Steven Chaplin

Steven Chaplin is a Part-Time Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, with a focus on constitutional and parliamentary law. He holds a BA and LLB from Queen’s University, an LLM from Osgoode Hall, and has been a member of the Ontario Bar since 1987.

• Education:
  • B.A., Queen’s University
  • LL.B., Queen’s University
  • LL.M., Osgoode Hall

Chaplin’s research and practice center on parliamentary privilege, constitutional independence of legislatures, and the separation of powers in Canadian law. His work explores the balance between parliamentary autonomy and judicial oversight, emphasizing the foundational role of legislative bodies in constitutional frameworks.

His recent publications, including analyses of Brexit’s constitutional implications and debates on parliamentary-impeachment procedures, reflect a focus on legislative authority, judicial review, and comparative constitutional studies. These works often bridge theoretical and practical legal challenges.

Chaplin served as Senior Parliamentary Counsel for the House of Commons, advising on constitutional and administrative law issues. He is a Deputy Executive Editor of the Journal of Parliamentary and Political Law and has presented extensively at conferences organized by the Association of Parliamentary Counsel of Canada.