Word from the Dean

Kristen Boon

March is Mois de la Francophonie, a time to celebrate the vitality of the French language and its central place within our Faculty.

Through the Programme de common law en français (PCLF), students have the opportunity to complete a rigorous common law degree entirely in French. The PCLF was created to respond to the needs of Franco-Ontarians for legal education and services in French, while also communities across the country. This year, we were especially proud to have welcomed a record number of first-year JD students into the PCLF, a sign of the program’s strength and impact.

Our commitment extends beyond the JD. The Program de droit canadien (PDC) enables students to earn both a JD and an LLL in three years, preparing them to navigate Canada’s diverse legal traditions.

The Certification in Common Law in French (CCLF), offered in partnership with the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Calgary, expands access to French common law training nationally.

Through the Law Practice Program (LPP), offered entirely in French, graduates complete immersive, practice-based training that reflects the realities of the profession.

Our National Program further broadens horizons, enabling civil law graduates to earn their JD in under a year.

Upcoming Events

March 17, 2026 | RDC Community Reading Circle - Ojibway Heritage, by Basil Johnston
11:30 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.  | FTX 316 | Bilingual Event | Drop-In

March 17, 2026 | Freedom of Expression - Nadine Strossen in conversation with Kristen Boon
11:30 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. | FTX 302 | Event in English | Registration required 

March 18, 2026 | Career Development Centre - Summer Plans: Beyond Structured Recruitment
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | FTX 147 | Bilingual Event | Register in The Source | Target : All

March 19, 2026 | Community Beading Circle
10:00 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. | FTX 316 | Bilingual Event | Drop-in

March 19, 2026 | Social Justice Society: Annual Career Panel for Social Justice Jobs
11:30 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. | FTX 147 | Bilingual Event | Open to all - Registration not required

March 19, 2026 | Conway Professionalism Speaker Series - From Bar Exams to Competencies? Exploring the Future of Lawyer Licensing
11:30 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. | FTX 302 | Event in English | Registration required

March 19, 2026 |Career Development Centre - 2027-2028 Articling Search: The Application Process and The Interview
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | FTX 351 | Bilingual Event | Register in The Source | Target : 2L & 3 of 4L

March 19, 2026 | Career Development Centre - Thrifting Thursdays
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | BRS 435 | Bilingual Event | Drop-In | Target : All

March 19, 2026 | Human Rights Research and Education Centre (HRREC) - Travailler pour les droits de la personne avec Laïla Demirdache
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | FTX 570 | Event in French | Registration required: Snacks provided.

March 20, 2026 | Faculty of Telfer - Book Launch: Keynote by David Geselbracht, Author of Climate Hope: Stories of Action in an Age of Global Crisis 
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | DMS 4101 | Event in English | Registration required

March 21, 2026 | Ottawa Law Review: Emilio Binavince Student Research Colloquium
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | DMS 12102 | Bilingual Event | Registration Required

March 25, 2026 | Career Development Centre - Bar Exams Preparation Panel (English Bar Exams)
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Virtual | English Event | Register in The Source | Target : 3L / 4L

March 25, 2026 | Career Development Centre - Preparing for 2L Structured Recruitment
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | FTX 147 | Bilingual Event | Register in The Source | Target : 1L/2 of 4L

March 26, 2026 | Career Development Centre - Bar Exams Preparation Panel (French Bar Exams)
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Virtual | French Event | Register in The Source | Target : 3L / 4L

March 26, 2026 | Career Development Centre - Thrifting Thursdays at 3PM
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | BRS 435 | Bilingual Event | Drop-In | Target : All

April 1, 2026 | Career Development Centre - Student-Proposed Internship Q&A Session
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | FTX 147 | Bilingual Event | Register in The Source | Target : All

Please visit the webpage for more Upcoming Events.

Important dates and deadlines

  • Feb. 2 – Apr. 15, 2026 | Winter courses
  • Mar. 20, 2026 | Last day to withdraw from a course or an activity (no financial credit)

  • Mar. 26, 2026 | Course Fair for English courses

  • Apr. 3 – Apr. 6, 2026 | Easter break

  • Apr. 3, 2026 | Good Friday, classes cancelled (statutory holiday)

  • Apr. 7, 2026 | Last day to submit an option form (signed by the option coordinator) to the Student Centre

  • Apr. 14, 2026 | Make-up classes for Friday, April 3 (Friday schedule applies, CLAW courses only)

  • Apr. 15, 2026 | Make-up classes for Monday, February 16 (Monday schedule applies, CLAW courses only)

  • Apr. 16, 2026 | CLAW Study Break

     Please visit the webpage for more Important dates and deadlines.

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Faculty of Law - Common Law Section

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

Fax: 613-562-5124