Steven Tress - Professional Activities

Steven Tress, Barrister and Solicitor

Practising as a Criminal Lawyer and Canadian Immigration Lawyer since 1988, Steven Tress is a member of the Law Society of Ontario and the Toronto Lawyers Association, and is currently serving as part-time professor at Seneca Polytechnic, Toronto Campus.

Prior Associations and Activities

• Executive Member, Criminal Justice Section, Canadian Bar Association (Ontario)
• Member, Immigration Law Section, Canadian Bar Association (Ontario)
• Member, Joint Committee on Court Reform (Criminal) and Advisory Committee to the Attorney General (Ontario)
• Member, Annual Institute Committee, Canadian Bar Association (Ontario)
• Member, Continuing Legal Education Committee, Canadian Bar Association (Ontario)
• Member, Legal Aid Area Committee (Toronto, Etobicoke)
• Chair, Criminal Law Seminar, Canadian Bar Association (Ontario)
• Co-Chair, Immigration Law Seminar, Canadian Bar Association (Ontario)
• Senior Supervisor, Refugee Law Research Unit, Osgoode Hall Law School
• Participating “Judge”, Ontario High School Mock Trial Competition
• Designated as an Expert Witness in Immigration Law by the Ontario Court in a family law matter
• Lawyer Volunteer, Elementary Mock Trial, Ontario Justice Education Network
• Instructor, Bar Admission Course, Law Society of Upper Canada:
  • Professional Responsibility
  • Practice Management
  • Interviewing Skills
  • Advocacy Skills
• Adjunct Instructor, Queen’s University: Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law
  • Foundations of Immigration Law
• Professor and Course Developer, Seneca Polytechnic: Immigration Case Management
  • Admissibility Module
• Instructor, Herzing College: Paralegal Licensing Program
  • Advocacy Module
• Instructor, Academy of Learning College: Immigration Consultant Licensing Program
  • Client Care for Legal Professionals
• Supervisor in Co-operative Education Program:
  • Toronto District School Board
  • Toronto Board of Education
  • Toronto Separate School Board
  • Scarborough Board of Education
  • Peel Board of Education
• Participant in Canadian Bar Association (Ontario) Speaker’s Bureau, Lecturing:
  • Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
  • Law and Government
  • Professional Responsibility

Presentations and Publications

• Criminal Inadmissibility: Presentation given to a webcast seminar for the Immigration Learning and Information Centre, 2018-2019
• Contributor (Forward) to “Canadian Immigration and Refugee Law for Legal Professionals”, 4th Edition, Lynn Fournier-Ruggles, Emond Publishing, March 2018
• “Advanced Sessions on Immigration Law 2016″: Presentation given to a webcast seminar for The Commons Institute, January 28, 2016
• Professionally Speaking TV: Hosted by Randall Craig, August, 2013
• “Ethical Dilemmas in Criminal Law and Immigration Law”: Presentation given to a seminar for Professional Development for Practitioners, November 23, 2012
• “Immigration Considerations For Family Law Practitioners”: Presentation given to a seminar for The Commons Institute, April 13, 2012
• “Ethical Considerations in Immigration Practice”: Presentation given to a seminar for The Commons Institute, March 8, 2012
• Ethical Red Flags in Immigration and Refugee Law: Panelist, Seminar Presented by the Law Society of Upper Canada, March 7, 2012
• “Ethical Dilemmas in Criminal Law and Immigration Law”: Presentation given to a seminar for Professional Development for Practitioners, November 26, 2011
• The Advantage of Retaining a Criminal Lawyer, Ezine Articles, September 13, 2011
• Key Factors That Make a Successful Criminal Defence Lawyer, Ezine Articles, October 11, 2011
• Starting Out As a Criminal Defence Lawyer: Some Advice, Ezine Articles, October 28, 2011
• The Advantage of Retaining an Immigration Lawyer, Ezine Articles, September 13, 2011
• “Judicial Review”: Presentation given to a seminar on Applications to the Federal Court, sponsored by the Refugee Lawyers Association, February 1995
• “Deportation Law – An Overview”: Co-chair and lecturer, a seminar on Deportation Law, presented by the Canadian Bar Association (Ontario), October 31, 1992
• Contributor to the “Law of Refugee Status”, James C. Hathaway, Butterworths 1991
• Contributor to “A Reconsideration of the Underlying Premise of Refugee Law”,  James C. Hathaway, Harvard International Law Journal, 31 Harv. Int’l. L. J. 129 (1990)

News Articles

• Toronto dad returns home with two baby girls after citizenship setback: Katherine DeClerq, CTV News Toronto, January 9, 2019
• Man’s immigration status wins him slightly shorter sentence: Ethan Lou, Toronto Star, August 17, 2015
• Little-known reasons visitors to Canada may be kicked out: Lila MacLellan | Daily Brew, June 26, 2015
• Commercial vehicle safety blitz in Toronto targeted minorities: lawyer: Ethan Lou, The Canadian Press, August 20, 2014
• What Rob Ford can expect when he meets with the PMO to talk gun crime: Megan O’Toole, National Post, July 21, 2012
• Mandatory minimums ‘like cutting off the hand of someone who steals’: Kendyl Sebesta, Canadian Lawyer and Law Times, August 10, 2012

 

