Earl Cherniak Featured in National Post Following Release of New Memoir

Earl Cherniak, one of Canada’s most respected litigators and a distinguished member of Lerners LLP, is featured in a recent National Post profile exploring his remarkable legal career and the publication of his memoir, In The Courts: A Counsel’s Memoir. 

Called to the bar in 1960, Earl has spent more than six decades shaping Canadian law and advocating for clients in some of the country’s most significant legal disputes. Throughout his career, he has represented individuals, corporations, public institutions, and professionals in complex, high-profile matters, earning a reputation as one of Canada’s leading advocates. 

Published by the University of Toronto Press for the Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal History, Earl’s memoir reflects on the cases, colleagues, and experiences that defined a lifetime in the law. The book also offers insight into the evolution of the legal profession, from the collegial bar Earl joined in the 1960s to the modern practice of law today. 

In the interview, Earl discusses many of the principles that guided his career, including professionalism, civility, and the importance of earning the trust and respect of colleagues. Among the observations highlighted in the article is his belief that “nobody refers cases to a jerk,” a simple but enduring lesson on the value of reputation and relationships in the legal profession. 

The profile also explores Earl’s advocacy in landmark cases, his reflections on serving clients in difficult and controversial matters, and his longstanding commitment to the role of counsel. As he notes in both the interview and his memoir, a lawyer’s responsibility is not to judge a client, but to provide skilled and principled representation. 

Read the full National Post feature and learn more about Earl’s extraordinary career in In The Courts: A Counsel’s Memoir.