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Entrepreneurship

The Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa aims to enhance awareness and participation in the Entrepreneurship Pathway, equipping students with the skills and mindset to excel in both traditional and innovative legal careers. Our mission is to cultivate the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders.

 You will be training in:

  • Innovation and problem-solving
  • Creating social change and impact
  • Leadership
  • Business development
  • Risk Tolerance
  • Board governance
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Training Lawyers as Entrepreneurs

Lawyers play a crucial role at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey. We are one of Canada’s only law schools to integrate entrepreneurship into law and to offer you the top resources to embrace and prepare your legal journey for the world. Our alumni consistently say that exposure to these skills in law school is an asset in the job market.

Learn how your legal expertise can be used to drive social change and create innovative solutions that improve lives and communities. Sharpen your skills by tackling challenges in education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and more.

Harley Finkelstein

“My best investment was law school at the University of Ottawa. I didn't go to law school to become a lawyer, but to become a better entrepreneur.”

Harley Finkelstein - President of Shopify

Kristen Boon
WORD OF THE DEAN

“Whether your goal is to join a firm, start a business, work with non-profits or consult, you will develop the tool kit necessary to add value and succeed wherever you work.”

Kristen Boon - Susan & Perry Dellelce Dean of Common Law

Consider these courses that combine Law and Entrepreneurship themes!

Search for the courses above

You are invited to consult the Course Search Engine on a regular basis as course information may be subject to change.
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Mark Zekulin

Remember that failure happens. It is part of the journey. - Mark Zekulin

Alumnus and entrepreneur Mark Zekulin, LLB’07, may have encountered failure in his journey, but he has certainly experienced significant success.
Read M.Zekulin's story

Experiential Learning

Beyond skill development, experiential learning offers students real-world opportunities to apply their skills through internships, hackathons, and pitch competitions, as well as starting their own business.

STEM building

uOttawa Startup Law Clinic

The Startup Law Clinic aims to give law students practical insight into the legal challenges faced by startups and promote the development of the Ottawa startup community.

Visit the page of the uOttawa Startup Law Clinic
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uOttawa Startup Garage

The Startup Law Clinic aims to give law students practical insight into the legal challenges faced by startups and promote the development of the Ottawa startup community

Visit the page of the uOttawa Startup Garage external link
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The Entrepreneurship Hub

The purpose of the eHub is to help shape an entrepreneurial mindset across the University of Ottawa campus.

Visit the page of the Entrepreneurship Hub

Hennick Entrepreneurial Law Fellowship

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The Hennick Entrepreneurial Law Fellowships supports students in obtaining exposure to legal work environments and practical experience in providing legal services to new businesses and “start-ups”.

The fellowship will enable participants to pursue enriching opportunities and network with individuals and organizations that might not otherwise be able to work with law students.

Apply for Fellowship Now

News

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Common Law Section
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Common Law Section

Exploring Boundless Horizons: Unveiling the Entrepreneurial Odyssey with a Law …

In celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week in November, the Common Law Section hosted a captivating panel discussion titled "Oh the Places you'll …
Research
students studying
Research

The Solutions Lab: uOttawa students reimagine how legal services are accessed i…

Roughly 80% of Canadians have unmet legal needs. Research shows that while most Canadians can identify a legal problem when they’re facing one, many a…
Common Law Section
students studying
Common Law Section

Fostering Success: 5 Benefits of an Entrepreneurial Mindset for Law Students

Entrepreneurship is more than just a buzzword; it’s a mindset. It’s about identifying challenges and turning them into opportunities. Here at the Comm…