The Advisory

New LESA Executive Director Announced

Paul F. Wood, LESA Executive Director

Paul F. Wood, LESA Executive Director

Alan D. Fielding, Q.C., Chair of the Board of Directors, Legal Education Society of Alberta, announced that Paul F. Wood will assume the duties of Executive Director of the Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA) January 1, 2008, following the retirement of Hugh A. Robertson, QC.

Paul has been with LESA for the past 17 years serving as Director, Continuing Education. Paul is a past-president of the international association for Continuing Legal Education, having served on its executive committee 2000 - 2006.

He looks forward to the challenge of meeting the continuing professional development needs of lawyers and their staff in Alberta, as well as those of students enrolled in the Continuing Professional Legal Education Development (CPLED) program.

The enormous contribution that Hugh Robertson has made to the legal profession in Alberta over the past 23 years was recognized at events in Calgary and Edmonton, hosted by the Legal Education Society of Alberta.

Loyalty to Law Firms Mark Long Service

Excerpt of speech given by Jim Peacock, QC, President, Law Society of Alberta at the Long Service Awards in Edmonton, December 5, 2007.

Today we are commemorating 50 years of service to the Alberta legal profession by nine lawyers. Not only do these nine individuals share the same bar admission date (1957), they were part of an era of lawyers who remained steadfastly loyal to one firm.

The Honourable Judge J.R. Bradley (LL.B, 1956; U of A) dedicated his law career at the Edmonton firm of Liden, Ackroyd and Company. In 1983 he was appointed to the provincial bench. In 1999, he was named assistant chief judge, responsible for courts in 29 communities and 14 judges around northern Alberta.

Judge Donald Ingram (B.A. and LL.B, 1956; U of A) articled under Garth Fryett and Douglas Matheson. His career as a civil

The Honourable Mr. Justice J.A. Agrios (B.A., 1955; LL.B, 1956; University of Alberta) began his law career with Emery Jamieson LLP. He was the Alberta member of the special national Canadian Constitution committee created by the Canadian Bar Association in 1978. He contributed significantly to the work of the LSA, its bar admission course and the U of A's law faculty. In 1980, he was sworn in as a

Long Service Award Recipients

Long service award recipients in Edmonton from top left, clockwise, Justice W.E. Wilson, Judge J.A. Agrios, Sydney Bercov QC, Mrs. Loveth Bradley (on behalf of Judge J.R. Bradley), Justice Erik Lefsrud, and Judge S.E.W.J. Wood. (Missing are: Judge Donald Ingram, Paul Halijan and Jim Redmond QC.)

justice for the Court of Queen's Bench. He became involved in mediation and dispute resolution, becoming an important authority on court dispute resolution.

Mr. Sydney A. Bercov, QC (B.Comm, 1953; LL.B, 1956; U of A) articled under his father Abraham Bercov and William George Morrow before joining Emery Jamieson LLP. He began his 50-year career in business, financial services, real estate, wills and estate planning. He was the first recipient of the Distinguished Service Award for exceptional achievement presented by the Edmonton Bar Association, and received a LSA certificate of merit for service and dedication to the profession.

litigation lawyer began with the firm of Matheson and Company in Edmonton. He became a senior partner, developing expertise in criminal, corporate and administrative law. He was appointed to the Edmonton civil claims division of the Alberta provincial court in 2000.

The Honourable Mr. Justice Erik S. Lefsrud (B.A., 1955; LL.B, 1956; U of A) articled under Laurance Yeomans Cairns, and formed a partnership called Lefsrud, Cunningham where he practised for 50 years. He was a chartered arbitrator, and has lectured for business and professional organizations and the University of Alberta on mediation and dispute resolution.

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