University of Toronto Faculty of Law

Professor Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii), who is Sanderson is Beaver Clan from the Opaskwayak Cree Nation and holds the Prichard Wilson Chair in Law & Public Policy at the Faculty of Law, will receive an honorary doctorate from Concordia University.

The university awards honorary doctorates recognizing the exemplary contributions of distinguished individuals. Sanderson is recognized for his expertise and leadership in Indigenous and Aboriginal law.

Read more: https://www.law.utoronto.ca/news/douglas-sanderson-receive-honorary-doctorate-concordia-university

Pro Bono Students Canada's 2nd Annual Report is now available. Discover how PBSC is enhancing access to justice through pro bono services across Canada.

ANNUAL REPORT | PBSC ANNUAL REPORT https://www.probonostudents.ca/annual-report PBSC

Caeleb ‘Rae’ Goff (JD 2024) has been awarded the Royal Society of Canada's Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella Prize for 2024.

The RSC awards 24 prizes to a graduating student in each of Canada’s law schools, who will significantly impact equity and social justice in Canada or globally. Each recipient receives $1,000.

Read more: https://uoft.me/abella-prize-2024

Professor Mayo Moran, a leader in advancing justice and equality on local and global levels, has been named the inaugural Irving and Rosalie Abella Chair in Justice and Equality at the Faculty of Law.

Read more: https://uoft.me/abella-chairholder

For the third consecutive year, the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society (SRI) opened its doors to a select group of JD students through its summer research assistant program.

Shedding some light on the SRI summer research assistant program — Schwartz Reisman Institute For the third consecutive year, the Schwartz Reisman Institute of Technology and Society opened its doors to a select group of Juris Doctor (JD) students through its summer Research Assistant (RA) program.

Daniel B. Jolic (JD 2025) was recently honoured with the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers’ J. Stephen Tatrallyay Memorial Award for his paper, "Bridging the Gap: An Overview of the Construction Law Framework for Building First Nations Infrastructure and the Pathway to Improving It".

His paper was published in the 2024 edition of the Journal of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers and is now available on WestLaw (2024 J. Can. C. Construction Law. 89).

Read more: https://uoft.me/CCCL-award

Professor Jim Phillips has been named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada – a recognition awarded to the country’s most distinguished scholars, artists and scientists.

https://www.law.utoronto.ca/news/jim-phillips-named-fellow-royal-society-canada

A first-of-its-kind gift made by Terry Burgoyne (LLB 1981), will endow new academic awards recognizing student achievement in U of T’s JD program.

The Burgoyne Award of Excellence will be the faculty’s largest recognition program, awarded to JD students across all three years, as nominated by their professors for scholarly excellence. Up to twenty inaugural awardees, each receiving a $1,000 prize, will be named later this academic year.

A mentor to U of T students for many years, Burgoyne, a Partner and General Counsel Emeritus with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, says his gift is a meaningful way to stay engaged with the law school and student awardees while bolstering the faculty’s academic prizes.

“There’s a lot of depth to the law students at U of T because of its high admission standards,” says Burgoyne, himself a Dean’s list student over all three years. “Professors have been looking for ways to help build résumés for their students and distinguish a student who did the best in a particular class.”

Read more: https://uoft.me/burgoyne-award
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Supplied photo by Calvin Thomas courtesy of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

On August 29, 2024, the Hon. Arif Virani (LLB 1998), Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced the appointment of Justice Jasminka Kalajdzic (LLB 1995, LLM 2009) and Justice Jane O. Dietrich (LLB 2003) to the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario.

Justice Kalajdzic was born and raised in Windsor. She obtained a BA in English Literature and Lettres Françaises from the University of Ottawa in 1992, and her LLB and LLM from in 1995 and 2009, respectively. She was admitted to the Law Society of Ontario in 1997.

Justice Dietrich received her law degree from in 2003 after obtaining her Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology degree from the University of Waterloo in 1998. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2004.

