Joan Braun is a lawyer, scholar and mediator.

I am an assistant professor at Bora Laskin Faculty of Law, where my research and teaching focus on elder law, criminal law, human rights law and alternate dispute resolution.

My academic research explores how laws address social and legal issues relevant to older adults. My current research examines legal issues that arise in the context of elder abuse and legal issues that arise in the criminal and civil context when an older adult has dementia.

I developed my research and teaching interests during a lengthy professional career, including work as a mediator in private practice and as a lawyer in the social justice sector. One relevant accomplishment during my professional career was founding the first legal aid clinic for older adults in western Canada (province-wide service).

This website tells you more about my research, publications and advocacy work. This is my personal website. The views expressed on this website do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization to which I belong. For matters related to my work at Bora Laskin Faculty of Law contact me at the email address found on the faculty website. For all other matters you can contact me using the contact form here on my personal website.

Professional Activities

Research

Joan's research has a socio-legal focus and examines how laws and policies operate in society. She explores the impact of these laws through a social justice lens. Her research falls within two broader areas of inquiry: alternate dispute resolution and elder law.

Teaching

Joan is a professor at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law where she teaches Criminal Law and Alternate Dispute Resolution. She also coaches the Wilson Moot: a student competition focusing on equality law. She previously taught courses in public law at two British Columbia universities.

Mediation

Joan has worked as a mediator, resolving family, civil, elder, workplace and child protection disputes. She is accredited as a Family Law Mediator with the Law Society of BC, is a certified Comprehensive Family Mediator with Family Mediation Canada.