Mr. Arthur Scace

This interview covers Arthur Scace’s distinguished career from his education at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar through his election as a Bencher in 1978 and his tenure as Treasurer of the Law Society of Upper Canada from 1986-1987. Scace discusses his background as a tax lawyer at McCarthy & McCarthy, his extensive teaching and writing on tax law, and his involvement in numerous Law Society committees including Finance, Legal Education, and Public Relations.

As Treasurer, Scace dealt with significant issues including professional numbers regulation, advertising restrictions, contingency fees, legal aid contributions, and the controversial county tariffs challenged under competition law. He describes his administrative style at Convocation as efficient but firm, cutting off redundant debate while maintaining collegiality. The interview also covers structural changes at the Law Society including the creation of the Under-Treasurer position and the Peat Marwick Report, as well as his interactions with key figures like John Bowlby, George Finlayson, and Rendall Dick.

Scace reflects on the evolving nature of legal practice and Law Society governance, noting the shift from collegial decision-making to more factional politics among Benchers. He emphasizes the Law Society’s role as serving the public interest rather than acting as a lawyers’ trade union, distinguishing it from the Canadian Bar Association.

This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.