Jacob Jesin
Jacob, (or “Jake” as most people call him) earned his law degree at Queen’s University Law School after successfully completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at York University. He spent much of his time at Queen’s honing his advocacy skills at the university’s legal clinic, Queen’s Legal Aid, where he became one of the clinic’s student leaders and won the annual Robinson-Ryan Award for significant contribution to the achievement and development of the goals of the clinic.
After Jake was called to the bar in 2006, he joined with Robert Rotenberg and Alvin Shidlowski to form RSJLAW. Jake’s practice is varied and he considers himself first and foremost a “trial lawyer”. He regularly defends clients facing serious allegations of sexual assault, domestic assault and child abuse, and drug possession, importing, and trafficking charges. He has also represented clients in university disciplinary matters and regulatory offences. He takes pride in helping his clients not just with their legal matters, but with helping them put their lives back together when they are most vulnerable.
Jake is also well known in the legal community for his work acting for victims and witnesses who require representation when they are involved in the criminal justice system. He has acted for complainants in high profile matters and has represented victims of domestic abuse and liaised on their behalf with the police and Crown Attorney. Jake is a panel lawyer for the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Independent Legal Advice for Survivors of Sexual Assault Pilot Program. He is also a panel lawyer with Legal Aid Ontario and acts for complainants in domestic and sexual assault cases who have been served with third party records applications to access their private records.
Jake has also developed a niche practice lecturing for staff and advising summer camps, swim and recreational program providers and day schools on various legal issues that can arise in a childcare setting. He is a regular guest speaker at Ontario Camps Association conferences, and residential and day camp counsellor-training programs.
Jake also volunteers his time to a variety of community and professional organizations. He previously served on the Board of Directors for the Criminal Lawyers Association, and the Canterbury Marc Perri Clinic, and is currently the President and Chair of the Board of a private day school in Toronto. He is a member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario, the Criminal Lawyers Association, and the Toronto Lawyers Association, and has been a guest speaker at a number of legal conferences. He is often asked to comment on legal news stories, appearing on CP24, CTV News Channel, Global TV, Newstalk 1010 and CBC radio.
Jake believes compassion and patience with his clients are the most important qualities a lawyer can have. He is well known for his willingness to spend his time at any hour of the day comforting his clients and answering questions about their cases. He’s also a self-professed technology guru and takes pride in being easily accessible to his clients.
