Carol Shirtliff Hinds | Newmarket Divorce Lawyer

As founder and principal of Shirtliff Hinds Law in Newmarket, York Region, Ontario, Carol manages a 16-person law firm comprised of lawyers, paralegals and support staff. Carol has both broad and deep legal knowledge;  she specializes in the areas of Family Law, Criminal Defence Law, and Civil Litigation. As a senior litigator, she leads counsel on complex files including jury trials, in addition to mentoring junior lawyers and paralegals. Carol enjoys assisting in granting justice to litigants who otherwise may not be able to represent themselves effectively. Read why Carol started Shirtliff Hinds Law.

Under the Public Prosecution Services of Canada (PPSC), Carol has conducted bail hearings, preliminary enquiries and trials for offences pursuant to the Criminal Code. Through these experiences, Carol has amassed crucial knowledge of the views of various legal stakeholders such as the accused, the Crown, the police and the judiciary.

​A highly experienced litigator, Carol has appeared in all levels of court in Ontario, as well as in the Tax Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal and the Federal Court Trial Division.

As chair of the Toronto Licensing Tribunal, for a number of years, she championed increased transparency. Carol managed cases pursuant to Chapter 545 of the Toronto Municipal Code. She was responsible for adjudicating and writing decisions on cases before the tribunal. More recently, Carol has successfully represented clients before that same tribunal.

Carol enjoys giving back to the community by volunteering her time through the Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN), a program focused on educating high school students on legal proceedings through mock trials and sample court cases.

​Carol also enjoys volunteering as a judge at DECA Ontario, a Provincial association of high school students, university students, and advisers of business studies. Through this experience, she has had the opportunity to evaluate high school students’ results during competitions in the areas of entrepreneurship, management, and marketing.

​Carol has had the opportunity to mentor students through the “Law in Action Within Schools” (LAWS) partnership between the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and the Toronto District School Board. The goal of this extra-curricular program is to educate high school students about law and justice, to better position them to succeed in school.

In the 1990s, Carol volunteered her time with the Black Coalition for Aids Prevention (BlackCAP). The organization's aim was to support and inform individuals in the Africa/Caribbean community on the problem of HIV/AIDS. Through this experience, Carol grew her compassion and empathy for vulnerable members of society, while gaining insights into creative ways to educate young people on the sensitive topic of HIV/AIDS.

​Carol is proud to be one of the original members of Black Female Lawyers Network. This association aims to provide support and mentoring to Black lawyers in Ontario.

​As a member of the International Association of Prosecutors (IPA), Carol attended seminars and meetings regarding international issues which have a profound effect on the international community.
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Carol has experience volunteering with youth through the Canadian Harambee Education Society. The aim of this organization is to provide culturally sensitive services to the African-Canadian Community.