Rollie Thompson, KC

Rollie has been a Professor at the Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, since 1982 (full professor 1992-2020, professor emeritus since 2020). He was the Executive Director, Dalhousie Legal Aid Service, 1982-85 and 1991-94. Taught Family Law, Evidence and Civil Procedure. Rollie has been Counsel, Epstein Cole LLP, Toronto, since 2022.

Rollie has received a number of recognitions and awards for his work: Recipient of Dalhousie Law Alumni Association and Dalhousie Law Students Society Award for Teaching Excellence 2001-02. Recipient of the Vincent J. Pottier Award for Exceptional and Outstanding Contribution to Dalhousie Legal Aid Service (awarded in 2005). Appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2011. Recipient of Award for Teaching Excellence in the Osgoode Professional Ll.M., 2016. Recipient (with Carol Rogerson) of one of the AFCC-Ontario’s “10 in 10” 10th Anniversary Awards of Excellence in Family Justice 2018. Recipient of the Ontario Bar Association 2024 Award for Excellence in Family Law in Memory of James McLeod.

Rollie is the Editor of the Canadian Family Law Quarterly, Co-director (with Prof. Carol Rogerson), Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines Project, Department of Justice Canada 2001-2008, and Editor of the Nova Scotia Civil Procedure Rules (LexisNexis).

On sabbatical 2006-07 at University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, taught Evidence. Also taught Child and Spousal Support course at Osgoode Hall Law School, Osgoode Professional Development, Family Law Ll.M. (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015).

Rollie began his career as an Associate at Kitz, Matheson, Green & MacIsaac, Halifax, 1980-82. Member of N.S. Bar since 1980. Clerk to Justice Brian Dickson, Supreme Court of Canada, 1978-79. Economist, Nova Scotia Government, 1972-76 and Bank of Canada, 1971-72. He received his Ll.B. (Dalhousie, 1978); B.A. (Hons. Economics & Political Science) (McGill, 1971).