Dictum - 2025-03-17 (EN) | Faculty of Law

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.

Looking ahead

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

See the Mois de la Francophonie webpage for more events that celebrate French language and to read Francophonie-centered articles.

Upcoming Events

Mar. 26 | Fasken Resume and Interview Preparation Workshop | 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | FTX 147 | Target: 1L – Presented by Fasken (Toronto) in collaboration with the Career and Professional Development Centre

Please visit the webpage for more Upcoming Events.

Important dates and deadlines

Please visit the webpage for more Important dates and deadlines.

Opportunities

The Pol Comm Tech Lab is hiring a team of Research Assistants to help collect and analyze social media content during the Canadian Federal Election, which we expect to run through April and early May. Under the supervision of Associate Professor Elizabeth Dubois, students will be trained to collect social media data and will assist in the collaborative analysis of the content collected.

This role will require successful candidates to be available for both in-person on campus and Zoom working sessions 2-4 times per week starting as soon as possible and lasting until the end of the first week of May. The total number of hours is 20-30 (paid at uOttawa standard RA rates).

Requirements for this position are:

Current student at the University of Ottawa, ideally in related fields such as Communication, Political Science, Journalism or Law. Others will be considered if they demonstrate other relevant experience or interest.
Demonstrated interest in Canadian federal politics and/or journalism in Canada
Past experience with content analysis or discourse analysis. Please indicate any course work or research projects you conducted using these methods.
Past experience with social media data collection an asset
Bilingualism considered an asset

How to apply:

Send a one page cover letter, CV and a copy of your unofficial transcript to [email protected] with the subject line: RA application, Election Project. Your one page cover letter should outline how you meet the requirements of the program and explicitly state your level of proficiency in both English and in French. Feel free to reach out to Dr. Dubois if you have any questions about the role ([email protected]).

About the Pol Comm Tech Lab: The Pol Comm Tech Lab is an interdisciplinary academic research group that explores the intersections of politics, communication, and technology. Our research seeks to shed light on the various ways that digital technologies like social media and artificial intelligence shape political landscapes, journalism, and the media environment.