Biography

Liz McCandless joined the Faculty of Law in 2022 as Senior Instructor. She is a member of the clinical practice team.

From 2014 to 2021, Liz served as director and legal counsel for the Manitoba Law Reform Commission (MLRC). Prior to her time at the MLRC, she practiced civil and public interest litigation primarily in the areas of human rights, constitutional, and Aboriginal law. She also served as Associate Counsel on the Commission of Inquiry Surrounding the Circumstances of the Death of Phoenix Sinclair. She has taught courses at the Faculty of Law and the University of Winnipeg as a sessional instructor.

Liz obtained her LL.B (2007) and LL.M. (2020) from the University of Manitoba. She was called to the Manitoba Bar in 2008 where she received the A. Montague Israels Q.C. Prize.

She continues to be a practicing member of the Manitoba Bar.

Liz is a member of the Association of Canadian Clinical Legal Education. She also co-chairs the Manitoba Bar Association's Animal Law Section and serves on the Board of Directors of the Winnipeg Humane Society.

News and stories

Community involvement

Liz is actively involved in the Manitoba Bar Association (MBA). She co-founded and co-chairs the MBA Animal Law Section and sits on the executive of the MBA Legal Research Section.

Liz conducts legal research and analysis for the Public Interest Law Centre on a pro bono basis. She has also volunteered as a Learning Group Facilitator for the Law Society of Manitoba’s Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED) Program, supervised Pro Bono Students Canada projects, and acted as legal observer at pop-up safe consumption sites.

Awards

  • 2022: The Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence for Sessional Instructors (Practicing Professionals)