Documentaries

Retirement on Trial: Professional Edition

Retirement on Trial: Professional Edition, begins with a simple but unsettling question: what happens when the roles that define us begin to fall away? One senior lawyer, searching for answers, sets out to confront the uncertainty of retirement—only to discover that few are willing to talk about it. What starts as a professional inquiry soon evolves into a much broader exploration.

The film widens its lens to include voices from across professions and walks of life—an architect/public artist, a university chancellor, a former premier of British Columbia, a farmer, a cardiologist, a police officer, and members of the legal community. Each brings a deeply personal perspective on stepping away from a life’s work, revealing how retirement is not simply a milestone, but a profound shift in identity, purpose, and meaning.

Thoughtful, candid, and at times unexpectedly humorous, Retirement on Trial challenges the notion of retirement as an ending. Instead, it offers a richer, more nuanced portrait of transition—one that invites us to reconsider what it means to move forward.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Accreditation

This program may be eligible for Continuing Education (CLE) credit by your college or accrediting body. 

"The event stimulated everyone in attendance to really think about this issue and what they hoped it would be for themselves."

Retirement on Trial:Legal Edition

Retirement on Trial: The Legal Edition is a compelling documentary following a senior lawyer on a deeply personal quest to navigate the uncharted waters of retirement. Determined to prepare himself—and his colleagues—for the psychological and emotional shifts ahead, he offers seminars to explore this challenging transition. Yet, he’s met with reluctance and silence, leaving him discouraged. From that frustration, a new journey begins—one that leads to the creation of this captivating film.

Through candid reflections from legal professionals in the U.S., Canada, Guyana, and Israel—as well as insights from a neurosurgeon and a social philosopher—the film reframes the often “feared and maligned” passage into retirement and its connection to aging. It invites viewers to see “retiring” not as an ending, but as an evolving process.

Can a film about retirement be funny? This one just might surprise you

Stream the documentary on Vimeo

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Accreditation

This program may be eligible for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit, subject to approval by the relevant State Bar or accrediting body. The curriculum aligns with several recognized CLE competency areas. Learn more here.