HADFORD DEFENCE GROUP
Hadford Defence Group is a regional law firm providing consultation and representation for all criminal matters including appeals, drug offences, assault, firearms offences, robbery, break and enter, impaired driving, domestic violence, major crimes, theft and fraud, young offenders, and pardons. Hadford Defence Group has an exclusive focus on criminal law and provides round-the-clock and personalized service to clients in Southern Alberta. Each client’s personal situation is carefully considered while we work hard toward the best possible outcome every time.
Hadford Defence Group is located in the historic Paramount Theatre Building in downtown Lethbridge.
Hadford Defence Group is owned and operated by Scott Hadford, Juris Doctor.
OUR TEAM
K. Scott Hadford,
Juris Doctor
Scott Hadford, Juris Doctor, is a determined barrister and solicitor who welcomes the challenges presented by vigorously defending clients in all of the southern Alberta circuit points, running a successful trial practice, and maintaining a highly sought after law firm in Lethbridge. Scott has extensive experience appearing before the Alberta Court of Justice, Court of King’s Bench of Alberta and the Alberta Court of Appeal. His passionate advocacy for clients is reflected in numerous published court decisions. Scott is a current member of Legal Aid’s Major Cases Panel and the Criminal Youth Panel.
Scott supports the community with pro bono work at Lethbridge Legal Guidance, volunteering monthly to host Criminal Clinics and for Law Day. Scott is a proud supporter of Streets Alive, the Lethbridge Interfaith Foodbank, and the South Alberta FASD Justice Network. Scott has been a guest presenter at the Galt Museum speaking about the issues affecting criminality in our community. Scott Hadford is a founding member, and the Vice President and Treasurer, of the Southern Alberta Defence Lawyers’ Association, as well as an active member of the Lethbridge Bar Association, the Alberta Criminal Trial Lawyers’ Association, and the Criminal Defence Lawyers’ Association.
Scott believes in mentorship and has valued the mentorship he received when he was a young lawyer. Scott is available to assist junior lawyers when he can and volunteers with the Lawyer’s Assist, Mentor Connect and Mentor Express programs through the Law Society of Alberta. To support this, he has recently completed a two-day Coaching Skills for Mentor Lawyers program through the Alberta Law Society. Scott has been a volunteer for a moot court for Western Law’s Criminal Law Students’ Association at the University of Western Ontario.
Born and raised in southern Alberta, Scott Hadford practiced corporate law in the United States for eight years before returning home and being called to the Alberta Bar in 2008. His corporate law experience includes professional liability, malpractice and bad faith insurance litigation, insurance defence, and personal injury claims. Before returning to Canada, Scott was licensed to practice law in Arizona, Utah, and Idaho. In addition to corporate law, Scott has practiced some family law as well as represented many Indigenous clients through the Indian Residential School settlement process in southern Alberta. Scott’s preferred practice, and his exclusive focus, is criminal defence.
Scott has two Bachelor of Arts degrees from Utah State University. Completing both with the summa cum laude distinction, Scott’s first degree is in Political Science and the second degree is in Philosophy. Scott holds a Juris Doctorate from J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University, where he was the recipient of multiple academic awards.
To retain or to book a free consultation with Scott Hadford, please call our office at 403-380-1999. We look forward to hearing from you.
Margaret Morse,
Juris Doctor
Margaret Morse, Juris Doctor, is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick, Faculty of Law. She was born and raised in Nova Scotia where she attended Saint Mary’s University and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Criminology. Throughout this degree, she gained experience working with children at Children’s Intensive Services through the Nova Scotia Health Authority. Margaret also worked as a research assistant in the victims’ research lab at Saint Mary’s University.
Margaret’s strong interest in criminal defence was piqued during her law degree where she had the opportunity to do criminal defence work through an internship at LA Henry Law and New Brunswick Legal Aid. Margaret gained valuable skills from volunteering with Fredericton Legal Advice Clinic.
Passionate about advocating for clients and eager to experience other areas of Canada, Margaret Morse began her articles with Hadford Defence Group in June of 2023 and was called to the Alberta Bar in July 2024. Margaret is an active member of the Southern Alberta Defence Lawyers association. She is the newest member of the Hadford Defence Group pro bono team doing volunteer work for Lethbridge Legal Guidance’s monthly criminal clinics. Margaret recently attended the Canadian Bar Association’s panel seminar on Successful Courtroom Advocacy.
