University of Alberta Faculty of Law

University of Alberta Faculty of Law
Name	University of Alberta Faculty of Law
Established	1912
Type	Public
Parent	University of Alberta
City	Edmonton
Province	Alberta
Country	Canada
Dean	Joanna Harrington
Students	~600 (JD)

University of Alberta Faculty of Law

The Faculty of Law at the University of Alberta is a Canadian law faculty located in Edmonton that offers professional and graduate legal education and engages in legal research and public service. Founded in 1912, the faculty has produced judges, politicians, and scholars who have served in institutions such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Alberta Court of Appeal, and international bodies like the International Court of Justice. The faculty maintains links with provincial actors including the Government of Alberta and national organizations including the Canadian Bar Association.

History

The faculty was established in 1912 during the premiership of Arthur Sifton and opened its doors as part of the University of Alberta campus guided by founding figures active in provincial law and politics such as Charles Allan Stuart. Early decades saw graduates enter the legal profession and judicial office across Alberta, including appointments to the Chief Justice of Alberta and service in the House of Commons of Canada. Mid-20th century developments included curricular modernization influenced by comparative models from Osgoode Hall Law School and the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, while later expansions paralleled national reforms after events such as the adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982. The faculty’s growth in the late 20th and early 21st centuries included the addition of graduate programs, clinical offerings, and research centres that engaged with provincial institutions like the Alberta Human Rights Commission and federal agencies such as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Academics and Programs

The faculty offers the Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Laws (LLM), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs, aligning professional training with research pathways used by graduates who move to positions in entities such as the Department of Justice Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Course offerings cover substantive subjects including litigation reflected in rulings from the Courts of Appeal, administrative law informed by cases before the Federal Court of Canada, Indigenous legal orders discussed alongside the Assembly of First Nations, and international law topics tied to the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. Joint-degree arrangements and exchanges link the faculty to institutions such as the University of Cambridge, McGill University, and the London School of Economics. The curriculum includes mooting programs that prepare students for competitions like the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition and the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot.

Admissions and Student Profile

Admission to the JD program is competitive, with criteria including prior academic performance from universities such as the University of Calgary, standardized testing histories like submissions to the Law School Admission Council, and personal statements referencing volunteer affiliations with organizations like Pro Bono Students Canada. The entering class typically features students from provinces including British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, as well as international candidates from jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom and China. The student body is active in student government organizations modeled on groups like the Canadian Federation of Students and participates in campus societies linked to national bodies including the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.

Research, Centres, and Publications

The faculty houses research centres and institutes that collaborate with partners such as the Miller Thomson LLP-affiliated networks and governmental research arms like Global Affairs Canada. Notable centres have focused on areas including energy and natural resources law, administrative law, and Indigenous legal studies; these engage with stakeholders such as the Alberta Energy Regulator, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the Royal Society of Canada. Faculty scholarship appears in journals and edited collections alongside contributions in venues like the Canadian Bar Review, the Journal of Environmental Law and Practice, and international publications referencing decisions from the International Criminal Court. The faculty publishes student-edited journals and working paper series that have featured commentary related to cases from the Supreme Court of Canada and policy work for provincial ministries including the Alberta Ministry of Justice.

Clinics and Experiential Learning

Clinical programs provide supervised practice opportunities in partnership with community organizations such as Pro Bono Law Alberta and charities involved with the Edmonton Social Planning Council. Clinics address family law, refugee and immigration law linked to matters heard before the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, and prisoner rights with advocacy touching on standards from the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. Externship and placement opportunities place students in legal offices ranging from private firms to public bodies including the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee and nongovernmental organizations that work with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. The faculty’s mooting, negotiation, and alternate dispute resolution clinics engage with professional associations like the Arbitration Place and the Canadian Bar Association.

Facilities and Campus

The law building is situated on the University of Alberta’s North Campus near landmarks such as Rutherford House and the University of Alberta Botanical Garden, offering classrooms, a law library, and dedicated spaces for research centres modeled on modern legal education facilities like those at Harvard Law School and Yale Law School. The law library houses collections of statutes and case law including reports from the Alberta Law Reports and federal databases used by counsel appearing before the Federal Court of Appeal. Student amenities include moot courtrooms inspired by courtroom design found in the Alberta Court of King’s Bench and collaborative study spaces that support societies such as the University of Alberta Students' Union.

Notable Alumni and Faculty

Alumni and faculty have held high office and judicial posts, including service as justices on the Supreme Court of Canada, ministers in the Parliament of Canada, and chief justices in provincial courts such as the Alberta Court of Appeal. Graduates have led major law firms like MacKimmie Matthews, occupied academic chairs at institutions including the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, and contributed to international law through roles at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Distinguished faculty and alumni include scholars and practitioners recognized by organizations such as the Canadian Bar Association and recipients of national honours like the Order of Canada.

Category:Law schools in Canada