He was educated at Prince Alfred College and the University of Adelaide, where he was a prominent member of the Law Debating Society.
[2] In 1880 he was articled with William Pope (died August 1923) and gained his LLB in 1890 and was called to the Bar the following day (26 April 1890), and was appointed associate to Mr. Justice Bundey soon after.
Cleland carried on as barrister and solicitor at Selborne Chambers, also on Pirie Street.
[19] Cleland was a member of the He died in an Adelaide private hospital, following a medical procedure.
E(dward) Erskine Cleland (6 November 1869 – 1 July 1943) married Edith Mary Auld (1867 – 25 August 1928) on 12 April 1893.