The University of British Columbia

Annual Lectures

Douglas McK. Brown Lecture

The Douglas McK. Brown Chair in Law was established in 1986 in honour of one of Canada's most distinguished counsel and one of British Columbia's most eminent citizens. Douglas McK. Brown was born in Vancouver in 1912 and educated at the University of British Columbia and in Cambridge, England. For many years he taught at the UBC Law Faculty, in addition to his busy practice in the firm of Russell & DuMoulin and his many public interests.

Douglas McK. Brown died in 1982 and soon thereafter a campaign was initiated to establish a Chair of Law in his name. Distinguished Visitors are appointed to the Faculty for a year or a shorter period. The Visitors teach and deliver the Douglas McK. Brown Lecture.

The Lecture is a public expression of the Faculty's wish to commemorate Mr. Brown and to thank those whose contributions enabled the Chair to be endowed. It is open to the profession, students and the public.

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The Marlee Kline Lecture in Social Justice

This lecture honours the memory of Marlee Gayle Kline, a member of the Faculty of Law from 1989. Professor Kline died in 2001 after a lengthy and determined struggle with leukemia. Her work on feminist legal theory and critical race theory, child welfare law and policy, law's continued colonialism, and restructuring of the social welfare state is internationally acclaimed. This lectureship not only recognizes Marlee's rich contribution to the law school community but also reflects her belief in the central role social justice concerns must play in legal education and law.

2011 information

CFLS info page.

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J. Donald Mawhinney Lectureship in Professional Ethics  

The J. Donald Mawhinney Lectureship in Professional Ethics was established by donation in honour of J. Donald Mawhinney, Q.C., to recognize his outstanding contributions to British Columbia’s legal community, his commitment to legal education and his dedication to practicing with the very highest standard of professional ethics. 2006 was the inaugural J. Donald Mawhinney Lectureship in Professional Ethics. Each year the Faculty of Law will host an individual from the judiciary, the practice of law or academia to come to UBC as the J. Donald Mawhinney Lecturer. During the visit, the lecturer will present two lectures, one to students and one to members of the bar, the judiciary and the general public.

This lecture commemorates Mr. Mawhinney’s dedication to professional ethics and legal education, and recognizes those whose contributions enabled the Lectureship in Professional Ethics. A special thank you to family, friends and colleagues whose generous contributions have made this lecture possible.

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The Walter S. Owen Lecture

The Walter S. Owen Chair in Law, the first endowed chair at the Faculty of Law, was established in honour of the Honourable Walter S. Owen, O.C., Q.C., LL.D., K. St., one of Vancouver's most prominent lawyers, businessmen and philanthropists. Among his many services to the legal profession and the public, he was President of the Canadian Bar Association (1958-59), Treasurer of the Law Society of British Columbia (1964-65), and Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia (1973-78). He died in 1980, and the campaign to fund the Walter S. Owen Chair, which was already underway at that time, culminated in the formal establishment of the Chair in 1982.

The Walter S. Owen Lecture is a public expression by the Visiting Professor who holds the Chair, of the Faculty's wish to commemorate Mr. Owen, and to thank those whose contributions enabled the Chair to be endowed.

Click here for a list of previous lecturers.