Ningjing (Natalie) Zhang

Association:
Canadian Bar Association (CBA)
Ontario Bar Association (OBA)
Christian Legal Fellowship (CLF)
The Advocacy Society (TAS)
Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (CILA)
Canadian Association for Refugee Lawyers (CARL)
Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL)
Frontenac Law Association (FLA)
Toronto Law Association (TLA)
Selected Volunteer Positions:
CPD Liaison, the Young Lawyer Division of the Ontario Bar Association (OBA), 2024 – present
Volunteer Lawyer and Member-at-Large, Church Athletic League Kingston, 2024 – present
Volunteer Lawyer, Chinese Christian Mission (CCM) Toronto Legal Clinic, 2023 – present
Director on the Board, Kingston Community Health Centre (Head Organization for Immigration Service Kingston Area) , 2023 – present
Executive Director, Christian Legal Fellowship Queen’s Law Chapter, 2021 – 2023
Volunteer, Queen Law Pro Bono Student Canada, 2020 – 2021
Board Member of WomenatthecentrE (Women’s Centre for Social Justice) Toronto, 2019 – 2020
Board Member of Kingston Anti-Violence Advisory Council (KAVAC), 2018 – 2019
Hi, I'm Ningjing (Natalie) Zhang, Ph.D.
Natalie grew up in a military family in Shanghai, where she developed a deep respect for discipline, integrity, and service — values that continue to guide her work today. Her path to the legal profession was not straightforward. Once a refugee herself, Natalie and her children lived in a women’s shelter for 3.5 years before she entered Queen’s Law. That lived experience gave her not only resilience but also profound empathy for clients facing uncertainty and hardship.
Before becoming a lawyer, Natalie earned a Ph.D. in History and built a promising academic career, teaching and conducting research at world-class institutions such as Fudan University (China), Stanford University (U.S.), and Queen’s University (Canada). Her strong academic training sharpened her research and analytical skills, which she now applies to developing effective legal strategies for her clients.
Today, Natalie is one of the few refugee-turned-lawyers in Canada. She practices immigration and refugee law, real estate, and business law, with a special focus on helping immigrants and immigrant entrepreneurs establish their lives and businesses in Ontario. As both a small business owner and an immigrant herself, she understands the challenges and opportunities newcomers face.
Natalie is committed to making high-quality legal services accessible, efficient, and client-centered. She recognizes how much every dollar means to immigrant families and strives to provide services that are not only professional and effective but also mindful of her clients’ realities. For her, practicing law is more than a career — it is a calling rooted in social justice, gratitude, and a desire to pay forward the help she once received.
When she is not practicing law, Natalie enjoys spending time with her family (and their recently rescued dog Wonzy), volunteering in her community, and mentoring the next generation of legal professionals.
Association:
Canadian Bar Association (CBA)
Ontario Bar Association (OBA)
Christian Legal Fellowship (CLF)
The Advocacy Society (TAS)
Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (CILA)
Canadian Association for Refugee Lawyers (CARL)
Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL)
Frontenac Law Association (FLA)
Toronto Law Association (TLA)
Selected Volunteer Positions:
CPD Liaison, the Young Lawyer Division of the Ontario Bar Association (OBA), 2024 – present
Volunteer Lawyer and Member-at-Large, Church Athletic League Kingston, 2024 – present
Volunteer Lawyer, Chinese Christian Mission (CCM) Toronto Legal Clinic, 2023 – present
Director on the Board, Kingston Community Health Centre (Head Organization for Immigration Service Kingston Area) , 2023 – present
Executive Director, Christian Legal Fellowship Queen’s Law Chapter, 2021 – 2023
Volunteer, Queen Law Pro Bono Student Canada, 2020 – 2021
Board Member of WomenatthecentrE (Women’s Centre for Social Justice) Toronto, 2019 – 2020
Board Member of Kingston Anti-Violence Advisory Council (KAVAC), 2018 – 2019
Career Experience
Frontenac Law Association Award, Frontenac Law Associate, 2023
Course Prize for Law 360-001 Trial Advocacy (Civil), taught by Darryl A. Cruz and Thomas
Sutton from McCarthy Tétrault, Faculty of Law, Queen’s University, 2022
Aird & Berlis Equality Award, Women’s Law Association of Ontario and Airf & Berlis LLP, 2021
Global Law Scholarship, Faculty of Law, Queen’s University, 2021
Barbara Paul Prize, Ban Righ Centre, Queen’s University, 2020
Bev Baines Award for Outstanding Service in Gender, Women’s and Feminist Studies, Gender Studies Department, Queen’s University, 2020
Poole Award in Women’s and Gender Studies, Gender Studies Department, Queen’s University, 2018