Moira’s approach to law is to put her considerable academic skills to work in a meaningful way to improve her clients’ lives. She delves into research and writing, and identifies tough legal issues in order to prepare her clients' cases. However, her learning does not end there. She finds out about her clients' social, family and financial needs, while always putting them first. Moira’s motivation comes from making a personal connection with her clients and seeing her efforts make a difference in their lives.

With her full-service approach, Moira wants to ensure her clients understand every aspect of their case and that she understands their needs and objectives. She takes as much time as they need, and works hard to gain and maintain their trust. She is passionate about each and every client and their respective stories.

From an early age, Moira knew she wanted to help people—identify what’s wrong and fix it, for individuals and also at a policy level. In addition to her personal injury practice and administrative duties at the firm, she pursues an interest in international human rights through research and advocacy. She has taught comparative indigenous rights at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. For several years, she coordinated the legal team representing Maya claimants in successful land claim litigation in Belize, all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice, and remains involved in the case. She served as a judge on an International Opinion Tribunal concerning human rights violations in Colombia. Moira participated in the successful campaign to change exploitative aspects of Canada’s Live-In Caregiver Program by providing free legal clinics for caregivers and temporary foreign workers organized by the Caregivers Action Centre.

Moira has represented clients in trials and hearings before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Divisional Court, the Financial Services Commission, and CPP Review Tribunal.

Education

• Indigenous Peoples’ Law and Policy, University of Arizona (LL.M. 2005);
• Called to Ontario Bar (2002);
• Bachelor of Law, University of Toronto (LL.B., 2000);
• Specialist Bachelor of Arts with distinction, University of Toronto (B.A. (Hons), 1991).

Affiliations

• Ontario Trial Lawyers Association

Awards

• Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Law;
• McCarthy Tetrault Award for Academic Excellence;
• Laskin Prize in Constitutional Law;
• Blaney, McMurtry Stapells Prize in Native Peoples Law;
• Law Society of Upper Canada Award for Academic Excellence;
• Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal History Prize;
• S.J. Birnbaum Q.C. Scholarship Second Prize (shared).

Publications/articles

• Lessons from a First Arbitration, The Litigator (July 2004);
• Lessons on Logistics from a First Trial, The Litigator (April 2009);
• Blog post: Proposed changes to auto insurance have nothing to do with fighting fraud – but hurt victims;
• Blog post: The Importance of Talking to Government;
• News: Moira Gracey Takes Part in Successful Maya Land Rights Claims in Belize.

Research acknowledgements in:

• Scheiderman, David, “Constitutional Approaches To Privatization: An Inquiry Into The Magnitude Of Neo-Liberal Constitutionalism” 63 Law and Contemporary Problems 83 (August 2000);
• Anaya, S.J. and Robert Williams, “The Protection of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights over Lands and Natural Resources Under the Inter-American Human Rights System” Harvard Human Rights Journal, Vol. 14, 2001;
• Anaya, S.J. Indigenous Peoples in International Law, Second Edition, (Oxford University Press);
• Anaya, S.J. International Human Rights: Problems of Law, Policy, and Practice Fourth Edition (Aspen Publishers, New York, 2006).

Testimonial from client:

"I would not have been able to obtain such favorable results without you, your experience, intelligence and expertise. How you handled my case was remarkable. Thank you for being you." A.C.