An Elk Valley lawyer has been appointed a Queen’s counsel, an honour saved for the elite in the legal community.
Glen Purdy was awarded the Queen’s Counsel Designation in December 2011, with a formal reception on March 2 in Vancouver.
His colleague, Angela Etheridge, who is an associate lawyer with Majic Purdy Law Corporation, said: “Glen is a remarkable lawyer, which is because he is highly intelligent, but also because he works extraordinarily hard.
“I am constantly amazed with the depth of his knowledge about virtually every area of law. He is also very generous with sharing his knowledge; he has been a great mentor for me and I have been very lucky to learn from him. He has an outstanding reputation among the legal community so much so that other lawyers, of all levels of experience, call him for advice.”
Purdy operates Majic Purdy Law Corporation in Fernie and Sparwood. He was called to the bar of British Columbia in 1984, joining George S. Majic, Q.C. in the practice of law that year. Purdy’s practice is primarily focused on real estate and development law (including litigation) municipal law, business law and commercial law.
He is also a strong contributor to the community, most notably through the Elk Valley Youth Assistance Program, which he co-founded in 1994, and has assisted other communities throughout Canada in establishing similar programs. The community-based young offenders’ accountability program is an alternative to the traditional court system. For his work with young offenders, Purdy was awarded the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson.
The Queen’s counsel designation is an honour granted to members of the legal profession to recognize exceptional merit and contribution. Successful candidates demonstrate professional integrity and good character and must be members of the British Columbia bar for at least five years. It is an honorary designation meant to exemplify the very best of the legal community.
Under the Queen’s Counsel Act, the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, may bestow on lawyers in British Columbia the honorary title of Queen’s.
Purdy was one of 28 British Columbian lawyers to receive the honour last year.
