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.

Kristen Boon

Looking Ahead

Celebrate the many flavours of the Francophonie through on-campus events activities

Upcoming Events

Mar. 11 | The Internationalization of the Canadian Labour System| 11:30 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. | FTX 359 | Bilingual Event | Registration required
Mar. 11 | Autonomy and Its Social Contexts| 11:30 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. | FTX 147B | Bilingual in English| Registration required | Lunch provided
Mar. 12 | A Day in the Life of an IP Professional | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Online | English Event 
Mar. 12 | 2026-2027 Articling Search: The Application Process and The Interview | 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | FTX 147 | Target : 3L/4L - Presented by the Career and Professional Development Centre
Mar. 12 | Social Justice Society's 3rd Annual Career Panel| 11:30 - 1:00pm | FTX 147B | Registration required through Eventbrite | Follow @sjsuottawa for more info
Mar. 12 | Summer Plans: Beyond Structured Recruitment | 11 :30 a.m. – 1 :00 p.m. | Virtual | Target : 1L/2L  – Presented by the Career and Professional Development Centre
Mar. 13  | Drop-in Community Beading Circle | 8:30 – 11:20 a.m. | FTX 413 | Drop-in
Mar. 13 | Student-Proposed Internship Information Session | 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | FTX 351 | Target : All - Presented by the Career and Professional Development Centre
Mar. 13, 14, 15 | Snap Up Your Tickets – The Addams Family Hits the Stage This Weekend! | Jock Turcot University Centre | Registration required 
Mar. 15 | Emilio Binavince Student Research Colloquium,Ottawa Law Review (OLR) | 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | DMS 12102
Mar. 17 The Privacy Paradox: A Panel Exploring The Future of Privacy With The PCSLSA | 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. | FTX 302 | In person | Event in English | Registration required
Mar. 18 | What Competition Law for a Healthy AI Market?| 11:30 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. | Online | Event in English
Mar. 18 | The Shifting Landscape of Sexual Harassment Class Actions | 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | FTX 359 | Target : All - Presented by the Career and Professional Development Centre
Mar. 19 | Career Connections : The Many Faces of Law| 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Ottawa Conference and Events Center | Bilingual Event | Registration is requiredPresented by the Career and Professional Development Centre
Mar. 20 | Drop-in Community Beading Circle | 8:30 – 11:20 a.m. | FTX 413 | Drop-in
Mar. 20 | Canada Under Influence?| 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Hybrid | DMS 4101 | Virtual | Bilingual Event | Registration required through The Source
Mar. 20 | Bar Exam Crackers – Ontario Bar Exam Preparation Session| 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Virtual | Target: 3L/4th  – Presented by Bar Exam Crackers in collaboration with the Career and Professional Development Centre 

Please visit the webpage for more Upcoming Events.

Important dates and deadlines

Mar. 17 - 28 | Teaching course and evaluations 
Mar. 19 | Career Connections 
Mar. 27 | Course Fair for English course
Apr. 8 | Study Break 
Apr. 18 - 21 | Easter Break

Please visit the webpage for more Important dates and deadlines.

Opportunities

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