Mr. John Medcof

John Crawford Medcof, born in Toronto in 1930, provides a comprehensive account of his legal career from the 1950s through the 1960s. After graduating from University College with an Honours degree in Modern History, he attended Osgoode Hall Law School from 1952-1956, completing the four-year program including articling with Rowntree, Wilson, Smiley & Allingham. Called to the bar in 1956, Medcof immediately established himself as a sole practitioner, sharing office space with other lawyers while maintaining his independence throughout his career.

Medcof’s practice evolved into a general practice comprising 40% litigation, 25% real estate, and 25% estates work. He expanded his practice by purchasing farms near Mount Albert and opening a branch office there, handling significant motor vehicle cases in rural areas. His involvement with the legal system extended beyond private practice – he served as a reporter for Ontario Reports from 1957-1960, attending Court of Appeal sessions and documenting legal arguments for cases that would be published. This role provided him with exceptional exposure to Ontario’s top judges and lawyers, particularly in criminal appeals.

In 1961, Medcof took on a pioneering role in legal aid reform when the York County Bar Association asked him to establish Toronto’s first organized legal aid office, moving the system away from the Sheriff’s informal administration. His extensive early experience with criminal legal aid cases, having handled approximately 50 of the 500 cases processed in 1954-55, made him well-suited for this reform initiative. The interview captures the transition period in Ontario’s legal system, from informal legal aid arrangements to more organized systems, and provides insight into the Court of Appeal’s operations during a formative period in Canadian legal history.

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