Welcome
By building on existing strengths, the University of Ottawa’s Common Law Section is continuing to solidify its position as a leader in Canadian legal education and research. As one of Canada’s largest law schools, Ottawa offers a broad and diverse curriculum. The full time faculty includes numerous leaders of Canadian legal education who have completed graduate degrees at the finest law schools in the world. We are exceptionally proud of the quality and number of their research grants and publications.
The Common Law Section is a full service national law school specializing in Dispute Resolution; Environmental Law; International Trade, Business and Human Rights Law; Social Justice; and Technology Law. Few law schools in the world can match Ottawa’s offerings in any one of these areas, let alone in all of them. Ottawa is the only law school in the world that allows students to elect to study common law in either English or French or both. The law building, Fauteux Hall is shared with our sister faculty, Droit civil, and students may apply for the one year National Program to obtain an additional degree in civil law. Our brand new Programme de droit canadien now allows students to earn both a common law and civil law degree (LL.B. and LL.L.) in three years. We also offer a joint LL.B.- M.B.A. degree; a unique LL.B.-J.D. program in partnership with two American law schools; and a joint LL.B.-M.A. program in International Relations.
Every student at Ottawa is enroled in one course and one course only during an intensive teaching term offered during the first three weeks of January. First year students are enrolled in the unique Dispute Resolution Program, assisted by approximately 30 upper-year tutorial leaders, and numerous professionals from the community. Upper year students may choose from approximately 25 optional courses, many offered by law professors visiting from other countries.
Ottawa is a sophisticated G-8 Capital city offering all the advantages of urban living while at the same time catering to an active outdoor lifestyle. The law school is located in the heart of downtown, within walking distance of Parliament and the Supreme Court of Canada. Ottawa’s adjunct professors provide unique expertise developed in high level domestic and international government practice. The National Capital offers the richest opportunities for students to gain academic credit and experience working within either the federal government or the technology sector. Our students can choose from an expanded selection of internship placements, giving participants first-hand experience working with pertinent issues. For more "hands-on" opportunities, the school houses three student-run Legal Clinics: the Community Legal Clinic, the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic, and the Ecojustice Environmental Law Clinic.
It is our goal of our faculty to capitalize on our "locational endowment" and the many comparative advantages we enjoy. We strive to have our graduates and students recognize their accomplishments and educational experiences with pride and humility. All of these advantages accrue in a progressive atmosphere where issues of social justice are at the forefront of student and faculty concerns.
Bruce Feldthusen