LL.D. delivered the following address to the 1997 University of Alberta Faculty of Education graduands. As we enter 1998, his words remind us of the privileges and responsibilities intrinsic to professionalism. Professionals invite society's trust Professionals, Eminent Chancellor, invite trust individually. They assure clients, patients, and students and guardians that they will give them loyal and skillful service.
Professionals also invite trust collectively.
They ask society for exclusive rights to perform professional services and for legal powers to regulate their professions. In return, they undertake to exercise those legal powers to ensure that professional services are given loyally and skillfully. Professionals profess to have special knowledge and skills. Professionals profess to apply their special knowledge and skills for the benefit of others. A lawyer professes to apply their special knowledge and skills for the protection of their clients rights under law.