Word from the Dean

March is Mois de la Francophonie (Francophonie month), and the Common Law Section is thrilled to celebrate the rich tapestry of French language and culture that is an integral part of our community. 

One of the most emblematic aspects of our faculty is our commitment to providing multijural, bilingual legal education in the heart of the nation’s capital. This distinctive feature is our trademark. It is what makes us us.

At the forefront of this commitment is the exceptional opportunity our students have to study law in French through the Programme de common law en francais (PCLF). This program stands as a beacon, offering a bilingual legal education of the highest quality. It is worth noting that the PCLF is one of only two programs of its kind globally, a testament to our dedication to meeting the needs of Franco-Ontarians for French legal education and services while also extending our reach to Francophones from other provinces.

For nearly 50 years, the PCLF has played a pivotal role in training lawyers to enhance access to justice in minority Francophone communities. Our National Program enables students who already have a civil law degree to complete their JD degree in under a year, widening the scope of their opportunities for practicing law across Canada and internationally.

It brings me great pride to witness a growing trend where students from Anglophone and allophone backgrounds are choosing uOttawa to pursue common law studies in French. This speaks volumes about the reputation and desirability of our bilingual legal education model.

As we celebrate our linguistic and cultural diversity this month, I also want to express my gratitude to the members of our very engaged francophone community – the dedicated professors of the PCLF, accomplished alumni, and collaborative community partners.

Here are some recent news items which reflect the vitality and vigour of our francophone community:

Kristen Boon

Upcoming Events

March 4 | 11:30 am – 1:00 pm | FTX 232 / Zoom - Prescription for Progress: Exploring Canada's New Pharmacare Program
March 7 | 11:30 am – 12:50 pm | Virtual  FTX 351 - Empower Your Legal Journey with Entrepreneurship Workshop #2 Want to start your own law firm?
March 7 | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Virtual & FTX 125 - CRCCF Meeting "Langues officielles du Canada : le français à la recherche de l’égalité réelle". Registration is required (French only).
March 7 | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm | Zoom - Blood: The Science, Medicine, and Mythology of Menstruation with Jen Gunter
March 11 | 11:30 am – 1:00 pm | FTX 135 / Zoom - Weaponising Evidence: Tobacco Control in International Law
March 12 | 11:30 am - 12:50 pm | FTX 361 - International Law Speaker Series. Register via the link. (French only) 
March 13 | 11:30 am - 1:00 pm | FTX 135 - Student Proposed Internship Information Session. Registration required in The Source.
March 13 | 11:30 am - 1:00 pm | FTX 147 - 2nd Annual Social Justice Career Panel. Panelists from Ravenlaw, Level Justice, Community Legal Services of Ottawa, and the Equality Law Clinic. Follow @sjsuottawa for more info.
March 14 | 10:00 am – 12:50 pm | FTX 416 - Community Beading Circle.
March 14 | 11:30 am - 12:50 pm | FTX 302 - Conway Professionalism Speaker Series. More details to come.
March 14 | 11:30 am - 1:00 pm | FTX 351 - Fasken Resume and Interview Preparation Workshop(for 1L students). Lunch included. Registration required.
March 15 | 8:00 am - 3:15 pm | Ottawa Conference and Event Centre - Career Connections 2024: Adapt & Rise. Registration closes March 6 at 5 pm. Register now! 
March 16 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm | DMS 12102 - OLR Colloquium. More details in the link.
March 18 | 11:30 am - 12:50 pm | Virtual - Administrative Law & Governance Colloquium:  Prerogative Powers.Registration required.
March 18 | 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm | FTX 570 - Launch of the exhibitionunLine: Exploring the transgressive potential of art in a digitally repressive environment. Registration required.



Please visit the website for a complete list of upcoming events.

Important dates

Jan. 29 to April 10, 2024: Courses for the Winter term.
March 5 to 8, 2024: Deferred exam period for Fall courses.
March 5 to 8, 2024: Deferred exam period for January courses.
March 5 to 10, 2024: Reading week.
March 15, 2024: Career Connections 2024: Adapt & Rise.
March 19: Deadline for students to confirm their participation to April exams in Ventus, for those who are registered with the Academic Accommodations Service. 
Please visit the website for a complete list of important dates and deadlines.
March 21, 2024: Course Fair for French courses.
March 22, 2024: Last day to withdraw from a course with no financial credit. Withdrawing from a course may affect whether you will meet all your program requirements.   
March 28, 2024: Course Fair for English courses.
March 31, 2024: Last day to register for a degree for Spring 2024 Convocation.  

Opportunities

Academic

News

Faculty of Law - Common Law Section
photo noir et blanc du professeur Francois Larocque
Faculty of Law - Common Law Section

Professor François Larocque honoured for influence on Canadian Francophonie

For his tireless efforts in researching and defending the language rights of Canada’s French-speaking minority communities, Professor François Larocqu…
Faculty of Law - Common Law Section
Centre de recherche sur les francophonies canadiennes
Faculty of Law - Common Law Section

Canada's official languages: The French language in search of substantive equality

A round-table discussion on March 7 will focus on the real equality of the French language.
Faculty of Law - Common Law Section
A photo of the professor Marel Katsivela inset against a background photo of an ocean with green islands
Faculty of Law - Common Law Section

Navigating the depths: Bridging research and diplomacy for ocean ecosystem protection

The protection of ocean ecosystems is an increasingly pressing concern for nations worldwide. No single country can take on this issue by itself.

Quick Links

Contact us

Faculty of Law - Common Law Section

Fauteux Hall
57 Louis Pasteur St
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 6N5

Tel.: 613-562-5794
Fax: 613-562-5124

Communication Team

Email: [email protected]
Tel.: 613-562-5800 ext. 3270
Fax: 613-562-5124

We offer Zoom Office hours every: 

  • Monday : 2:00 - 3:00 pm
  • Thursday : 9:00 - 10:00 am