Humboldt lawyer, John Will, was being recognized with the Queen’s Counsel designation during a ceremony on Jan. 5. The Queen’s Counsel 2017 was given to 17 lawyers for their “contributions to the legal profession and public service,” the Government of Saskatchewan announced in a press release.
Queen’s Counsel is given out to Saskatchewan lawyers who, “have practiced law for at least ten years in the superior courts of any province or territory of Canada, the United Kingdom or Ireland,” according to a Government of Saskatchewan Press Release.
“These individuals have shown exceptional merit and contribution to the legal profession and to our communities,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan said in the press release. “We’re honoured to recognize their hard work by appointing them as Queen’s Counsel.”
Will has been practicing law for over 30 years, so to receive such an award is a privilege and an honour.
“Just to be recognized by the profession and by my peers essentially is being worthy of it,” says Will.
Will came to Humboldt in 1989 to practice law at the Sutherland, Behiel law practice, eventually becoming partner in the Behiel, Will, and Biemans law firm.
Humboldt appealed to Will as a good place to raise a family but also has allowed him to maintain a good life and work balance, he says.
“That’s something a lot of lawyers in the larger cities don’t have. They’re workaholics.”
His partners share this view about being able to live outside the office without asking permission, says Will.
With his daughter being raised in Humboldt, looking back it has been a good community to live and work in for the majority of his career, he says.
