Toronto Criminal Lawyers - Toronto Criminal Defence Law Firm - Cooper & Sandler LLP

Profile of Austin M. Cooper, Toronto Criminal Defence Lawyer

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Mr. Cooper, a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School, was called to the Bar of the Province of Ontario in 1953 and has practiced as defence counsel in the field of criminal law since that date. He was appointed Q.C. in 1964. He is certified by the Law Society as a Specialist in Criminal Law and has extensive experience as both a trial and appellate counsel. From 1997to 1998, he served as Commission Counsel to the Commission on Proceedings involving Guy Paul Morin. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the recipient of a number of professional awards: the Douglas Laidlaw Medal for Excellence in Advocacy, the G. Arthur Martin Award from the Criminal Lawyers’ Association of Ontario for his contribution to criminal justice (2000), the J.J. Robinette Medal for Excellence from the Osgoode Hall Law School Alumni Association (2003) and the Award of Excellence from the Metropolitan Toronto Lawyers’ Association for significant contribution to the growth of jurisprudence and the rule of law (2003). In 2005, he was awarded the Advocates’ Society Medal for his mastery of the art of advocacy.

Mr. Cooper has written and lectured widely at law schools and legal conferences in the areas of advocacy, evidence and substantive criminal law. He was a founding member of the Advocates Society in Ontario and served as a Director of that Society. He is a member in good standing of the Canadian Bar Association and was, for several years, the Chair of the Civil Liberties Subsection. Mr. Cooper was elected by his peers as a Bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada (the governing body of the legal profession in Ontario), and after serving from 1971 to 1987, was appointed as ex-officio Bencher for his lifetime. For 16 years, he was a director of the Tarragon Theatre, Toronto, and is currently a member of the Board of Governors of Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto.

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