| Format | Includes | Access | CPD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-paced | 2 recorded sessions | Lifetime | See the accreditation information |
Quick links: Who should participate | What's included | Pricing
Why this program?
Public sector lawyers practise within institutions that carry distinct constitutional responsibilities.
Whether they advise the executive, support the legislative process, or work within the judicial branch, government lawyers must balance their professional obligations with duties arising from public office, constitutional structure, institutional independence, and the public interest.
Public Sector Lawyering: Ethical Frameworks for Practice examines the ethical principles that guide lawyers across Canada's legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The two-part program brings together experienced public sector lawyers and leaders to explore how a lawyer's role, client, and responsibilities can change across government institutions.
Complete the sessions on your own schedule and return to them as questions arise in your public sector practice.
Who should participate?
This program is for lawyers who:
- work in federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, or Indigenous government;
- advise public agencies, boards, tribunals, Crown corporations, or other public institutions;
- support legislative, executive, or judicial functions;
- are transitioning into public sector legal practice; or
- want to better understand the ethical and constitutional dimensions of government lawyering.
Learn from lawyers with experience across government.
This program features senior government lawyers and public law experts whose experience spans Canada's executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Together, they bring decades of leadership in public service, constitutional law, legislative drafting, parliamentary practice, and court administration.
The faculty includes:
- Elizabeth Sanderson, Former Deputy Minister of Justice, Nunavut; former senior counsel with Justice Canada; author of Government Lawyering: Duties and Ethical Challenges of Government Lawyers
- Shalene Curtis-Micallef, Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada
- Eric Boucher, Senior Lawyer, Office of the Attorney General, New Brunswick; legislative counsel with more than 20 years' experience drafting provincial legislation
- Steven Chaplin, Fellow, uOttawa Public Law Centre; former Senior Parliamentary Counsel, House of Commons
- Adam Dodek, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa
- Barbara Kincaid, General Counsel, Supreme Court of Canada
Two sessions. Three branches of government.
This two-part program examines the ethical framework for public sector legal practice and how it applies within Canada's legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Watch the sessions in order or begin with the session most relevant to your role.
| Session | Focus | You will learn to |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | Foundations of Public Sector Lawyering Examine the professional, constitutional, and institutional principles that distinguish public sector legal practice. This session considers who the government lawyer serves, how the public interest informs the role, and how legal advice operates within public institutions. |
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| Session 2 | Ethical Practice Across the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches Explore how a lawyer's responsibilities and working relationships differ across the three branches of government. Experienced practitioners discuss the distinct institutional roles of each branch and the ethical issues lawyers may encounter within them. |
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Choose full access or a single session.
Purchase the complete two-part program or select the individual session most relevant to your practice.
| Option | CBA Members | Non-Members | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Program | Free | $50 | Both recorded sessions and lifetime access |
Understand the responsibilities that come with practising law in government.
Two sessions exploring the ethical, constitutional, and institutional framework for public sector lawyers.
Frequently asked questions
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Is this an on-demand program? Yes. This program contains recordings of the original two-part webinar series, so you can complete the sessions on your own schedule.
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How long do I have access? Access is yours for as long as the program is hosted on this site. You can revisit either session whenever it is useful to your practice.
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Do I need to be a CBA member? No. Non-members can purchase the program at the non-member rate. CBA members receive the member rate once logged in.
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Is this program only for federal government lawyers? No. The ethical and institutional issues discussed are relevant to lawyers working across federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, and broader public sector organizations.
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Is this program eligible for CPD credits? See the accreditation information.