An Alberta law society hearing begins today for a former law professor, convicted of murder, who wants his disbarment from the legal profession reversed.

Maurice Sychuk, a former University of Alberta law professor who killed his wife 10 years ago, has been on parole since last year.

He begins pleading his case this morning. But several of his former university colleagues hope Sychuk won't get to practise law again.

A group of professors at the university sent a letter to the law society urging that Sychuk's current request and any future requests to be reinstated to the bar be denied.

The group says anyone who has committed the crime of murder could not possibly serve the rule of law, despite rehabilitation.

The Law Society of Alberta has set aside three days for the hearing at its headquarters in Calgary.

Sychuk was a well-known law professor in the 1980s. Many considered him Canada's top expert in oil and gas law.

He was convicted of the 1988 murder of his wife. She was stabbed 22 times with a hunting knife.