Word from the Dean

Kristen Boon

Welcome to the beginning of a new academic year.   

A great law school is shaped by its people and by the kind of community they create together.

At the Common Law Section, you will study law in English and French, learn from leading researchers and practitioners, and find opportunities to grow through clinics, moots, internships, research, and community engagement. You will be encouraged to approach complex problems with curiosity, creativity and an open mind.

You will also be asked to consider the responsibilities that accompany a legal education: to act with integrity, advance access to justice, serve the public, and help build a more equitable society. This includes listening to and learning from Indigenous legal traditions, embracing innovation and the responsible use of technology, and ensuring that different experiences and perspectives are welcomed within our community.

None of this work happens alone. Law school is demanding – we prioritize our community and wellbeing. 

You have chosen a law school that will prepare you for a rapidly changing profession. We are very glad you are here, and I look forward to seeing what you will contribute and what will excite you in the years ahead.

Upcoming Events

September 15, 2026 | Career Development Centre - PBSC Launch Event
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | FTX 351 | Bilingual Events | Registration in The Source

September 16, 2026 | Shirley E. Greenberg Chair for Women and the Law Speaker Series  - Ahluwalia v Ahluwalia: The Making of the Tort of Intimate Partner Violence
11:30 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. | Tabaret Hall - Huguette Labelle (TBT112) | Event in English

September 17, 2026 | Career Development Centre - Articling Job Search Strategy for Students in their Final Year
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | FTX 351 | Bilingual Events | Registration in The Source

September 18, 2026 | Career Development Centre - 3L Career Boost
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | FTX 230 | Bilingual Events | Drop-In

September 22, 2026 | Career Development Centre - 1L Professionalism in Practice: Every Communication Builds Your Reputation
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | FTX 351 | English Event | Registration in The Source

September 22, 2026 | The Centre for Law, Technology and Society - Jeux vidéo sans support : Regards croisés sur les droits des joueuses et joueurs
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | hybrid | Event in French | Registration Required

September 23, 2026 | Career Development Centre - Ottawa IP Recruitment: The Employer Perspective
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | FTX 147 | Bilingual Event | Registration in The Source

September 24, 2026 | Career Development Centre - JurisMentor & CLCMP Info Session
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | FTX 351 | Bilingual Event | Registration in The Source

September 24, 2026 | Public Law Centre - Supreme Court Cases to Watch
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | FTX 302 | Bilingual event | Registration Required

September 28, 2026 | The Centre for Law, Technology and Society - AI and the Future of the Legal Profession
11:30 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. | FTX 302 | English Event | Registration Required

Please visit the webpage for more Upcoming Events.

Important academic dates and deadlines

  • Sept. 9 to dec. 9 | Course period
  • Sept. 18 | 1L students eligible for the Access/Equity tutorials may fill out the online application form as of September 18
  • Sept. 22 | Last day to enroll and to change course selection for the Fall term
  • Sept. 22 | Last day to submit a request to register for a  Directed Research Project for the Fall term
  • Sept. 22 | Last day to submit an exemption request for the U-Pass in your U-Pass portal
  • Sept. 30 | Last day to opt-out of health/dental insurance.
  • Oct. 2 | Last day to pay Fall term tuition fees without late fees.
  • Oct. 9 | Last day to submit a registration form for the Major Paper Requirement for a Fall term course 
  • Oct. 25-31 | Reading Week for the Common Law Section 
  • Nov. 17 | Career Connections Fall 2026

     Please visit the webpage for more Important dates and deadlines.

Opportunities

Academic

News

Kristen Boon
Dean

A message from Dean Boon

Dear community,
Professors Michael Geist and Amy Salyzyn, logo of Canadian Lawyer
Awards and recognition

Two Common Law professors named among Canada’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers

Professors Michael Geist and Amy Salyzyn have both been named to Canadian Lawyer’s “2026 Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada,” recognizing their…
Professor Chidi Oguamanam inset against background of UNESCO building
Technology Law, Ethics and Policy

Professor Chidi Oguamanam appointed to UNESCO World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology

Professor Chidi Oguamanam has been appointed to UNESCO’s World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST), where he will…

Quick Links

Contact us

Faculty of Law - Common Law Section

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

Fax: 613-562-5124