Read the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announcement:

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces judicial appointments in the province of Ontario The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments under the judicial application process established in 2016.

Nominations for the 2024 Alumni Awards are closing this Saturday, August 31st!

The Distinguished Alumni Award has been presented every other year since 1982 by the Faculty of Law to a graduate in recognition of their extraordinary leadership and lifelong commitment to the community.

The Wilson-Prichard Award honours a recent graduate of the Faculty of Law (5-15 years since graduation) who demonstrates the highest standards of professional integrity, excellence and leadership, and who has made a significant contribution to the legal profession and/or community through their public interest work, pro bono activities and/or community service.

The 2024 Alumni Awardees will be celebrated in the coming academic year.

Submit your nomination now:

Call for Nominations: 2024 Alumni Awards | University of Toronto Faculty of Law The nomination period for the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Ann Wilson and Robert Prichard Award for Community and Professional Service are now open!

Can't make it back to campus for the 75th anniversary celebration? Join us virtually! 💻

Inspired by the beloved Law Follies tradition, our special anniversary event will feature remarkable performances by notable guests including Dean Jutta Brunnée, Professor Martin Friedland (LLB 1958), the Honourable Frank Iacobucci and more!

📅 September 14, 2024, 6PM
🎟️ https://cvent.me/9qeQ5L

Generous donations from alumni and friends will endow a new chair in justice and equality in honour of the lifetime contributions of retired Supreme Court of Canada Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella (BA 1967 UC, LLB 1970, Hon. LLD 1990) and her late husband, Canadian historian Irving Abella (BA 1963 UC, MA 1964, PhD 1969, Hon. LLD 2014).

Read more: https://uoft.me/chair-in-justice-and-equality

Photo by Dave Chan

Last fall, a special conference was held to recognize the extraordinary scholarship of Professor Karen Knop (1960-2022).

The papers presented at Private Citizen of the World are now available in a supplement of the University of Toronto Law Journal (Vol. 74, No. Supplement 1, 2024). Knop will be remembered as one of the journal’s transformational editors.

https://ow.ly/f8Gy50SYrAK

Inspired by the beloved Law Follies tradition, our special anniversary event will feature remarkable performances by notable guests including Dean Jutta Brunnée, Professor Martin Friedland (LLB 1958), the Honourable Frank Iacobucci and more!

Following the performances, we welcome guests back to for a community wide reception.

Don't miss out on this special anniversary event!

📅 September 14, 2024
⏲️ 6:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
🎟️ https://cvent.me/9qeQ5L

Emotions play a key role in shaping people’s views on renewable energy, according to a new University of Toronto Faculty of Law study ➡️ uoft.me/aHh

Graduate alumnus Robert Leckey (SJD 2006), professor, Samuel Gale Chair and dean of McGill University's Faculty of Law, has received the 2024 Hero Award presented by the Sexual and Gender Diversity Alliance Section of the Canadian Bar Association.

Robert Leckey recognized by Canadian Bar Association Robert Leckey, a doctoral graduate of the University of Toronto's Faculty of Law, has received the 2024 Hero Award presented by the Sexual and Gender Diversity Alliance Section of the Canadian Bar Association.

John Borrows, professor and inaugural Loveland Chair in Indigenous Law, and David Walders, an adjunct professor, receive TRC Teaching Awards.

John Borrows and David Walders receive TRC Teaching Awards John Borrows, professor and inaugural Loveland Chair in Indigenous Law at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law, and David Walders, an adjunct professor at the faculty, have received TRC Teaching Awards from the Students’ Law Society and the Indigenous Law Students’ Association.

On July 25, 2024, Global Affairs Canada announced the Honourable Robert K. Rae ( LLB 1977), Canada’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, has been elected president of the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for a 1-year term.

As 1 of the UN’s 6 main bodies, ECOSOC is responsible for coordinating the work of the UN international development system. It serves as the central forum for engaging with civil society, advancing work on international economic and social issues and formulating policy recommendations.