Clients appreciate Margaret for her highly developed skills in preparation, organization and attention to detail. Margaret is a confident courtroom advocate and skilled negotiator. Clients know that she fights hard for them and does all she can to ensure the most positive resolutions.
Hadford Defence Group is extremely pleased to have Margaret on the team.
Heather Hadford,
B.A., B.Ed., M.Ed.
Business Administrator
After spending 25 years with the Lethbridge School Division, and the last 19 of those as a School Administrator, Heather brings vast experience in effective business administration, human resources management, and solution-focused problem-solving. Heather focuses on the business operations at Hadford Defence Group so that Scott and Cara stay focused on doing an excellent job of defending clients.
Heather received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Dalhousie University, as well as a Bachelor of Education and a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership, both from the University of Lethbridge. She is trained in Violence Threat Risk Assessment Level II training through the Canadian Centre for Threat Assessment and Human Response, as well as Suicide Intervention Training through Lethbridge Family Services’ Outreach and Education Services. Additionally, Heather is a certified trainer/facilitator in the 7 Habits and in Fierce Conversations. In order to better support clients, Heather holds a Commissioner for Oaths appointment from Alberta Justice.
Heather received the YWCA (Lethbridge & District) Women of Distinction Award in 2017 in the area of Education and Mentorship. Heather has served as Chair of an Advisory Board within the Centre for Justice and Human Services at the Lethbridge College. Heather currently supports the South Alberta FASD Network Christmas Campaign, as well as the Angel Tree Christmas Campaign through Lethbridge Family Services.
Steffanie Okrainec,
B.A., B.Ed.
Paralegal
Steffanie Okrainec holds a combined Bachelor of Arts degree, with a focus on history, political science and sociology, and a Bachelor of Education degree, with a focus on English, from the University of Lethbridge. Steffanie also completed a Legal Assistant diploma from Robertson College. She has been performing a broad range of Paralegal duties since 2018 and holds a Paralegal designation from the Alberta Association of Professional Paralegals.
In addition to supporting the lawyers with research, writing, and complex file management, Steffanie is a Commissioner for Oaths. Steffanie finesses the legal practice at Hadford Defence Group with her attention to detail and commitment to clients. At Hadford Defence Group, clients are in excellent hands!
​Kim Schmold,
Legal Assistant
Kim Schmold was born and raised in southern Alberta and comes to Hadford Defence Group with eighteen years of broad practical law firm experience from Dietrich White Law and Harold Moodie Law Office. Kim completed an online Paralegal diploma program in 2020. She also holds a Diploma with Distinction in Office Administration/ Bookkeeping from Business Career College Canada and a Commissioner for Oaths appointment from Justice Alberta.
Kim is a consummate professional whose razor sharp precision and attention to detail make her a welcome addition to Hadford Defence Group!
Jackson Tiefenbach,
2L Legal Intern
Jackson Tiefenbach is a 2026 Juris Doctor candidate from the University of Calgary Faculty of Law and has been working with Hadford Defence group since June of 2023. Jackson holds a double major Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Lethbridge in Music Theory/History and Management/Marketing.
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In his current position as a 2L Legal Intern, Jackson has gained meaningful real-world experience by contributing with research and writing in memos, Charter briefs, sentencing submissions, Judicial Review submissions and summarizing case law. He goes above and beyond to ensure that he both understands and appreciates the fast-changing law that is being published. An important facet of this internship for Jackson is ensuring that he gets hands-on experience with clients. In so doing, Jackson has spent significant time getting to know our clients by interviewing them to collect their personal histories. Clients appreciate his calm demeanor, non judgemental manner, and listening ear.
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Jackson has played the baritone and alto saxophone, guitar and bass guitar, flute, and piano. Before applying to law school, he managed his own bands and was a cross Canada touring and recording musician. Currently he plays New Orleans style 1920s jazz and does the occasional public performance. He has also worked as a professional confectioner.
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Jackson is a member in good standing of both the Business Law Association and the Energy Law Club at the University of Calgary, as well as the Southern Alberta Defence Lawyers’ Association. A Calgary resident, we expect that Jackson will be scooped up by a Calgary law firm. In the meantime, Hadford Defence group considers itself lucky to have Jackson on our team.
