Eric Sutton studied economics at McGill University before entering law school. He graduated from the McGill Faculty of Law with degrees in both civil and common law (B.C.L.; LL.B).
He began his law practice in Calgary, Alberta with the firm MacPherson & Associates specializing in criminal law. Five years later, he moved to Ottawa to take a position with the Office of the Correctional Investigator whose mandate is to investigate complaints from inmates of the federal penitentiary system. While living in Ottawa he joined the Bar of Quebec and the Law Society Ontario in addition to maintaining his membership in the Law Society of Alberta.