If Mad Men has taught us anything, it’s that society has changed a great deal since the era of “a woman’s place is in the home.”
Edmonton lawyer, Jean McBean QC , was at the forefront of this change, a remarkable woman who campaigned vigorously for women’s rights, and changed the landscape of family law in Alberta.
One of her early accomplishments was to protect women’s rights to property in divorce settlements. She was also a proponent of no-fault divorce, and was actively involved in transforming child custody rules and marriage contracts. Well-known for her bigger-than-life personality, and her passion for justice, Jean could be a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom. “God help you if you crossed Jean when she knew she was right,” recalls Marie Gordon, a long-time partner in Jean’s firm McBean Becker Cochard and Gordon. “Some judges would quake in their shoes when they saw Jean coming, and she was always strong, concise and forthright in her dealings with them. Jean had an inner confidence about her which served her so well through her whole career.”
It was a career that started with early research on matrimonial property for the Institute of Law Research and Reform, moved to a partnership with Wright, Chivers & Company upon passing the bar in 1973, and then to starting her own firm in 1979 – a firm that blossomed into Edmonton’s first all-female practice. In the 1980s, and young families abounded, crayons and homework were common additions to the boardroom décor.
As the children grew up, so did the firm – and so did Jean’s academic ambitions. In 1987, she was awarded her Master of Laws degree from McGill University, where she furthered her interest in matrimonial property law. All the while, she continued to practice, and she was an active advocate for Alberta’s families.
“Jean had the very most loyal and adoring clients who thought that she walked on water,” Marie says. “Her advice was always excellent – caring, smart, strategic, and clear. She was an effective and intuitive negotiator, and again, it was her personal strength and confidence that helped her voice have power. When Jean spoke, you listened.”
Which is what made her an excellent teacher and mentor. Jean taught throughout her career, at her alma mater, the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, and for the Legal Education Society of Alberta, where she was a frequent volunteer.
“Jean was a valued volunteer with LESA for many years,” says our Executive Director, Paul Wood. “Her commitment to sharing her knowledge was an example to all, and she was a proponent for education in all forms. Her work with us has an enduring value through those she mentored who continue to contribute and in doing so, honour her legacy.”
By mid-career, Jean became active in politics, furthering her pursuit to help Alberta’s women have a voice in government. She joined the NDP and served as party president during Ray Martin’s term in office, and worked on Alberta’s electoral boundaries commission in the 1990s.
But her political work in no way subsumed her commitment to her legal career. If anything, her dedication grew with her QC designation and her tenure as a Bencher of the Law Society of Alberta. She was also Co-chair of the National Legal Committee of the Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF).
In the early 2000s, Jean established a Legal Aid Office for Family law in both Edmonton and Calgary as part of her desire to make legal representation accessible for low income families. She continued her private practice until she retired in 2006.
But Jean’s dedication to social justice did not end with her career. Upon moving with her husband to Victoria to be closer to family, Jean championed the homeless and raised funds for Child Haven, an organization that funds children’s homes in central Asia. She volunteered with Grandmothers to Grandmothers and Edzimkulu, a charity that supports children of AIDS in Africa. Despite her own health issues, Jean never lost sight of helping others, and she was a steadfast volunteer even through her own illness.
Jean passed away from cancer on April 7, 2012.
“Jean’s remarkable legacy is one of hope,” partner Marie Gordon says. “She fought hard for what she believed in, and she is a testament to the social change we’ve seen over the last 30 years. She was simply an amazing person, and will be missed very much.”
