Our Interview With Simona Jellinek, Senior Counsel at Gluckstein Lawyers

Simona is a leading legal advocate for survivors of sexual abuse and assault, with over 25 years of experience litigating against religious institutions, government bodies, schools, and other organizations that have failed to protect individuals from harm. As counsel leading the Sexual Abuse and Assault team at Gluckstein Lawyers,  she has helped clients secure some of the highest settlements for sexual abuse cases in Canada. Simona played a pivotal role in legislative reforms, including the removal of limitation periods for sexual abuse claims and changes ensuring ODSP recipients retain benefits after receiving compensation. Recognized as one of Canada’s top lawyers in this complex field, she has been listed in Best Lawyers and Lexpert, received the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association's Distinguished Service Award and the Zenith Lexpert Award, and is frequently sought by media for her expertise. She has lectured at universities, spoken at international conferences, and co-drafted the Law Society of Ontario’s Sexual Abuse Guidelines.

1. What motivated you to pursue a career in law? 

Initially, I decided to go to law school because I wanted to become a law professor. However, once I started working at the Legal Aid Clinic School, I got addicted to helping people. So that's when I decided to become a practicing lawyer and not pursue my initial thoughts of becoming a professor.

2. What do you wish you had known about the law school application process before you applied? 

I did not know what the law schools were looking for.

3. A lot of students struggle with the law school personal statement. What did your brainstorming, writing, and editing process look like, and what do you think made yours stand out from the crowd? 

My best friend was applying to medical school at the same time I was applying to law school. We worked on our personal statements together and I think that having her insight as to who I was made a far better statement and something I couldn’t have crafted on my own. I think I stood out because of my experiences outside of my academic achievements.

4. What was the biggest challenge that caught you off guard when you sat down to write the LSAT? 

The horrible migraine I had that day.

5. How much work experience did you gain before applying to law school? What opportunities did you pursue, and what helped you the most during the application process? 

I worked for a newspaper prior to law school and traveled throughout Europe in my childhood and teenage years. I think that these experiences helped me when I started the application process.

6. Did you have any setbacks or rejections during the law school admissions process, and what did you learn from those experiences?

I wrote the LSAT twice because the first time I had a migraine that did not allow me to do as well as I knew I could do.

7. What led you to specialize in sexual abuse litigation? What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue your specialty? What activities/events/opportunities would you recommend for students wanting to pursue sexual abuse litigation? 

This area of the law is very difficult not only because it is legally complex but also because of the emotional toll it takes for anyone who wants to help this vulnerable clientele. If this is an area that you're interested in pursuing, having an understanding of trauma-informed principles is invaluable and necessary.

8. How do you think AI is affecting law school admissions? 

I think that AI is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it allows people to harness technology in order to do things more efficiently. On the other hand, however, I think it creates a tendency for people to rely too heavily on AI without using their own abilities and checking that what AI presents to them is in fact correct.

9. What are some emerging fields of law that you would recommend potential students to start thinking about if they want to future-proof themselves in the industry? 

Any field involving AI, whether it is litigation or contracts.

10. What are the biggest sacrifices you’ve had to make to pursue a career in law? 

At times, I sacrificed my own emotional well-being and mental health in order to help sexual assault survivors.

11. Bonus question: How much would we have to pay you to take the LSAT again? 

I’d take it again for free just to see how badly I would do right now.

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