Professor Gilbert Reginald Schmitt, Q.C. was an adjunct professor at the law school at the University of British Columbia for 43 years. He began teaching at UBC in 1956, and over his career educated more than 2000 students in the areas of insurance law and professional responsibility.
Gilbert "Bert" Schmitt was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and spent his early years there, attending the University of Saskatchewan and graduating in 1946. At that institution he completed a B. A. in Economics and then an LL. B. as the Gold Medalist of his class. While he did not serve overseas during the Second World War because he was too young, he supported his country through involvement with the Canadian Officers Training Corps and the University Naval Training Detachment. He articled in Saskatoon with Moxon, Schmitt & Estey, the firm where his father Cecil Gilbert Schmitt, Q.C. also practiced. He continued his legal education at Harvard, where he completed an LL. M. in 1949.
After returning to practice in Saskatoon, Mr. Schmitt made the move to Vancouver in 1956. He focused on insurance law and grew his practice at Guild Yule & Company, but also took work in labour law, real estate law, matrimonial law, and corporate law. Considered by many to be a 'rainmaker,' he remained at that firm for 30 years before relocating to Fraser Gifford for the remainder of his career. Throughout his career he was a diligent mentor, and strongly emphasized that the lawyers duty to the client was of paramount importance.
Besides being an academic and skilled lawyer, Gilbert Schmitt was also a dedicated member of the legal profession and cherished his time with family. He was an active member of the Canadian Bar Association, especially within the civil litigation and civil liberties subsections. He served as a bencher of the law society from 1974-1977, and wrote numerous articles and short stories for publication in legal journals. He supported the passions and events of his family, once travelling to Strasbourg just to hear his son give a lecture, and regularly attending his grandson's piano recitals.
Professor Gilbert Reginald Schmitt passed away in late 2014, at the age of 90.