Mr. Thomas Bastedo

Tom Bastedo provides insights into his role as an elected Bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada from 1983, serving on multiple committees including the Legal Aid Committee (which he chaired from 1988-1991) and the Clinic Funding Committee. His account reveals the significant transformation of the Law Society during the 1980s, from what he describes as a secretive, autocratic institution under Treasurer Laura Legge to a more modern, transparent organization under subsequent leaders like Pierre Genest and Arthur Scace.

Bastedo discusses the contentious expansion of legal aid clinics throughout Ontario during the 1980s, describing his role as Chair of the Clinic Funding Committee in establishing clinics despite significant opposition from local bar associations. He details the philosophical and practical tensions between traditional certificate-based legal aid and the emerging clinic model, as well as the growing financial pressures on the legal aid system that would eventually lead to its restructuring. His perspective as both a family law practitioner and legal aid administrator provides valuable insight into the evolution of legal services delivery and professional specialization in Ontario during this transformative period.

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