The Hon. Lee Ferrier

This interview with Justice Lee Ferrier provides a comprehensive account of his distinguished career in legal administration and family law practice from the 1960s through 1990s. As Treasurer of the Law Society of Upper Canada (1988-1990), Ferrier navigated significant challenges including the major Lang, Michener affair involving passport fraud schemes for Chinese immigrants, which resulted in discipline proceedings against five executive committee members. His tenure was marked by modernization efforts including the establishment of archives at Osgoode Hall, reforms to discipline procedures, and the controversial opening of Convocation meetings to the public.

Ferrier’s contributions to legal aid development in Ontario were substantial, serving as Chair of the Legal Aid Committee (1985-1988) and playing a key role in establishing clinic funding throughout the province. He was instrumental in negotiating the province-wide legal aid levy in 1986 with Attorney General Ian Scott and oversaw the evolution from judicare to clinic models despite opposition from the bar. His family law practice included significant cases such as Mugford (adoption), Ridderstrom (international child custody), and Liebel (divorce and asset discovery), while his involvement with the Canadian Bar Association included establishing the Family Law Section and contributing to major family law reforms including the 1976 Family Law Reform Act.

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