For Julia Cornish, family law has always been compelling—equal parts complex, human, and deeply rewarding. With over 40 years of experience, Julia is known for her insight, warmth, and unwavering dedication to helping clients navigate life’s most personal transitions. 

Julia’s practice focuses on family law and adoption. She assists clients with all aspects of the separation and divorce process, including complex financial arrangements (often involving corporate interests), and negotiated or litigated resolutions, as well as drafting cohabitation agreements and marriage contracts.  She has extensive experience guiding families through adoption proceedings. Julia is certified in Collaborative Family Law and regularly advises clients in both traditional and alternative dispute resolution processes. 

Clients appreciate Julia’s calm, compassionate approach and her ability to explain legal complexities with clarity and care. She sees it as a privilege to help clients through both difficult separations and joyful milestones like adoption. 

Julia contributes widely to the profession. She taught courses in law at Mount Saint Vincent University and family law at Dalhousie’s Schulich School of Law. She presents at conferences across Canada and the United States. Julia served on the Federal Advisory Committee on Family Law Issues, which helped develop the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines. She is a past President of the Nova Scotia Barristers Society, a past Chair of Canadian Bar Association (NS) as well as national Chair of the Family Law section, contribution which have earned her awards. She remains an active volunteer in several organizations.

Julia is listed in Best Lawyers in Canada and the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for Family Law and is a member of the International Academy of Family Lawyers—an invitation-only global network of distinguished family lawyers. 

Julia earned her Honours BA at Mount Allison University in 1979 and her LL.B. from Dalhousie in 1983. She was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1984 and appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2006. After more than two decades as a founding partner at Sealy Cornish Coulthard, Julia joined Conrad Dillon Robinson in July 2020 with the SCC family law team. 

When not practising law, Julia enjoys travel, theatre, galleries, and exploring cities on foot. Her favourite place, though, is wherever her four grandchildren happen to be. 

• Bar Admission, Nova Scotia (1984)

• Appointed to Queen’s Counsel, 2006

• Dalhousie University (LL.B., 1983)

• Mount Allison University (B.A. Hons. 1979)

• Collaborative Family Law Certification, 2002

• Member, Nova Scotia Barristers' Society

• Member, Canadian Bar Association

• Past President, Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society

• Past President, Canadian Bar Association NS

• Past National Chair, Canadian Bar Association Family Law Section

• Past President, Dalhousie Law Alumni Association

• Past President, YWCA Halifax

• Canadian Bar Association (Nova Scotia Branch) Constance Glube Spirit Award, 2017

• Canadian Bar Association (Nova Scotia Branch) Distinguished Service Award, 2010