Canadian Immigration Lawyer

B.A. (Hon.) | University of Calgary

LL.B. | University of Alberta

Alicia Backman-Beharry has practiced as an immigration lawyer for over 20 years. She was called to the Alberta bar in 2003 and was an associate with a medium sized firm, a boutique immigration law firm, a part-time program lawyer at a non-poverty poverty law clinic, and has practiced as a sole practitioner. She has been part of the HIL team since 2020 and works with corporations, individuals and other lawyers to solve difficult immigration legal issues.

She finds it rewarding to help individuals and companies through the complex world of Canadian Immigration law. Having taught courses on temporary and permanent residence, Alicia is able to see how various pieces of the immigration puzzle fit together and can provide advice so that people understand which application to pursue and why.

During her career as an Immigration Lawyer Alicia Backman-Beharry has assisted with a wide range of business immigration matters, including applications for Labour Market Impact Assessments, work permits, Intra-company transfers, and Employer Compliance Reviews. She also has extensive experience with Permanent Residence applications including Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, and family class sponsorships. While working with the poverty law clinic, she routinely helped people with inadmissibility issues, refugee matters, restoration applications, and temporary residence permits. She has appeared before various Courts and Tribunals, including the Federal Court, the Provincial Court, the Court of Queen’s Bench, the Immigration and Refugee Board, the Immigration Division, and the Immigration Appeal Division.

Volunteering has always been a big part of how Alicia spends her time. Alicia volunteered on the National CBA Immigration Section as Co-Chair for Canada’s Immigration Law Conference in 2023 and chaired the Subcommittee for Speakers for the 2024 Conference. She has spent years volunteering on the Immigration and Citizenship Law Alberta South Section of the Canadian Bar Association, including serving as Vice-Chair, Chair, and Past-Chair. She enjoyed 9 years on the Board of a large immigrant-serving settlement organization, including serving as Secretary, Vice-Chair, Chair, and Past-Chair of the Board. She and her family love to hike, camp, and spend time exploring Canada.