Awais Mehmood1724495502 ★★★★★ Best Immigration and Criminal Lawyer in GTA having more than 27 years of Practice; you can count on him and he should fight for your rights; I strongly recommend him and pledged to visit him atleast once as a second opinion and i believe you will feel your self in safe hands.Thank you, Steven, for your services to the diverse communities in GTA and Canada.Joseph M. S.1724371556 ★★★★★ I can't thank lawyer Steven and his assistant Jane enough for their incredible work on my complex case. My situation seemed hopeless after several immigration lawyers advised me to give up and return. But Steven was the only one who reassured me that there was no need to worry, and he delivered results. Thanks to his expertise, I regained my status in Canada and finally received my permanent residency!Steven is extremely knowledgeable and professional—he answers every question promptly and keeps you informed every step of the way. Jane is also exceptional; she’s organized, efficient, and always supportive. I would highly recommend him to anyone dealing with complicated criminal and immigration issues in Canada. If you need someone who truly understands both areas of law, Steven is the best of the best!Roven Surendra1724329915 ★★★★★ Was deported an him an him an his staff help me got a visa to visit my family in Canada.Jande Tarfa1718121285 ★★★★★ After applying for a study permit for three times without success, I met Steven and my application was approved within 6 weeks of submitting my application.During the application process, Steven and his team were very meticulous and detailed with my application. I am grateful to Steven Tress & team for their professionalism. I will highly recommend for anyone facing immigration hurdles to meet Steven Tress and his team for a professional advice.ilval vasavada1715724386 ★★★★★ I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Steven and his team for supporting with my citizenship application and completion very quickly. Steven is very professional knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommend!ruthvika salian1706563936 ★★★★★ Working with Mr. Tress and his team has been an exceptional experience. The process of obtaining permits was smooth, and their professionalism and efficiency were evident throughout. Alice's assistance was particularly noteworthy, and her friendly demeanor made the entire process pleasant. I highly recommend Steven Tress for legal services. Thank you!Theresa Natalie1704684259 ★★★★★ Thanks to Steven Tress and his team, my family is now finally reunited in Canada. This would not have been possible without Steven Tress and his team's help. Throughout an unusually complicated immigration process, his expertise, integrity and efficiency were exceptional and we are extremely grateful and highly recommend him. His knowledge of immigration law is paramount to any other immigration lawyers we consulted throughout a complicated and lengthy process. Communication was always direct, realistic and resulted in a positive outcome. Thank you so much!Wanda Tse1703799634 ★★★★★ I needed someone GOOD in the immigration area for my good friends, a married couple. It's not a simple case. They worked and lived in Canada legally for over 3 years, and was promised permanent residence but at the end, immigration didn't go through as promised by their employer, and they had to return to Switzerland.I first found a law firm on Bay Street, someone had mentioned it. I phoned and was told $250 was the consultation fee. Then I was transferred to another receptionist and it had gone up to $275. All they wanted was money! So business like, so uncaring.When I briefly explained about the case, she was already offering legal advice. Then she wanted $275 before she would book an appointment with a lawyer. She made sure I heard from her that their law firm occupies the entire 28th floor in that building on Bay Street! What's the relevance here?Anyway, then I thought I really should research more and then I came up with Steven Tress. I read all the good reviews and there was only one bad one (and I am not so sure about that bad one, just the way it was written, even before I contacted Steven).I phoned and he answered the phone! I asked many initial questions, all he answered promptly and courteously, without rushing me, without ever asking for money whatsoever.It was only when I suggested it was time for him to do a proper consultation with the couple directly via e-mail, that, and so reasonably so, that he said his charge was $200 (much cheaper) and at the end of very many e-mails, from my friends, and more from me, all their/my questions were fully answered to the finest details! Never met Steven but he would be my immigration lawyer from now on. I would highly recommend him. Steven is the best immigration lawyer, and one with a heart, and not just money-minded.In my life, I have different specialist individuals who bless me with their assistance: I have a great person in each of these fields: a GP lawyer, a GP doctor, a Chartered Accountant, a psychiatrist, a travel agent, an insurance agent, etc. And now I added Steven to my list of immigration (and God forbids, a criminal) lawyer!!Tejveer Singh1699303024 ★★★★★ I am immensely grateful to Steven Tress & team for their exceptional handling of my intricate immigration case. Their expertise shone through, turning a daunting process into a victorious outcome with personalized attention and unparalleled professionalism. Thanks to their diligence and clarity in communication, my future is now filled opportunity. Highly recommended for anyone facing immigration hurdles!Farhan Ahmed1691699286 ★★★★★ I am immensely pleased with the outstanding assistance provided by Steven Tress, Criminal and Immigration Lawyer, and his proficient team in resolving my work permit issue. Their seamless and exemplary services showcased their deep expertise in immigration matters. From the moment I engaged their services, their professionalism and dedication were evident, guiding me through each step with clarity and precision. Thanks to their diligent efforts, my work permit concerns were resolved beyond my expectations. I wholeheartedly endorse Steven Tress and his team to anyone seeking top-notch immigration legal support.Dr. Shumaila Pervaiz1691073273 ★★★★★ All I know about Steven is he an honest and kind gentleman with plenty of knowledge. On top of that he is highly professional and he would always there for his client just a text away. Bless you