Lawrence David

Lawrence David is a proudly bilingual public law scholar and lawyer who teaches Criminal Law and Procedure, Administrative Law, and Constitutional Law. He is also Founder and President of the Public Interest Litigation Institute, an independent and apolitical non-profit association whose mandate is to uphold and advance the rule of law and the public interest, including in appeals heard by the Supreme Court of Canada.

Lawrence has extensive experience in law and policy at the federal level, including positions in the Privy Council Office, the Senate of Canada, the House of Commons, and the Department of Justice Canada. Lawrence also clerked at the Supreme Court of Canada for the Honourable Rosalie Abella (2015-2016) and at the Quebec Court of Appeal (2013-2014).

In these capacities, Lawrence had the privilege of contributing to the development of important legislative and regulatory initiatives, and to several judgments of considerable national importance. Lawrence's experience with all three branches of Canadian government has given him unique insight into the relationship between law and governance, law and public policy, and the separation of powers.

Lawrence has appeared as counsel in 16 appeals heard by the Supreme Court of Canada, in addition to litigation before the Quebec Court of Appeal, the Quebec Superior Court, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Federal Court, the Ontario Superior Court, the Ontario Court of Justice, the Court of King's Bench for Saskatchewan, and the Supreme Court of British Columbia. He is a member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario.

Lawrence is a graduate of Harvard Law School (Master of Laws), McGill University (JD/BCL) and Concordia University (BA).