Happy New Year.. SFL receives his Christmas Present Dec. 31

Searching for Liberty...  the "Rebel QC"

So.

I'm away on holidays with family, and I receive a Facebook message that simply says, "Congratulations".

For what, I ask back?  I have no idea what I'm being congratulated for, and shortly receive a few more emails of congratulations - until one message mentions that I have received my "Queen's Counsel" designation.

For those of you outside of the legal profession, it's an honorary title bestowed by the Queen (or King)  upon lawyers who have distinguished themselves amongst their peers (in theory).  However, in practice, it is a title bestowed as often as not as a form of political patronage to those who have distinguished themselves by supporting the governing party in power.

In my own case, as I've been pretty critical of the PC Party of Alberta over the last while, and more specifically, very critical of our current Premier, Alison Redford, it came as quite a surprise to me when the announcement was made by the Attorney General's office - however, there is also a practice of appointing elected benchers of the Law Society of Alberta as Queen's Counsel as well, and, not doubt, it is under that mantel that I have received my honor.

I am pleased that this year, I share the honor locally with our current Lethbridge Mayor (and continuing lawyer) Rajko Dodic and a very capable solicitor I worked with in the past Barrie Broughton - both of which are hardly considered good Progressive Conservative foot soldiers.  In fact, in Rajko's case, his political leanings would probably be somewhere between Olivia Chow and Bob Rae.  So - it is with some pleasant serendipity that I receive this honor in the company of two lawyers who clearly did not receive their appointment based upon political patronage.

So.

While the honor does come with any financial reward, while it does not allow me the keys to some special secret bathroom, but does now allow me to post "Q.C." behind my name, it is nonetheless a pleasant and appreciated surprise.  And while, in theory, I am now a representative in name of the Queen of England, I should promise to maintain my status as a lawyer and citizen who will continue to be the same sarcastic, occasionally offensive, agent provocateur who endeavors to always "speak his truth" - or, as I've said before, "keep it real".