The Faculty identified seven core values, in no particular order: (1) Open and Critical Inquiry; (2) Social Justice; (3) Reconciliation; (4) Health and Wellness; (5) Ethics and Professionalism; (6) Equity and Diversity; and (7) Bilingualism.  Some of the values have been part of the Faculty’s identity for decades, whereas others such as Reconciliation and Health and Wellness are more recent.  “Our values are the lens through which should evaluate everything we do,” explained Dean Dodek.

The Strategic Plan identifies six Strategic Goals: (1) The Student Experience;(2) Teaching Excellence; (3) Reconciliation, Indigenization and Decolonization; (4) Research Excellence; (5) Common Law Training in French; and (6) Community.  Priority projects are identified under each goal.  For example, the first priority under the Student Experience is to improve support for student wellness.   Other projects relating to the Student Experience include expanding experiential learning, supporting and enhancing the Faculty’s acclaimed Legal Writing Academy and reviewing the current grading scheme.  Teaching Excellence focusses on faculty recruitment and renewal, responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)’s Calls to Action, peer mentorship for faculty and expanding the graduate program (a separate strategic planning process is underway for the Faculty’s Graduate Program which is a joint program with the Faculty of Civil Law).   

In accordance with the Faculty’s commitment to implement the recommendations of the TRC, Reconciliation, Indigenization and Decolonization identifies projects which will impact the student experience, teaching, research and community such as supporting the critical role of the Indigenous Learner Advocate in protecting and promoting the well-being of Common Law students, developing an Indigenous Space, implementing an Indigenous Talent Recruitment Plan and creating an Indigenous Nationhood, Governance and Laws Institute.  The strategic goal of Research Excellence will help the Faculty build on the successes of the past decade and a half which has made the Common Law Section a research powerhouse.   The projects will focus on supporting researchers through creating a Research Advisory Board.

The emphasis on Common Law Training in French reflects the historic mission of the Faculty not just to provide bilingual training in Common Law, but also to promote access to justice for the Francophone population in Ontario and outside of Quebec.  Some priority projects include seeking to expand the number of internships in French in government, law firms and other organizations in the National Capital Region and elsewhere, provide support for research and knowledge mobilization in French and continue to support the development of continuing learning education in French in common law provinces through pratiquO.

Finally, the Strategic Plan identifies “Community” as a Strategic Goal, reflecting the established culture of community engagement within the Common Law Section.   Community has four elements: Alumni Engagement, Championing and Supporting our Staff, Public Policy Engagement and Working with the Legal and Broader Community.   For Public Policy Engagement, the plan commits the Faculty to take a leadership role on public policy issues and expand student internship opportunities in order to support engagement by students and faculty members in the development of public policy at the international, national, provincial and municipal level.   The Faculty will also seek to expand partnerships with external organizations including Parliament, legislatures, Justice Canada, the County of Carleton Law Association, l'Association des juristes d’expression française (AJEFO), the Ontario Bar Association, the Indigenous Bar Association, law firms, public agencies, Indigenous communities, organizations and agencies and the judiciary.

Adam Dodek, LSM
Dean, Faculty of Law, Common Law Section
uOttawa