Dr. Jessica Buffalo

Biography

Jessica Buffalo is an Assistant Professor and the Academic Director of the Indigenous Community Legal Clinic at the Peter Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia. A member of the Samson Cree Nation, she completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at Simon Fraser University and obtained her Juris Doctor from UBC in 2016. After being called to the Alberta Bar in 2017, Jessica completed her articles at Calgary Legal Guidance, where she served as a temporary Homeless Outreach Lawyer. She later entered private practice focusing on criminal defense for Indigenous and marginalized people, playing a pivotal role in establishing the Calgary Indigenous Court and contributing to the Edmonton Indigenous Court and various judicial education initiatives. In 2019, she joined Legal Aid Alberta as Duty Counsel, offering support in various criminal courts. Jessica moved to the Law Society of Alberta in 2022 to lead initiatives advancing Reconciliation within the legal system. Actively involved in numerous committees focusing on justice for Indigenous peoples, she also guest lectures and presents at conferences on competency in the justice system. Jessica has developed intercultural competency courses for Legal Aid Alberta and is dedicated to improving legal education and access to justice for Indigenous communities.

Research Interests