The J. Donald Mawhinney Lectureship in Professional Ethics was established in honour of J. Donald Mawhinney to recognize his outstanding contributions to British Columbia's legal community, his commitment to legal education and his dedication to practicing with the very highest standard of professional ethics. 2006 was the inaugural J. Donald Mawhinney Lectureship in Professional Ethics. Each year the law school hosts an individual from the judiciary, the practice of law or academia to come to UBC as the J. Donald Mawhinney Lecturer. During the visit, the lecturer presents two lectures, one to students and one to members of the bar, the judiciary and the general public.
This lecture commemorates Mr. Mawhinney's dedication to professional ethics and legal education, and recognizes those whose contributions enabled the Lectureship in Professional Ethics. A special thank you to family, friends and colleagues whose generous contributions have made this lecture possible.
Past J. Donald Mawhinney Lectures
2025
Florence Ashley, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Alberta
Topic: A Healthy Disrespect for the Law
Delivered January, 2025
2023/2024
Pooja Parmar, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Victoria
Topic: J. Donald Mawhinney Lectureship in Professional Ethics
Delivered November, 2023
2023
Andrew Martin, Assistant Professor, Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University
Topic: Government Lawyers and Legal Ethics: Embracing Complexity While Maintaining Responsibility
Delivered March, 2023
2022
Amy Salyzyn, Associate Professor, University of Ottawa
Topic: A Lawyer's Duty of Technological Competence: Current Parameters and Future Horizons
Delivered March, 2022
2020
Chief Justice Melissa Gillespie, Provincial Court of British Columbia
Cheryl D’Sa, Managing Partner, Narwal Litigation LLP
Vicky Law, Program Lawyer, Rise Women's Legal Centre
Topic: Ethical Lawyering in a Pandemic
Delivered December, 2020
2019
Robert Wai, Associate Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Topic: Transnational Legal Ethics in a Time of National Interests
Delivered February, 2019
2018
Stephen G.A. Pitel, Professor, Western University
Topic: Reconsidering a lawyer's obligation to raise adverse authority
Delivered March, 2018
2017
Tanina Rostain, Professor, Georgetown University
Topic: Lessons from the Tax Shelter Wars: Tax Advice, Organizational Wrongdoing, and Enforcement Challenges
Delivered January, 2017
2016
Adam Dodek, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa
Topic: From St. Matthew to Brad Pitt: The Ethics and Regulation of Expert Witnesses
Delivered March, 2016
2015
Carrie Menkel-Meadow, Chancellor's Professor of Law and Political Science, University of California Irvine Law School
Topic: The Good (and Bad) that Lawyers Do
Delivered March, 2015
2014
Alice Wooley, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Calgary
Topic: The Lawyer as Advisor: Advocate, Judge or ..Friend?
Delivered March, 2014
2013
The Honourable Marie Deschamps, Former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
Topic: Ethics, Lawyers, Mobility and the Changing Landscape
Delivered January, 2013
2012
The Honorable Frank Iacobucci, CC, QC, Former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
Topic: A Canadian Perspective on the Challenges of Terrorism
Delivered January, 2012
2010
The Honorable Michael Code, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Topic: The Importance of Professionalism and Civility in the Era of Modern Mega-Trials
Delivered November, 2010
Fall 2009
Richard Devlin, Professor, Dalhousie Law School
Topic: From Archetypes to Architects: Envisioning a Role Morality for Trial Level Judges
Delivered October, 2009
Spring 2009
David Wilkins, Lester Kissel Professor of Law at Harvard Law School
Topic: From Agents to Partners: Toward a New Model of the Corporate Attorney-Client Relationship
Delivered February, 2009
2008
Christine Parker, Professor, University of Melbourne
Topic: Peering Over the Ethical Precipice: Incorporation, Listing and the Ethical Responsibilities of Law Firms
Delivered February, 2008
2007
The Honourable Beverley McLachlin, P.C., Chief Justice of Canada
Topic: Professionalism, Civility and the Just Society
Delivered March, 2007
2006
The Honourable Ian Binnie, Supreme Court of Canada
Topic: The Boom in the Law Business
Delivered February, 2006