Justice Robert D. Laing, Commissioner

• Married - two children.

Pre-law Education

• McGill University - Bachelor of Arts, 1962

Legal Education.

• University of Saskatchewan, College of Law - LL.B. (cum laude), 1967.
• Awarded Thomas Dowrick Brown prize as most distinguished graduate in law

Related Education

• The Canadian Securities Course, 1968.

Pre-law Employment

• Member, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, 1962-1970.

Practice

• Articled with the law firm, then known as Wedge, McKercher, McKercher & Stack, 1970.
• Admitted as a member of the Law Society of Saskatchewan, 1971.
• Admitted as a partner in the firm, 1973.
• Appointed Queen’s Counsel, Province of Saskatchewan, 1986.
• Inducted as a Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers, 1988.

Bar-related Activity

• Canadian Bar Association, member of council, 1972-1980.
• Saskatchewan Bar Association, Executive, 1974-1979 (President, 1979).
• Law Society of Saskatchewan, Bencher, 1982-1988 (President, 1986).
• Federation of Law Societies of Canada, Director, 1986-1991 (President 1989-1990).
• Federation of Law Societies of Canada, Joint National Committee on Legal Education, 1990-1992.
• Law Society of Saskatchewan Interjurisdictional Practice Advisory Committee, 1992-1993.

Legal Education Activity

• Lecturer in Law, University of Saskatchewan, College of Law,
  • 1971-1973 (Company Law)
  • 1974-1976 (Civil Practice and Procedure).
• Lecturer on Law Society of Saskatchewan Bar Admission Course and Civil Procedure,
  • 1982-1988 (Evidence and Proof).
• Continuing Legal Education - occasional lecturer on selected topics in administrative law, insurance law and trial advocacy.
• Chairperson, Law Society Ad Hoc Committee to review and report on the current Articling and Bar Admission Course Program, 1988-1989.
• Member, Federation of Law Societies of Canada, Joint National Committee on Legal Education, 1990-1992.

Legal-related Activity

• Chairperson, Saskatchewan Police Commission, (part time) 1989-1994.
• Chairperson, Education Relations Board of Saskatchewan, (part time) 1991-1994.

Community Activity

• Director of the Saskatoon Club, 1981-1988 (President, 1987).
• University of Saskatchewan Senate, 1983-1987 (Executive Committee, 1985-1987).
• Saskatchewan Order of Merit Advisory Council, 1989-1994.
• Saskatoon United Appeal - Chairperson, Legal Group, 1994.

Board of Directors

• Director of Northern Transportation Company Limited, 1976-1985 (Audit Committee, 1983-1985).

Justice Laing was appointed to the Court of Queen’s Bench November 1, 1994.

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