for themselves but for those around them. It is my belief that a better world, lived from non-judgment, compassion, mindful practice and kindness is possible.

Whether I am working on real estate files or family files, I engage in this approach. When working with all Clients in conflict, I will tell you what you need to hear—which isn’t always what you want to hear—because my goal is to get you to resolution, not deeper into conflict. It is to help you see your conflict as a catalyst for personal change and self-mastery and to live authentically from that place.

This approach often shortens the amount of time people spend in conflict which then lessens the financial, emotional and often times, the physical cost of conflict. My own life experience has equipped me with tools for personal transformation which I readily share with anyone who is open and ready for change. I do everything I can to live authentically from a place of compassion, mindfulness and humility and I encourage my team to do the same, in all areas of our lives, personally and professionally.

My approach to law, and indeed my life as a whole, is greatly influenced by Yoga and Meditation philosophies and other practices that engender compassion and mindfulness. I have been a member of several boards,  including Legal Clinics, Women shelters, with participation on the Panel of the Mediation Centre in Barrie, the Simcoe Family Law Lawyers Association and Barrie Real Estate Law Association. As a Member of a Barrie Rotary club, I adhere strongly to the principals upheld by Rotarians. I have advocated on behalf on many marginalized men, women and children for better living environments.  My deep commitment to a healthier community causes me to currently teach several Yoga classes weekly to individuals of all ages including elderly individuals seeking a healthier mind and body, with a very deep drive for both physical and inner growth.

My first love is teaching and working with people in a way that will allow them to transform their lives in a truly great way. I have taught several courses in the Social Science department at York University for 13 years and over the years have facilitated several children’s programs that focused on healthy families and personal growth. Out of this love has grown the work I do as an agent of the Office of the Children’s Lawyer where I represent children in family law disputes.  Both as a mediator and a Children’s lawyer I encourage clients and lawyers on the opposing side to foster compassion for themselves and to see possibilities where there might not otherwise be any.

At JMS Law, we encourage people to negotiate from a place of mindfulness and compassion with their future, and that of their children, at the fore. The well-being of both our clients and their families are of the utmost importance. I believe that healthier families lead to healthier communities, which, in turn, lead to a healthier world. I work hard to help clients get to a place where they can see their future independent of their current conflicts. I empower my clients and those around me to participate in a collaborative process that focuses on understanding and healing, and results in long lasting, cost-effective resolutions that benefit the whole family, in particular children whose parents are involved in the conflict.