Sarah Miller (she/her/hers)

Sarah Miller has a civil litigation practice that focuses on employment, shareholder, constitutional and regulatory disputes. She has successfully represented clients in the Court of Justice, the Court of King's Bench, the Court of Appeal, the Federal Court, and the Federal Court of Appeal. She has also represented clients before numerous tribunals.

Sarah has a passion for the rule of law and procedural fairness. She acts as counsel for clients faced with immeasurable odds against the government, large corporations, employers, and banks. A tireless advocate for the “little guy”, Sarah strives to ensure that power differentials faced in life are balanced out in the courtroom. She has represented clients in many high-profile matters and is experienced at responding to media inquiries and managing the public relations side of litigation. Sarah also advises large organizations and corporate entities to streamline litigation and conducts efficient, cost-effective litigation. Additionally, Sarah has a breadth of legal experience, previously working in criminal prosecutions and in-house with both a public institution and a large energy company. 

Education

Sarah obtained both her Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor from the University of Calgary. She articled at a global law firm in Calgary, prior to joining JSS Barristers as an Associate in 2019. 

During law school, Sarah successfully participated in the Alberta Court of Appeal Moot and the Western MacIntyre Cup Moot. Sarah was a caseworker with Student Legal Assistance, gaining litigation experience in criminal, civil and family matters. She also practiced poverty law and wrongful convictions in two clinical courses, was a program coordinator with Pro Bono Students Canada, and was involved with the Society of Law Students and the Calgary Bar Association.

Experience

Some of Sarah's representative experience on appeal includes:

420 Investments Ltd v Tilray Inc, 2024 ABKB 610

Alberta Health Services v Pawlowski, 2022 ABCA 254

Dragon HCPS Inc v Turcan & Associates Ltd, 2023 ABKB 367

Community

Sarah volunteers in her spare time with non-profit and pro bono organizations across the city, including Calgary Legal Guidance and Pro Bono Law Alberta. She served on the board of the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation from 2018-2024, served on the board of the Chinook Scouts Foundation from 2018-2023, and sat on the Canadian Bar Association's Federal Courts Bench and Bar Liaison Committee for the 2022-2024 term.

Personal

Sarah's passions are community and health. She enjoys amateur gardening, running, cult podcasts, and hot yoga. Sarah is a fourth generation, rural Albertan.

Publications

"Chapter 9 [Judgments and Orders]"
LESA Alberta Civil Practice Manual 2023, Legal Education Society of Alberta, 2023, Alberta King's Printer
Author

"The Most Common Way People Give Up Power is by Thinking They Don't Have Any..."
JSSBarristers.ca, February 28, 2023
Co-author with Robert J. Hawkes KC

"The SCC Expands the Cause of Action for Constructive Taking"
JSSBarristers.ca, November 30, 2022
Co-author with Laura Warner

"Procedural Errors Result in Overturning Contempt Finding"
JSSBarristers.ca, November 18, 2022
Co-author with Gavin Price 

"Unilateral Unpaid Leave of Absence May Not Trigger Constructive Dismissal"
JSSBarristers.ca, November 3, 2022
Co-author with Erin J. Baker

"Mandatory Vaccinations in the Workplace"
JSSBarristers.ca, July 22, 2021
Co-author (with Erin J. Baker)

"SPECIAL EDITION Rules Newsletter No. 3 (May 2020)"

JSSBarristers.ca, May 6, 2020
Co-Author (with Glenn Solomon QC, FCIArb & Daniel Gryba)

"SPECIAL EDITION Rules Newsletter No. 2 (April 2020)"

JSSBarristers.ca, April 15, 2020
Co-Author (with Glenn Solomon QC, FCIArb & Daniel Gryba)

"SPECIAL EDITION Rules Newsletter No. 1 (April 2020)"

JSSBarristers.ca, April 1, 2020
Co-Author (with Glenn Solomon QC, FCIArb & Daniel Gryba)

Media Coverage

Interviewee
"Charter did not provide immunity for criminal conduct in COVID protest: Alberta Court of Appeal"
Law360 Canada, November 5, 2024 

Interviewee
"'Shattered my world': Calgary cop demoted after sharing sex video of fellow officer"
CTV News Calgary, October 3, 2024 

Interviewee
"Federal Court upholds CRA decision denying Rebel News journalism tax credits; Rebel to appeal"
Law360 Canada, September 23, 2024 

Interviewee
"The legal controversies of MAiD, part one"
Law360 Canada, April 25, 2024 

Interviewee
"Navigating a Proactive Termination"
Business in Calgary, February 2024 

Interviewee
"N.B. Court of Appeal Decision Provides 'Fulsome Overview' of Charter Law on Delay, Says Lawyer"
The Lawyer's Daily, September 7, 2022

Interviewee
"Alberta Law Experts Weigh In on Coutts Border Blockade"
Global News, February 2, 2022

Interviewee
"Alberta Hits Brakes on Traffic Court Changes"
The Lawyer's Daily, January 28, 2022

Interviewee
"Probation Order in Alberta COVID-19 Protest Case Raising Free Speech Concerns"
The Lawyer's Daily, October 20, 2021

Interviewee
"Changes Could Be On the Way for Fighting Traffic Violations in Alberta", Global News (https://globalnews.ca/news/8494169/alberta-traffic-courts-changes-justice-access/), January 6, 2022

Interviewee
"Vaccine Rights", CBC Calgary News at 11 (https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1934312515662), August 17, 2021

Interviewee
"Union wants meat processors to receive vaccines", CTV News Calgary (https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2127637), January 27, 2021

Presentations

Presenter
"Vaccines in the Workplace", Association of Community Services, Webinar, October 5, 2021