Born in Quebec City, the son of Joseph Julien Chouinard and Berthe Cloutier, he received a BA in 1948 and a LL.L. in 1951 from Université Laval. As a Rhodes Scholar, he received a BA in 1953 from Oxford University. In 1953, he was called to the Quebec Bar and started to practice law. He also taught law at Université Laval.
Auxiliary professor at Laval University from 1959 and, mid-time professor from 1964.
Member of the lawyer cabinet Gagné, Prévost, Flynn.