Legal Education Society Of Alberta

LESA is your lifelong partner in continuing legal excellence. We offer exceptional opportunities to connect and learn at every stage of your legal career.

In 1975, a group of visionary individuals gathered to create a remarkable instrument designed to meet the needs of the legal profession and the public that it serves: the Legal Education Society of Alberta. Our organization was structured to assume existing continuing legal education activities and to respond to future needs as they would evolve. Our two main mandates were sound pre-call training for students-at-law and quality continuing professional development for the entire profession thereafter.

LESA hired its first Executive Director in 1976. Peter Owen, QC was a distinguished Edmonton barrister with the kind of reputation and personality that could imbue our organization with the recognition and stature so necessary for its success. Peter Owen was followed in 1979 by William Galloway who served as Executive Director until 1983; Professor John Law then held the office for nine months. Hugh A. Robertson, QC became the Executive Director in 1984 and was succeed by Paul F. Wood, who served in the position from 2008 until 2013. Currently, Jennifer Flynn is the Executive Director.

Today, we continue to serve the entire spectrum of Alberta’s legal community by delivering exceptional face-to-face legal education as well as print and online educational resources.

Our organization is supported by hundreds of loyal volunteers, assisted by a team of dedicated professionals, and respected for its excellence across Canada and beyond. As an organization, we continue to evolve to support the legal profession. While our content, delivery, and educational methodologies have changed since 1975, our essential function has not. We remain the lifelong partner of the legal profession in a common pursuit of continuing legal excellence.