"Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. " – Oprah Winfrey.
Ana Banus is an Articling Student at the Vancouver office of MacLean Law. She is expected to qualify as a lawyer in British Columbia in 2024.
In the pursuit of a legal education, Ana attended law school in Guatemala from January 2006 to November 2009, successfully completing four years of a six-year law degree. Regrettably, the journey to obtain a law degree faced an unforeseen interruption when her family decided to immigrate to Canada.
After immigrating to Canada, Ana obtained her Paralegal certification in Litigation and Family Law in Canada. She then obtained her law degree from the University of Leicester in England. On her return to Canada, she received a Certificate of Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation and fulfilled all necessary equivalency exams.
Before joining MacLean Family Law, Ana gained experience as a paralegal/legal Assistant in the family law departments of several large firms in Vancouver. When she joined MacLean Law, she worked alongside Lorne N. MacLean K.C., assisting him on complex family law cases in the B.C. Supreme Court and Court of Appeal for over 5 years.
Ana brings a breadth of experience in key areas of family law, including divorce, legal separation, complex financial settlements, child custody matters, and prenuptial agreements. She strives to provide compassionate, knowledgeable, and strategic advice tailored to each client’s unique circumstances. Ana’s multicultural background, having lived in Guatemala, England, and now Canada, allows her to understand and connect with clients from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Fluent in both English and Spanish, she is particularly passionate about increasing Latino representation in the legal profession. Ana believes her ability to communicate in Spanish is a valuable asset for Spanish-speaking clients navigating Canada’s legal system.
Outside of work, Ana enjoys spending quality time with friends and family as well as traveling. She is a foodie who loves exploring new restaurants and cuisines.
Education
- 2023 Canadian National Committee of Accreditation
- 2022 Law (JD Pathway) LLB (Honours) – The University of Leicester
- 2016 Paralegal Certificate – Litigation and Family Law
- 2009 Associate of Arts – Law – Universidad Rafael Landivar Guatemala (incomplete).
credentials
- Member of the Law Society of British Columbia (Articling Student)
- Member of the Trial Lawyers Association of Britsh Columbia (Articling Student)
awards and press
- University of Leicester Canadian Excellence Scholarship – Received March 30, 2020
- Certificate of Appreciation – Best Clinical Legal Companion -Received April 7, 2021
- Certificate of Appreciation – Award for Outstanding Contribution – Received March 28, 2022
experience
- Present: Articling Student – MacLean Law
- 2023 – 2017: Paralegal & Legal Assistant for Lorne N. MacLean K.C. – MacLean Law
- 2016 – 2017: Legal Assistant – Downtown Family Law Firm
- 2014 – 2016: Legal Assistant – Harris & Company LLP
- 2007 – 2010: Legal Assistant – Bufete Olivero, Guatemala
professional community
- 2015 – 2020 Pro-Bono Legal Advice – Amici Curiae Friendship Society, Vancouver
- 2020 – 2022 Litigants in Person Project – University of Leicester Pro Bono, England.
