FOUNDER / PRINCIPAL LAWYER

Sofia Ijaz is a Canadian refugee and immigration lawyer based in Toronto, Canada.

As an advocate for migrant and refugee rights, Sofia has worked in Syria, Palestine, Greece, the United States and The Netherlands. She has served in positions with local and international NGOs and the United Nations. Sofia regularly appears before the Federal Court of Canada and the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.

Since 2015, Sofia has acted as legal counsel to migrants and refugees in Canada on a wide range of matters including refugee claims and appeals, judicial reviews, stays of deportation, complex family sponsorships and strategic constitutional litigation. She spent the first eight years of her law career practicing with a leading Canadian refugee and immigration firm in Toronto.

Sofia holds a law degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Affairs and Middle East Studies from the University of Virginia. She studied Arabic at the Institut Français du Proche-Orient in Damascus, Syria and Yarmouk University in Irbid, Jordan.

ASSOCIATE LAWYER

Seulgi is a licensed Barrister and Solicitor in Ontario, based in Toronto, Canada.

Seulgi’s interest in refugee and migrant rights began after two humanitarian trips to Jordan in 2012–2013 and 2016, where she witnessed the harsh realities faced by those forced to flee their country.

During law school, Seulgi completed the Immigration and Refugee Law Intensive Program and was awarded the Ian Scott Public Interest Internship Award to spend a summer working on advocacy projects with the Refugee Lawyers Association of Ontario. Upon graduation, she received the University Women’s Club of North York – Lee Robertson Memorial Award in recognition of her advocacy on women’s social justice issues. She articled with two esteemed refugee and immigration lawyers.

Seulgi holds a Juris Doctor degree from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University and an Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Toronto. She is fluent in English and Korean, and has a limited working knowledge of French.

ARTICLING STUDENT

Sevinj Gamarli is an Articling Student at Ijaz Law. She completed her Global Professional Master of Laws at the University of Toronto and holds an NCA Certificate of Qualification. Trained in law in Azerbaijan, where she earned both her Bachelor of Laws and Master’s degree in International Law with distinction, Sevinj has combined strong academic achievement with extensive professional experience in immigration services in Canada.

Before joining Ijaz Law, Sevinj worked for several years as a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, assisting individuals and families with a wide range of economic and family class immigration applications. Her own journey as an immigrant to Canada inspired her to pursue a career in immigration law, and she is committed to helping others navigate the legal processes that shape their lives.

Through her articling, Sevinj is expanding her practice to encompass the full spectrum of immigration and refugee law, working under the mentorship of the Ijaz Law team. She is able to assist clients in English, Azerbaijani, and Russian.

CLIENT COORDINATOR

Ayaa Dakkak is the firm’s Client Coordinator and is based in Mississauga, Canada.

Ayaa sought refugee protection in Canada in 2016. She originates from Aleppo, Syria, the site of large anti-government protests which were quickly crushed by the regime. Her beginnings as an activist in Syria have now led her to become an advocate for those seeking political asylum in Canada.

Ayaa is a student member of the Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants and a candidate in Queen University’s Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law.

Prior to her work in refugee and immigration law, Ayaa worked with a college in Ontario assisting students in Oakville and Brampton secure financial aid. She also served as a Human Resources Assistant with the Canadian Red Cross.

Ayaa holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Sheridan College. She also studied engineering at Aleppo University but due to the war, was forced to flee prior to graduating. Ayaa is fluent in English and Arabic.