Justice Slade was appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the province's superior trial court, in 2001, after a distinguished career as a private attorney specializing in aboriginal law. He pioneered the reconciliation of aboriginal interests in land and resources with private interests, and with the powers of municipal and provincial governments. This included the consensual resolution of land use conflicts and the negotiation and implementation of agreements with corporate participants interests in the forestry, oil and gas, fisheries and real estate sectors. Justice Slade's familiarity with electronic discovery was demonstrated in the landmark case of Roeske v. Grady, 2006 BCSC 1975, in which he held that relevant information on a party's laptop computer was discoverable under a protocol designed to ensure protection of privacy and privilege.