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Last week, The Honourable Peter MacKay (LLB ’90) engaged a rapt Law Hour audience with stories about his experience at “Dal Law” (which the Schulich School of Law was then), his start as a young criminal lawyer and then Crown Attorney, and his career in politics.

MacKay has held several high-level political positions, among them Member of Parliament, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Minister of National Defence, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. After stepping down from politics last year, he is practicing law again, as a partner at the global firm Baker & McKenzie in Toronto.

On his time at law school

Born in New Glasgow, N.S., in 1965, MacKay earned a BA from Acadia University in 1987 before applying to Dal law school. He credits Admissions Director Rose Godfrey with getting him in. “I was a late entry and on a wait list, and Rose kept my hopes and dreams of going to Dal law school alive,” he said. “I feel very honoured to be back on Dalhousie’s campus.”

During one of his first law school classes, MacKay recalls being told by a professor that not everyone would graduate. He had a more encouraging message for the students who had gathered in Room 105 to hear him speak: “You’re all going to get through this great experience of going to Dal law school. People will have high expectations of you, but you’re high achievers, so you’ll meet those expectations.”

Some of the most important experiences you’ll have here are the interactions with the people in your classrooms.

MacKay cited the Weldon Tradition of public service – of working collectively in small groups for a greater good – as what makes studying law at Dal a unique experience. “Some of the most important experiences you’ll have here are the interactions with the people in your classrooms. Many of you will form important bonds with your classmates and professors.”

MacKay’s own classmates were diverse, ranging from musicians and teachers to hockey players, and he’s still good friends with many of them. His main takeaway from law school? “The relationships and the people – and managing stress!”

On his legal career

After earning his law degree, MacKay didn’t follow a traditional career path. He spent the first six months after graduation studying French in Chicoutimi, Que., then worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters and did some tree planting while he thought about his next steps. “I had fun in law school,” he said. “After I graduated, I knew I wanted to work in law, give back to my community, and get to know my country better by travelling in Canada.”

After articling with the Nova Scotia Attorney General’s office, MacKay opened a law practice in his hometown on his own. “I should have paid more attention in my property law classes,” he laughed. “That’s where the money is!” Then he worked in the Crown Attorney’s office, which he described as “intense” – cases included everything from shoplifting to sexual assault to murder. But he enjoyed the challenge and the work. “I was living the dream, practicing criminal law, and feeling fulfilled.”

On his decision to enter politics

MacKay was working as a Crown Attorney when he met former Quebec premier Jean Charest, who was rebuilding the PC Party, at a meeting in Halifax. When Charest encouraged MacKay to run for the leadership of the party, MacKay replied that he was flattered but declined. Even when Charest persisted, MacKay wasn’t convinced it was the right path for him to pursue.

It dawned on me that the best way to improve the laws was from a political position.

At that time, however, MacKay was working on “dark” criminal cases involving children and feeling troubled by Canada’s criminal justice system. “It dawned on me that the best way to improve the laws was from a political position,” he said.

In 2003 MacKay ran for the PC Party leadership but didn’t think he’d win, so when he did, he was floored. “I went to elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse and never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would one day be the leader of the PC Party or foreign minister of my country.”

On Trump as president

MacKay touched briefly on the outcome of the recent U.S. election by describing Trump’s comments about women, immigrants, and refugees as “alarming” and saying that the impact on Canada could be profound, first and foremost in respect to free trade.

These are high stakes – we’re in an unstable, volatile time, and we need good people at the helm.

“Time will tell how serious Trump is about making changes away from globalization and trade,” said MacKay. “I’m a little pessimistic that Vladimir Putin is going to be a great friend of Trump and the United States. These are high stakes – we’re in an unstable, volatile time, and we need good people at the helm.”

Speaking of good people, MacKay is particularly proud of the work of Canada’s Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. “We’ve enabled millions of people to have better and safer futures,” he said. “For example, Canada built 50 schools in Afghanistan to allow girls to get an education. We’ve built wells and bridges in villages there, and we’ve helped the people understand the rule of law. The people need a system of justice and law that they can trust.”

On law as an incubator

MacKay wrapped up his talk by saying that he sees millennials as believing in better results with a better balance – working “smarter” rather than harder and longer. “It’s not just what you study, it’s how you study,” he said. “When you’re practicing law, use innovation to find solutions for your clients, to better serve them and the public. That’s the way the world will become a better place.”

When you're practicing law, use innovation to find solutions for your clients, to better serve them and the public.

Law and politics are important enablers to making a difference in the world, MacKay added. "Law is an important entrée into some of the best experiences I’ve had and the best people I’ve ever met. It’s also a great training ground. Law is helpful as an incubator for building a skill set of the kinds of things you need to take into the world to solve today’s problems.”