Michael Bossin
In 2022, after more than 40 years as an immigration and refugee lawyer, Michael Bossin retired from full-time practice. He has, however, continued to teach, including as an instructor of the “Foundations” course in the Queen’s Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law program.
For 20 years, Michael taught Immigration and Refugee Law at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Common Law. He continues to teach a seminar for first year law students at uOttawa entitled, Access to Justice: Refugees.
In addition to practicing law and teaching, for many years Michael was a (part-time) member and vice-chair of two Ontario tribunals, the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (HPARB) and the Health Services Appeal and Review Board (HSARB).
Michael sits on the organizing committee for the annual Ottawa Immigration Law Conference, is a former member of the Canadian Council for Refugees’ Legal Affairs Committee (until his retirement) and is the past chair and president of Amnesty International Canada (English-speaking branch).
In 2010, Michael was the recipient of Legal Aid Ontario’s Sidney B. Linden award, given annually to honour individuals “who have demonstrated a commitment to helping low-income people, and who have given their time and expertise to ensuring access to justice in Ontario”.
Michael has appeared a number of times before the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as the Federal Court of Appeal, Federal Court and Ontario Court of Appeal, representing interveners and parties in cases related to immigration, security and human rights.