#1 Decolonizing Legal Learning: Moving forward on Call to Action 28
In 2007, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was established to document the experiences of those affected by the terrible legacy of Canada’s residential schools system. In an effort to engage and educate the Canadian public, the TRC released its final report in 2015 with 94 “calls to action” – recommendations designed to facilitate reconciliation between Canadians and Indigenous Peoples.
Among the calls to action is a specific recommendation for law schools – Call to Action 28– which urges Canada’s faculties of law to provide students with a course on Indigenous people and the law. Law schools are asked to cover the history and impact of the residential schools system, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the history of Indigenous rights and treaties, Indigenous law and legal traditions, and Indigenous-Crown relations. Call to Action 28 also calls for skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights and anti-racism.
Recognizing the unique role that lawyers have to play in meaningful reconciliation, the Common Law Section is choosing to be part of the problem-solving in a variety of ways, including:
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the establishment of mandatory course modules based around the Seven Sacred Teachings, common to many Anishinaabe nations;
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the creation of an Indigenous work of art in the form of a large, almost floor-to-ceiling, mural depicting two spirited beings under water; and
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nurturing a community approach to water stewardship to enhance effective, equitable Indigenous co-governance of water resources; and more.
#2. Student leadership unify the community by focussing on our common humanity
In response to the impact that the ongoing violence in the Middle East is having on the law school community, leaders from the Muslim Law Students Association (MLSA) and the Jewish Law Students Association (JLSA) released a joint statement about their shared commitment to fostering an inclusive community where every voice is valued, every individual respected, and every soul welcomed.
The letter, signed by MLSA Co-Presidents Hasan Ferdous, Hanaa Ameer, and JLSA President Shayna Horvath, states “We want to focus on what unites us, not what divides us, and that is our common humanity…. We recognize that these rising tensions and divisions are driving fear and anxiety…With racism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia rising, we simply will not be bystanders in the face of hate.”
#3. uOttawa law shines in THE world rankings
The University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law has been ranked 58th globally and 4th in Canada on the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings for law.
This is the second straight year that uOttawa’s law programs have been ranked in the top 100, placing the law school amongst the world’s highest performing institutions.
#4. Close Collaboration with the Supreme Court of Canada
“Here at Fauteux, we like to brag that one of the things that makes us unique as a law school is our closeness to the Supreme Court of Canada,” says Kristen Boon, the Susan & Perry Dellelce Dean of the Common Law Section.
This is not only a boast about our geographic proximity, but more importantly it’s a proud declaration of the close working relationship we have with the country’s highest court and the impact it has on the experiential learning opportunities at the University of Ottawa. This unmatched experience helps to solidify uOttawa Law’s reputation and its favorable rankings amongst law schools in Canada and the world.
In 2023, Common Law students had numerous opportunities to learn from and interact with the judges of the Supreme Court of Canada, including a Q&A session with Justice Mahmud Jamal, a community beading circle and Fireside chat with Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin, a discussion with Justice Malcolm Rowe on the importance of method in judging, the annual Welcome Reception for first-year students on the lawn of the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as class tours of the Court and personal visits with the judges.
Further strengthening our relationship with the country’s highest court, two of our graduating students were offered clerkships in 2024-2025. Malorie Kanaan and Émilie Hogue were both offered positions as law clerks on the team of Justice O’Bonsawin.
#5. A celebration of the first Indigenous Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
The Faculty of Law was thrilled to gather in November for the long-awaited Welcome Ceremony honoring Justice Michelle O'Bonsawin, who made history as the first Indigenous person appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada in September 2022.
The Faculty has a rich tradition of organizing similar ceremonies for every justice appointed since 2004, underscoring the close ties between the Civil and Common Law Sections and the Supreme Court of Canada. However, this celebration held extra significance as Justice O'Bonsawin is an alum of the Faculty, having earned her LLB in 1998 and a doctorate in law in 2022.
