Dean Kristen Boon has appointed Anne Levesque, Associate Professor in the French Common Law Program, as the first professor to occupy this position.
"The Faculty of Law (Common Law Section) enables students to learn law through doing. We know that adults learn best when they are on the field, rather than in the stands. Our experiential learning opportunities are sought after by our students because they facilitate the acquisition of practical and transferable legal skills," says Kristen Boon, the Susan and Perry Dellece Dean.
“Our students are already having a direct and significant impact on their communities, across the country and around the world by working on the most pressing legal issues of our time, such as social inequality, climate change, reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and artificial intelligence. This new position will enhance and coordinate the numerous experiential learning opportunities that already exist at the Faculty and guide the development of new initiatives.”
For example, at the Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC), Canada's first and only technology law public interest clinic, students from the Faculty work with legal experts to advance the public interest on critical issues of law and technology. The Faculty is also home to the Equality Rights Clinic, EcoJustice and the Community Legal Clinic.
"As the first Academic Director of Experiential Learning at the Faculty, I am looking to better capitalize on the various experiential learning opportunities already available at the Faculty of Law. I aspire to promote experiential learning opportunities within the Faculty and share our best practices and success stories," says Professor Levesque.
Prior to joining the French Common Law Program, Professor Levesque was Director of the Legal Practice Program (LPP). As the first Director of the LPP, she established an innovative legal education program enabling law school graduates to promote access to justice in French in Ontario.
Professor Levesque began her one-year term on June 1, 2023. She will work closely with Professor David Wiseman, Vice-Dean of the English Program and a long-time champion of experiential learning and access to justice within the Faculty and the community.
UOttawa Faculty of Law (Common Law Section) appoints its first academic director of experiential learning
Experiential learning – hands on learning in real-world settings - has always been a top priority at the Faculty of Law (Common Law Section). Now, it is redoubling its efforts to further distinguish the Faculty in legal teaching and clinical experience by creating the position of Academic Director of Experiential Learning.