Abigail Knubley
Lawyer & Workplace Investigator
Expertise
- Human rights complaints
- Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
- Workplace investigations
- Employment law
- Workplace culture assessments and transformations
PhilosophyIn a word: Change
Abigail makes a conscious effort to embrace change, even when it’s uncomfortable. Though she is still working on refining this skill, her commitment to lifelong learning and unlearning has taught her that discomfort is necessary for growth. This philosophy guides Abigail’s approach to practicing anti-discrimination, both in law and in her personal life.
Abigail also applies this mindset when helping employers and employees navigate change and workplace transformation through culture assessments, training, and workplace investigations.
B.A. Hons. Media, Information, and Techno-culture: Western University
J.D. Osgoode Hall Law School
Accomplishments
Abigail authored the article “Locked up and Locked out: The Effects of Ontario’s Human Rights Record of Offences Regime” in the Canadian Labour and Employment Law Journal. Her work examines how Ontario’s narrow human rights protections leave individuals with police records excluded from meaningful employment, housing, and community participation. She highlights how criminal records can act as proxies for race, disability, and other protected grounds, compounding systemic inequities. The article advocates for expanding Ontario’s Human Rights Code protections for those with police records in an effort to advance equity and inclusion.
Backstory
Before deciding on law, Abigail explored journalism and the cultural impact of emerging technologies at Western University. Her curiosity about how rules and systems shape people’s lives naturally led her to law school, where that interest grew into a focus on advocacy. Along the way, she discovered that law allowed her to carry forward her love of research and writing, culminating in her first publication.
An interesting tidbit
Abigail enjoys long distance running and has completed several marathons (albeit slowly). She continues to move at a leisurely pace after this hobby required her to have knee surgery before the age of 25.
