This month’s spotlight shines on Stan Rule of Sabey Rule LLP.
How did you first get involved with CLEBC?
When I started practicing law in 1989, CLEBC used to provide printed material together with cassette tapes of the courses. At my firm, then known as Beairsto and Company, we used to listen to a half-hour presentation every Thursday evening. I also attended live courses. My first involvement as a presenter was in 2006. James Baird was chairing the Estate Planning Basics course and asked me to write a paper and present. I spoke about wills variation considerations.
What are you currently working on (or have most recently worked on) with CLEBC?
I recently assisted on the editorial board of the new CLEBC book Estate Disputes in British Columbia: A Litigator’s Guide.
What inspired you to become a lawyer?
I wish I had a great inspirational story, but I more-or-less fell into it. Law seemed interesting to me, but I had no idea what was involved in the practice of law when I went to law school. My only regret is all of the signing.
What’s the most valuable piece of advice you have received?
As a young lawyer, a more senior lawyer told me that the most valuable asset a lawyer has is their integrity and reputation. The lawyers I have come to admire most, and whom I would like to emulate, are those with the highest standards of integrity. I have noticed that they also do the best job for their clients.
You are very active in the legal community both as a contributor to publications and as a speaker. What motivates you to give back to the profession?
I enjoy working with other lawyers and hope I can be of some assistance to more junior lawyers. But I think I am equally motivated to write papers and present for my own development. If you want to stay on top of an area of law (or perhaps anything else), write and talk about it.
What is your favorite book, and what are you currently reading?
I don’t know that I have a favorite book. I am currently reading, Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, Persians, The Age of the Great Kings, and Edward Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
Other than law, what are you passionate about?
Reading history, which can be about any place and any time, and music, especially jazz.