About Me
Karen McCleave is a lawyer in Canada.
After 3 years of undergraduate study in an Honours program at University of Western Ontario, Karen went on to attend the University of Windsor, where she received her LL.B degree. After articling and Bar Admission Exams, she was called to the Ontario Bar.
For more than 30 years, she was an Assistant Crown Attorney in the Ontario and Superior Courts of Justice, primarily in York Region, Dufferin and Simcoe counties. She handled many high-profile cases that involved domestic, sexual and child abuse, complex frauds and murders. After departing the Crown’s office, Karen served in 2017-2018 as a policy advisor to a Senator in Ottawa.
She has been honoured with awards, including the Doug Lucas Award for excellence in the pursuit of justice through science and two Ontario Excelsior Awards, both for Outstanding Achievement.
Karen has shared her legal knowledge by speaking at conferences and courses for Crown colleagues, municipal, provincial and military police, provincial prosecutors, paralegals, and community organizations throughout Ontario.
In November, 2020, Karen was appointed by the Attorney-General to the Justice of the Peace Appointments Advisory Committee (JPAAC) for Central East Region. She is the Law Society's licensee member on that Committee.
Professional and Community Volunteering
Karen has assisted others throughout her lifetime. In addition to serving the public in criminal prosecutions, she has volunteered at many organizations. They include:
Karen has a keen interest in volunteering and advocating for more support and understanding of children’s and adolescents’ mental health.
She enjoys live music and theatre, hockey games, art exhibits, travelling, hiking and thoroughbred and standardbred horse racing. She is an art enthusiast and especially appreciates the works of Canadian painters.
After 3 years of undergraduate study in an Honours program at University of Western Ontario, Karen went on to attend the University of Windsor, where she received her LL.B degree. After articling and Bar Admission Exams, she was called to the Ontario Bar.
For more than 30 years, she was an Assistant Crown Attorney in the Ontario and Superior Courts of Justice, primarily in York Region, Dufferin and Simcoe counties. She handled many high-profile cases that involved domestic, sexual and child abuse, complex frauds and murders. After departing the Crown’s office, Karen served in 2017-2018 as a policy advisor to a Senator in Ottawa.
She has been honoured with awards, including the Doug Lucas Award for excellence in the pursuit of justice through science and two Ontario Excelsior Awards, both for Outstanding Achievement.
Karen has shared her legal knowledge by speaking at conferences and courses for Crown colleagues, municipal, provincial and military police, provincial prosecutors, paralegals, and community organizations throughout Ontario.
In November, 2020, Karen was appointed by the Attorney-General to the Justice of the Peace Appointments Advisory Committee (JPAAC) for Central East Region. She is the Law Society's licensee member on that Committee.
Professional and Community Volunteering
Karen has assisted others throughout her lifetime. In addition to serving the public in criminal prosecutions, she has volunteered at many organizations. They include:
- Blue Hills Child and Family Centre (now York Hills), for youth mental health, where she sat on the Board of Directors for nine years and did additional committee work
- Ontario Crown Attorneys Association (OCAA), where she was elected to represent her region on the board
- OCAA Newsletter, where she was a member of the Editorial Board
- Beta Sigma Phi, where she raised money for local, national and international charities
- Courthouse Food Bank, where the Christmas Food Drive contributed thousands of items for local citizens
- Feed the Hungry, Salvation Army
- Simcoe County High School Mock Trial program, where for several years she coached a team in an annual county-wide competition
- Appointed in 2020 to the Board of Trustees for the McMichael Canadian Art Collection
- Chairs the Governance and Nominating Committee and is a Member of the Arts Advisory Committee
Karen has a keen interest in volunteering and advocating for more support and understanding of children’s and adolescents’ mental health.
She enjoys live music and theatre, hockey games, art exhibits, travelling, hiking and thoroughbred and standardbred horse racing. She is an art enthusiast and especially appreciates the works of Canadian painters.