After graduating from Dalhousie University (B.Comm.) and Osgoode Hall Law School of York University (LL.B.), he practised in Ontario for six years before joining Alberta Justice in Calgary, where he acted as Crown counsel for five years and then as appellate counsel for the next five years. In the latter position, he appeared frequently in the Alberta Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. As counsel for the Law Society of Alberta, he prosecuted in numerous disciplinary hearings before the Benchers and handled judicial review applications, interventions and appeals before the courts. Some of the cases of interest handled are listed here.