Marinos follows her dream to focus on advocacy, law reform, and human rights education
After litigating for over 22 years at the Department of Justice Canada, Angela Marinos made the decision to pivot to a new role as chief general counsel at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights – a charity organization with a broad mandate to advocate for justice domestically and internationally.
Marinos feels as if her career has come full circle as she was given her first paid law job 27 years ago by Irwin Cotler – the international chair of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights – when she was a student at McGill Law School.
“In some ways, getting this job feels like Odysseus returning to Ithaca after two decades of adventures at the DOJ,” says Marinos. “The pandemic gave me a chance to take stock of my life and think about what would give me a sense of purpose for the next chapter of my career.” Recalling the human rights work that had been a highlight during her time at law school, Marinos felt compelled to pursue a new role that would allow her to return to her roots and follow her dream.
Having spent many years in the privileged position of working as general counsel at the DOJ, Marinos also felt the time had come to use her advocacy skills in a different way.
“I’m living proof that you actually can release yourself from the golden handcuffs, whether you’re starting out or you’re deep in mid-life,” says Marinos, who joined the human rights charity on November 1, 2023. “It’s important to remember that you’re the driver of your career, and you have the agency to make the changes you need in order to feel that sense of alignment with your authentic self.”
In her new role as chief general counsel at the Wallenberg Centre, Marinos takes accountability for advocacy, law reform, and education. She plans to develop an advocacy program, through which law students can work with the centre and help with cases. She also aims to work on law reform as it relates to the centre’s mandate on protecting democracy. This includes advocacy efforts to strengthen legislation around hate speech and racism in Canada.
Human rights education is also top of mind for Marinos, as she works to break down silos and bring communities together.
Other goals in her new role include combatting human trafficking of women and girls in Canada, as well as fighting to ensure that perpetrators of international crimes have no impunity. She also strives to develop o Raoul Wallenberg toolkit for schools and community centres to educate kids about standing up for one another.
“Raoul Wallenberg wasn’t Jewish but he saved thousands of people during the Holocaust just from his moral courage and willingness to confront injustice – so it’s a lesson that no matter our race and ethnicity, religion or gender, we need to stand up for each other – now more than ever,” Marinos says.
Having spent her entire career litigating difficult cases, ranging from crimes against humanity to national security issues, Marinos’ skills and training in working towards a principled and just outcome have prepared her well for the role at the human rights charity.
“I’m excited by all this human advocacy work and the challenges that lie ahead,” she says. “I’m excited to work with this great team and with Professor Cotler again.”
Further down the road, Marinos hopes to open her own advocacy consulting business to help lawyers with their oral and written advocacy.
“Be open to opportunities, embrace serendipity, be the driver of your career, and follow your dream,” advises Marinos.
