Susan V. R. Billington

Susan V. R. Billington is an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law, where she teaches Student Legal Assistance (SLA) theory and practice clinical courses in the core JD program and has also taught in the first-year Foundations course on ethics and professionalism. She served as Executive Director of SLA from 2018-2024, leading the transition to digital and remote legal service delivery during the pandemic.

Her research interests focus on Clinical Theory, Clinical Practice, and Ethics and Professionalism. During her tenure as Executive Director, Student Legal Assistance won the Ferguson Award from the Association of Canadian Clinical Legal Education for promoting access to justice and clinical law within a law school setting.

Her notable awards include:

• Woman in Law Leadership Award from the Association of Women Lawyers (2012)
• Distinguished Service Award for Service to the Legal Profession from the Law Society of Alberta and Canadian Bar Association (Alberta Branch) (2021)
• Queen's Counsel (now King's Counsel) appointment (2008)
• Ferguson Award to SLA for promoting access to justice (2021)

Billington has maintained strong ties with the University of Calgary since graduating from the Faculty of Law in 1985. She has served on the Alumni Association and the Senate of UCalgary, and contributes through the Mooting and Debating Committee. Her professional experience includes 20 years at the Law Society of Alberta, founding Executive Director of Pro Bono Law Alberta, and practicing civil litigation at Billington Barristers. She also served as a Municipal Councillor for the Kananaskis Improvement District from 2012-2017 and currently sits as a Public Member of the Board of Governors of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.