Melissa Lukings is a Barrister and Solicitor licensed to practise law in Ontario since June 2023. She holds a Juris Doctor from the University of New Brunswick (2022) and a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from Memorial University of Newfoundland (2015). Alongside her legal practice, Melissa is a published author, researcher, speaker, and advocate with experience spanning health law, mental health and capacity law, privacy and cybersecurity law, human rights, employment law, and access to justice.

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Melissa is a sole practitioner, the founder of Lukings Law, and a founding member of the CARE Law Collective (Compassionate Advocates for Rights and Equality), a collaborative initiative established in late 2025 by former mentees of the late Alvin I. Schieck. Through both organizations, she is committed to providing accessible, client-centred legal services grounded in compassion, dignity, and respect for individual rights.​​

 

​COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND ADVOCACY

 

Melissa's commitment to social justice is reflected in her long history of community involvement, advocacy, and public education, particularly in areas relating to:

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• Harm reduction and mental health advocacy.

• Crisis and suicide intervention.

• Violence prevention and reproductive justice.

• End-of-life care, education, and patient advocacy.

• Human rights and access to justice for marginalized communities.

 

Melissa also volunteers with Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC), where she serves on both the Education Committee and Advocacy Committee. Through this work, she assists with public education initiatives relating to advance care planning, end-of-life decision-making, and patient autonomy.

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PUBLISHED AUTHOR AND CYBERSECURITY RESEARCHER

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While completing her law degree, Melissa co-authored the Understanding Canadian Cybersecurity Laws series, published by IT World Canada (ITWC), which received a Gold Award for Best Blog Column at the 2020 Canadian Online Publishing Awards. Building on this work, she co-authored Understanding Cybersecurity Law and Digital Privacy: A Common Law Perspective, published by Springer Nature AG Switzerland in December 2021.

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In 2022, Melissa co-authored the article series Understanding Current Cybersecurity Challenges in Law and published her second book, Understanding Cybersecurity Law in Data Sovereignty and Digital Governance.

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In 2026, Melissa published her third book, Understanding Cybercrime Victim Services, which examines the legal, practical, and policy challenges facing victims of cybercrime and explores available supports, reporting mechanisms, and victim-centred responses within Canada's evolving digital landscape.

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EXPERIENCED WITNESS AND PARLIAMENTARY APPEARANCES

 

Melissa's work in privacy, cybersecurity, and digital governance has led to multiple invitations to testify before the Parliament of Canada. She has appeared twice before the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) and once before the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (JUST).

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Her testimony contributed to:

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• The parliamentary review of the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA).

• Discussions regarding online privacy, cybersecurity, digital governance, and Criminal Code provisions affecting Canadians in the digital age.

 

LEGAL PRACTICE AND AREAS OF FOCUS

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Following her Call to the Bar in 2023, Melissa practised with an Ottawa-based civil litigation firm, focusing on employment law, human rights matters, and civil litigation.

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In 2024, she was rostered with the Consent and Capacity Board (CCB) and began accepting Legal Aid Ontario certificates in association with her mentor, the late Alvin I. Schieck, through ASAP Law Barristers. Since that time, she has represented patients, substitute decision-makers, family members, and community members in matters involving the:

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• Health Care Consent Act (HCCA).

• Mental Health Act (MHA).

• Substitute Decisions Act (SDA).

• Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA).

• Mandatory Blood Testing Act (MBTA).

 

In 2025, Melissa established Lukings Law to expand her practice and continue serving clients across Ontario. Following the unexpected passing of Alvin I. Schieck and the closure of ASAP Law Barristers, she transitioned to full-time sole practice while continuing the work and mentorship legacy that helped shape her career.​​​​

 

ONGOING RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

 

Melissa remains actively involved in legal research and public education relating to cybersecurity and privacy, health law, capacity and consent, end-of-life care, legal reform, and access to justice.

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She is currently a member of the:

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• Law Society of Ontario (LSO).

• County of Carleton Law Association (CCLA).

• International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

• Law and Mental Disorder Association (LAMDA).

 

SERVING CLIENTS ACROSS ONTARIO

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Although based in Ottawa, Melissa regularly assists clients throughout Ontario through both in-person and remote representation.

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She welcomes inquiries from individuals, families, healthcare providers, organizations, and community members seeking legal advice, representation, or educational presentations relating to her areas of practice and research.​