For Professor Singer, the opportunity represents a chance to help shape the future of one of Canada's leading law schools.
"It was an honour to be asked to serve," he says. "I am excited to join our leadership team at an important moment for legal education, and to help carry forward our Faculty’s commitment to training lawyers who will build a better and more inclusive legal system.”
Professor Singer sees the position as an opportunity to put his scholarship and practical experience into action. “I have always been interested in governance, both in the non-profit and corporate sectors. So, this is a really nice way to apply my professional experience and research work to our Faculty’s governance.”
A graduate of Concordia University (BA), McGill University (BCL/LLB, LLM) and Osgoode Hall Law School (LLM), Professor Singer joined the Common Law Section in 2020 after teaching at Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia. Prior to entering academia, Professor Singer articled at the National Judicial Institute, clerked at the Tax Court of Canada, worked in the tax department of a national law firm, and established a legal practice focused on tax law, charity and non-profit law, and trans legal issues. Professor Singer is a member of both the Ontario and Québec bars.
An award-winning teacher and prolific scholar, Professor Singer teaches Taxation and Droit fiscal, Advanced Taxation, Taxation Policy, Business Organizations, and Trans People and the Law, as well as the Professional and Executive Development courses Income Tax 101 for Lawyers and Understanding Charity and Non-Profit Law.
His current research examines taxpayer remedies, charity regulation, and trans legal issues. Recent publications include “Modernizing Non-Profit Law in Canada”, “Critical Tax Perspectives in Canadian Tax Law”, and the forthcoming articles “The Case for Fixing the Unprincipled Residence Exemption” and “From Mistake to Malice: Misgendering in Canadian Legal Proceedings”. Earlier work, “Trans Rights Are Not Just Human Rights: Legal Strategies for Trans Justice”, earned the Canadian Law and Society Association's English Article Prize and was later cited by the Supreme Court of Canada.
While governance often operates behind the scenes, Professor Singer believes it plays a vital role in the life of the Faculty.
"Our university is a bit like a microcosm of society," he explains. "We have these rules that govern us, we have decision-making bodies like Faculty Council, our Senate and Board of Governors, and we are all stakeholders in our uOttawa universe, working to make the university and our Faculty a place that reflects our values."
For a law school, that responsibility carries particular significance. "It's really important that, as lawyers in particular, we get involved in applying and interpreting and making sure that we're following the rules that govern us."
Looking ahead, Professor Singer sees both opportunities and challenges for legal education. As Canada's largest bilingual law school that offers both common law and civil law programs, he believes the University of Ottawa is uniquely positioned to help shape the future of the profession.
"We have a lot to be proud of as arguably the most national law school in Canada," says Professor Singer.
Among the issues facing legal education are technological change, economic uncertainty, and Canada's evolving role on the global stage. Professor Singer points to artificial intelligence as one example of a development that presents both promise and risk.
"It's an exciting time in legal education as we explore how some artificial intelligence can help us, and also a frightening time as we look at how it could harm the legal profession and the integrity of legal education," he says.
Across Professor Singer's diverse areas of scholarship, from tax law and charity law to advocacy for trans communities, runs a common theme: a commitment to helping people understand and navigate complex institutions.
"I do think a lot about people with or without power and how people navigate very complex laws and institutions," he says. Whether dealing with tax disputes, government regulation, or legal processes, many individuals who engage with the legal system find themselves facing rules and structures that can be difficult to understand and access.
That perspective also informs Professor Singer's views on inclusion and the role of legal education. For Professor Singer, law schools play a critical role in ensuring the profession reflects and serves the diversity of Canadian society.
"I think we have a tremendous responsibility as a law school and as legal educators, and it is one that I see our faculty members and administrative staff take very seriously. We're building the future of the legal profession. We want to make sure that our future legal profession reflects the communities it serves, including many underserved populations. As a trans lawyer and law professor, this work is particularly important to me."
As Vice-Dean, Governance, Professor Singer hopes to build on the strong foundation established by predecessor Professor Denis Boivin while continuing to foster a community grounded in fairness, accountability, and respect.
"I hope to continue to support an environment where we prioritize good governance, and where we feel empowered to use our rules and regulations to create the inclusive community that we're looking for."
Professor Singer is optimistic about the future of the Common Law Section and the people who make it thrive.
"We have a tremendous complement of faculty members, staff, students, and alumni," Professor Singer says. "We have an incredible legacy in public service. And for me, just being part of that and keeping the ship running and making sure that work continues is something that I feel really optimistic and lucky to be part of."