William (Bill) Hurlburt was born in Vegreville, Alberta. In 1949 he graduated from the University of Alberta with a L.L.B. Hurlbert married Isobel (Dev) Hurlburt in 1950. Hurlburt was a faculty member of the Faculty of Law at the University of Alberta and became a Professor Emeritus following his retirement. He was one of the founders of the Alberta Law Reform Institute (ALRI). He was also Director and Director Emeritus of the ALRI. Through out his career he was in various levels of the Canadian courts.

Over his life and career Hurlburt received many awards, including and appointment as Queen's Counsel in 1969, and honorary Doctorate of Laws in 1997, and in 2012 the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.