Joanna Gordon completed with Honours her combined degree in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Toronto in mid-1980. It was her experience as a manager of Social Services with the Department of Social Services for the City of Toronto that inspired her to pursue her childhood aspirations of becoming a lawyer.

In 1991, Joanna began her legal studies and was called to the bar in 1997. After completing the joint program at the Faculty of Law at the University of Windsor in Canada and Detroit Mercy in Michigan, America, she received her Joanna Gordon Bachelors of Law and Juris Doctor degrees.