In this edition of the OBA Health Law’s Section Insider, we spoke with the 2026 recipient of the Susan Davidson Memorial Award for Excellence in Health Law, Bill Carter. Here’s what he had to say.
- Tell us a little bit about your background. Where did you grow up and go to school? How did you end up with a career in health law?
I grew up in Oakville when it was a cute little town nestled on the shore of Lake Ontario. The population was about 10,000 when we moved there. I was quite young when I fancied a career as a “court room lawyer.” I suspect that lots of kids, like me, were impressed by Raymond Burr playing Perry Mason on TV. All his clients appeared to be guilty until saved by “Mr. Mason’s” court room magic. His magic was the result of clever investigation, logical deduction, and brilliant cross examination. I think this was where I got the idea that I might enjoy such a job. Later, during the summer I turned 16, I picked up a book from my grandad’s library titled “For the Defence: the Life of Sir Edward Marhsall Hall.” Hall was a very successful and renowned criminal defence counsel practicing in England in the first half of the last century. His biography broadened and solidified my interest in forensics, and showed me that it was possible to actually transform tv drama into a real career. From these threads, I fastened an unwavering determination to become a barrister.