Legal History: My Part in its Progress

Years ago I developed, almost by accident, a sort of "minor" in legal history.  I continued to write for general audiences on many aspects of Canadian history, but at the same time I was able to undertake some indepth explorations into the history of what lawyers do, how legal institutions evolve, and the place of law in Canadian society.  

It's been very satisfying, and very instructive for me about Canadian history writ large.  Lawyers, you might say, get into a little bit of everything  -- business, family matters, politics, land and property, social organization, rights and liberties, disputes of all kinds -- but in a focussed, manageable kind of way. And happily there are lawyers and lawyers' organizations that appreciate and support historical study of their work.  

One of those is the Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal History. This fall it is devoting one of its online webinars to, well, to me.  Since the last couple of these sessions I saw featured justices of the Supreme Court of Canada, I'm more than a little honoured (They talk to historians too). 

The Osgoode Society will be resuming its early evening events over ZOOM in the fall. So far we have arranged three of these. Please save the dates. Registration information will be forthcoming.
On Tuesday September 20, Christopher Moore, one of Canada’s leading independent historians, and the author of books on the Law Society of Ontario, the Ontario and British Columbia Courts of Appeal, and other legal topics, will discuss his legal history work.

Osgoode Society webinars are open to members. More info on this talk, and generally on the Society and membership options, should be or become available at its website and at its blog.

On this topic of law's history, I might also note that in November the Osgoode Society and UTPress are publishing A History of Law in Canada, Volume Two: Law for a New Dominion, 1867–1914 by Jim Phillips, Philip Girard and R. Blake Brown. Fair warning: if you take any interest in the history of that period, you are going to have to consult this book. 

And if you can join us on Tuesday September 20, so much the better.