Hladun & Company — Barristers and Solicitors

Sam MacKay graduated with her law degree at the University of Alberta in December 2025, and expects to be called to the Bar in the early Spring of 2027.

Sam completed a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science in Environmental Science at McMaster University in 2008 and 2010 respectively, and obtained her Teacher of Adult Learners Certification in 2009. She went on to pursue a career in Environmental Science and Indigenous Land Relations, working on regulatory applications for Oil and Gas Development and Mining, environmental construction monitoring, Indigenous Knowledge and Traditional Lands Reporting, Land Claim Applications, and Indigenous Consultation for over a decade, before becoming an Instructor in post-secondary education. She has taught at multiple institutions throughout Alberta and British Columbia, and has led many Land Guardianship Training Programs.

While attending law school, Sam taught full time at NorQuest College in the Indigenous Studies Program and the Justice Program, where she designed curriculum and taught courses on Indigenous Legal Systems, Indigenous Justice, and Criminal Law. In 2025 she also began teaching in the Associate Arts Degree for Indigenous Studies at Native Education College in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she assisted in the development education programing for inmates. While in Law School, she was also part of the Student Legal Services Criminal Project, volunteered with the Edmonton Community Legal Centre as a note taker, and actively participated in the Women In Law Forum.

Since starting her articles, Sam has focused her training in Criminal Law, Appeals, Civil Litigation, Human Rights, and Indigenous and Aboriginal Law. She has submitted applications and spoken to matters in the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of Kings Bench, under direct supervision of highly skilled senior legal counsel. She is passionate about advocating for the rights of Individuals and Communities.

In her free time, Sam enjoys dancing performance ballet, playing classical violin, designing fashion, and spending as much time with her two large dogs as possible.