#6. Three alumni inducted to the Common Law Honour Society
Chancellor Claudette Commanda, Dean Kristen Boon, Vice-Dean David Wiseman, faculty members, Honour Society members and student leaders, along with special guest former Supreme Court Justice Rosalie Abella, gathered to celebrate the tremendous accomplishments and careers of the three Common Law Alumni who were selected as the 2023 Honours Society Inductees:
- The Honourable Colin McKinnon, K.C. LLB ’68
- The Honourable Jodie-Lynn Waddilove LLB ’03
- Jesse McCormick LLB ’06
#7. Chantal Bernier becomes the Common Law Section's first Privacy Practitioner-in-Residence
Former Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Chantal Bernier, has stepped into the inaugural position of Privacy Practitioner-in-Residence for the Common Law Section.
Bernier is a prominent Canadian privacy expert and lawyer and a respected authority on the intersection of technology, law, and policy. With over 20 years experience in the field of privacy and cybersecurity, she says that she was initially drawn to law because of her “profound personal commitment to human rights.”
In her new role as Privacy Practitioner-in-Residence, Bernier will be sharing her knowledge and insights with students, faculty, and the broader community.
#8. Professor Alain Roussy Receives AJEFO Order of Merit
Professor Alain Roussy has been awarded the AJEFO Order of Merit for his contribution to access to justice in French in Ontario and to the improvement of legal services in French for the Franco-Ontarian community.
The Order of Merit of the Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Ontario is awarded each year to one or two people to highlight their contributions to the promotion of legal services in French, the support they have given to the implementation and development of common law in French, as well as their dedication to the cause within associations and organizations.
Professor Roussy is distinguished by his teachings, his research and his dedication to the Francophone community. As the former director of pratiquO, a continuing professional education centre created at the Faculty of Law in 2017, he devoted his energy to training French-speaking lawyers, creating space for a greater number of lawyers to offer quality legal services in French. Over the years, he has also sat on various committees related to access to justice and the Francophonie. In short, the Franco-Ontarian legal community benefited greatly from pratiquO and Professor Roussy's tireless leadership.
#9. New Society Shoots for the Stars
A new group at Fauteux is aiming to go where no club has ever gone – space.
The University of Ottawa Space Law Society (SLS) was founded earlier this year by a group of space enthusiasts and now is an official group with the AÉCLSS and has about 50 members.
The Society has three main aims: to contribute to the field of space law and policy, both domestically and internationally; create and promote practical opportunities for students with an interest in space law; serve and engage with community, industry, and government.
Looking to the horizon, the Society hopes to organize a team for the international Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot, a space law moot competition organised by the International Institute of Space Law.
#10. Mooting Excellence
Here at Fauteux, a lot of learning takes place outside of the classroom! We are known nationally for our mooting programs. It is in our DNA!
The various uOttawa mooting teams experienced tremendous success in 2023. To list only a few of the impressive results of various uOttawa teams at mooting competitions:
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The uOttawa team won the John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition, a simulated hearing under the rules of the World Trade Organization dispute settlement system, involving exchanges of written submissions and adversarial hearings before panelists on international trade law issues. The competition is structured into six regional rounds all over the world, with the global top 24 teams qualifying for the Final Oral Round in Geneva, Switzerland. This is the first time uOttawa and a Canadian university has won the John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition since its inception 21 years ago;
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The uOttawa team won the prestigious Oxford International Intellectual Property Moot; and
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The uOttawa team finished in first place at the Canadian National Negotiation Competition.
The Common Law Section is also proud to host an annual VR moot competition. The LeClair x uOttawa Metaverse Moot is the first simulated trial in Canada, and possibly the world, to be held entirely in a virtual reality (VR) courtroom.
As we wrap up the year, these stories collectively reflect the Faculty of Law's commitment to excellence, diversity, and innovation in legal education. We look forward to building on these successes in the years to come, shaping the future of legal scholarship and practice.