A new student award will honour the life and work of one of Canada’s finest criminal lawyers.
The W.R. Poole, QC Criminal Law Moot Award was made possible by a generous gift from Nancy Geddes Poole (BA ’55, Honorary Doctor of Laws ’90), in loving memory of her husband. John Drake, LLB’71, a former student of Poole’s, also significantly contributed to this award along with friends and classmates from the Western Law Class of 1969.
John Eberhard, LLB’69, was the class’ leader and instrumental in ensuring the legacy of the legendary criminal law professor lived on.
“The Class of 1969 was the beneficiary of one of Canada’s great trial lawyers,” said Eberhard, “and we’re delighted to see the establishment of this award in honour of our friend and mentor. His courtroom skill, style and knowledge would make him a worthy role model for all participating Moot competitors.”
The $2,000 award will be presented annually to a full-time law student who has displayed outstanding advocacy skills in an external criminal law moot competition.
During his illustrious 60- year career, Poole lectured to students on the subject of Criminal Law at Western’s Faculty of Law. He also provided legal representation in some of the most notorious criminal trials of the day.
His abilities and his reputation for ethical behaviour resulted in his appointment to the Law Reform Commission of Canada by then Ontario Premier John Robarts, where he served from 1964 to 1985.
“Poole exhibited a love for the foibles of human character, and was able to provide outstanding representation for the less fortunate and marginalized of society,” Eberhard said. “He always exhibited a generous spirit and good sense of humour.”
Poole, who practiced law into his nineties, died in 2014 at the age of 96.
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