Courtney McLaughlin is a criminal defence lawyer practicing across all levels of court in the province, having appeared as counsel in Provincial, Supreme, and Appellate matters.
Courtney has experience handling serious indictable matters across a wide range of offences including homicide, sexual assault, and robbery. Before joining Gauthier & Mines, Courtney built a broad and varied practice in criminal defence. Most notably, she and a colleague successfully defended a client charged with second-degree murder in a remote northern community, securing a conviction on the lesser included offence of manslaughter. Starting her career in Kamloops B.C., she worked at a prominent full-service firm with a focus on family, child protection and criminal law, and uses this experience to bring a holistic approach to her each client’s unique case.
Having lived and practiced throughout the province, Courtney is attentive to the range of unique circumstances her clients may be facing — whether that involves mental health or substance use, life in a rural or isolated community, or navigating non-criminal legal matters that intersect with their case. She brings that awareness to every file, recognizing that a client’s full circumstances often matter as much as the charge itself.
Courtney holds a Juris Doctor from Thompson Rivers University, where her academic and research work focused on the history and ongoing impacts of the over-incarceration of Indigenous peoples. She developed course materials for a new Truth and Reconciliation class, drawing on legal and historical research conducted in consultation with Indigenous Elders and community members; grounding that continues to shape her practice today. Courtney has a particular interest in the intersection of constitutional and criminal law, with a strong focus on the protection of Charter rights, and in supporting more just outcomes for Indigenous and youth clients within the justice system.
Outside of the office, she enjoys hiking and backpacking, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with her dogs and family.
