In 1975 a group of truly visionary individuals gathered together to create a remarkable instrument to meet the needs of the legal profession and the public that it serves.  That instrument was the Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA) and the resulting organization reflected the diverse interests of the legal community.   It was structured in such a way as to assume the existing educational activities and to respond to future needs as they evolve.   Those of us who have been involved in the work of the Society in the ensuing years are truly indebted to the founding members and their collective vision ¹.

The composition of its Board of Directors continues to reflect the make-up of that original group.  Membership is drawn from the Law Society of Alberta, the Canadian Bar Association (Alberta Branch), the Faculties of Law and Extension or Continuing Education at the Universities of Alberta and Calgary, the judiciary at all three levels of courts and the profession at large.  All share a sense of the value of sound pre-call training for students-at-law and the importance of quality continuing professional development for the entire profession thereafter; the two major mandates of the Society.  Over the 36 years of its history, 116 individuals have served on the Board or as Judicial Liaisons, 18 of those as Chair.  To peruse that list is to meet many of the outstanding leaders of the legal community in Alberta.  For more information about our Board of Directors, click here.

In 1976 the first Executive Director of LESA was hired.  Peter Owen Q.C. was a distinguished Edmonton barrister with the kind of reputation and personality that could imbue the Society with the recognition and stature so necessary for its success.   Peter Owen was followed in 1979 by William Galloway who served as Executive Director until 1983 when he was replaced by Professor John Law who held the office for nine months.  Hugh A. Robertson, Q.C. became the Executive Director in 1984.   

The position included some academic responsibilities at either Faculty of Law, participation in Convocations of the Benchers of the Law Society and the Council of the Canadian Bar Association.  All who recognised the value of the Bar Admission Course (BAC) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE) welcomed the creation of LESA and supported it in countless ways.   The office of Director of Bar Admissions was assigned to the Executive Director of LESA and continues as Director of the Canadian Centre of Professional Legal Education (CPLED) Alberta.  For more information about LESA staff, click here.

The Annual Refresher Course existed before LESA and was also assigned to the new Society.  It celebrated its fortieth anniversary in May of 2007. 

Since LESA’s inception, over 750 CLE programs and courses have been developed and held in 2000 sessions.  It is estimated that around 100,000 registrations have been processed, which is a lot of blue binders, coffee and lunches.  Nearly 4800 books have been sold in the Practice Manual series, not counting the regular updates, along with thousands other publications including the seminar materials from the various CLE programs.

The live CLE seminar, with opportunities to network with colleagues, is still a popular format, now however expanded to include delivery models ranging from one hour web-casts   to week long skills training programs.  Live events, studio produced programs and publications are now captured digitally and uploaded to a server from which they may be downloaded to computers, iPods or printers. Learning Toolkits, a package of written and multimedia resources which assists firms to facilitate in-house education and training for lawyers and support staff, are now available. These will be followed by self-study modules and other forms of new media.

Over the years, approximately 8700 students have benefited from the BAC and now the CPLED Program.  The BAC, originally consisting of lectures held in hotel meeting rooms, has evolved into the CPLED Program.  The CPLED Program is a joint initiative between Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba which administers the pre-call course offered in three provinces and one territory, utilizing on-line learning activities interspersed with face-to-face learning and testing.  Click here for more information about the CPLED program.

While the content, forms of delivery and educational methodologies have changed, the essential function has not.  LESA continues to assist the bar in whatever way it can so as to enhance the ability of the profession to better serve its clientele.  The mission statement and vision statement may periodically be rephrased in new language but the original words that have appeared on every blue binder since inception remain as meaningful today as ever; “Continuing Professional Competence”. 

Because of the vision of our forebears, Alberta has enjoyed exceptional collaboration amongst the many who provide education services to the profession.  LESA has become an organization consisting of hundreds of loyal volunteers assisted by a team of dedicated professionals and is respected for its excellence across Canada and beyond.  The model that was created in 1975 will ensure continuing support for the legal professing in whatever form it is required on into the future