James Herbert Laycraft

Honorary Professor

Our five Honourary Professors are role models and legal professionals have been recognized by the Faculty of Law for their dedication over many years to the practice of law and the legal community, as well as to the ongoing success of our Law School. Herb Laycraft articled with E.J. Chambers and was admitted to the Alberta bar in 1952. He became a member of the Calgary firm of Nolan, Chambers, Might, Saucier and Peacock. He worked with Harry Nolan, QC on two landmark land registration and mineral rights cases: Borys v. Canadian Pacific Railway Company ([1951] 2 WWR 147) and Turta v. Canadian Pacific Railway Company ([1953] 5 WWR 529). Laycraft was appointed to the bench in 1975. Laycraft was also appointed to the CANT, 1979-1991. He became Chief Justice of Alberta in 1985 and retired on December 31, 1991. Laycraft stands out as a formidable and prolific judicial mind, thorough and analytical in his judgments.