Read the Global Affairs Canada announcement: https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2024/07/bob-rae-canadas-ambassador-to-the-un-elected-president-of-uns-economic-and-social-council.html

Bob Rae, Canada’s Ambassador to the UN, elected president of UN’s Economic and Social Council - Canada.ca Bob Rae, Canada’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, has been elected president of the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for a 1-year term.

On July 24, 2024, the Hon. Arif Virani (LLB 1998), Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced the appointment of graduate, Justice Renee M. Pomerance (LLB 1987) to Judge of the Court of Appeal for Ontario in Toronto.

Justice Pomerance received a Bachelor of Science in 1984 from the University of Toronto Faculty of Arts & Science and a Bachelor of Laws in 1987 from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. She was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1989.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces judicial appointments in the province of Ontario The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments under the judicial application process established in 2016.

Calling all alumni 📣

As we approach the 75th anniversary of the modern law school, we invite you to share your favourite memories and photos from your time at U of T Law. Whether you graduated recently or decades ago, we want to hear from you!

Your submissions will be shared with our community throughout the academic year on our website, social media accounts and during events.

Visit my.alumni.utoronto.ca/law75 to complete your submission.

Looking for the perfect summer read? Check out the summer reading list: https://ow.ly/Q7Ag50SHmSa

Thank you to our students, faculty, staff and alumni who submitted recommendations!

The Faculty of Law invites applications from outstanding scholars for full-time tenure stream positions. There are currently four opportunities available and the deadline to apply is September 16, 2024.

For details, visit: https://www.law.utoronto.ca/faculty-staff/academic-employment

Professor Malcolm Thorburn and doctoral candidate Kate Mitchell have been recognized by the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation for their research excellence.

Malcolm Thorburn and Kate Mitchell recognized by Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Professor Malcolm Thorburn and doctoral candidate Kate Mitchell of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law have been recognized by the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation for their research excellence.

Professor Martha Shaffer has been recognized with the Alan Mewett Award for Excellence in Teaching for the second time in four years.

Martha Shaffer receives Mewett Teaching Award Martha Shaffer, a professor in the Faculty of Law, has been recognized with the Alan Mewett Award for Excellence in Teaching for the second time in four years. The annual award is given to a faculty member who exhibits excellence in teaching – as selected by members of the graduating class – at ...

Introducing 2024 R. Douglas Elliott Fellow— Katie Bray Kingissepp (JD 2025)!

Established by the LGBT Purge Fund in 2021 and named in honour of renowned alumnus R. Douglas Elliott (LLB 1982), the fellowship supports a student’s work with public interest-oriented LGBTQ+ organizations, or research on antidiscrimination class actions more broadly.

Katie’s summer placement has been with Egale Canada — a national leading organization for 2SLGBTQI people and issues.

“One of the most meaningful aspects of this position has been the opportunity to participate in meetings regarding Egale's strategic impact litigation. I have been immersed in the work it takes to launch a constitutional challenge: from gathering witnesses and experts, to crafting arguments and filing facta. Though our world is often plagued by injustice, working at Egale has been an empowering experience, reminding me of my own power to effect positive change," says Bray Kingissepp.

Bray Kingissepp is the third student to undertake the R. Douglas Elliott fellowship. Alumnus Ben Kitching (JD 2024) and Jarren Fefer (JD 2025) were named Elliott fellows in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Read more: https://www.law.utoronto.ca/news/2024-r-douglas-elliot-fellow-katie-bray-kingissepp

Call for Nominations 📣

The nomination period for both the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award and the Ann Wilson and Robert Prichard Award for Community and Professional Service is now open!

The Distinguished Alumni Award has been presented every other year since 1982 by the Faculty of Law to a graduate in recognition of their extraordinary leadership and lifelong commitment to the community.

The Wilson-Prichard Award honours a recent graduate of the Faculty of Law (5-15 years since graduation) who demonstrates the highest standards of professional integrity, excellence and leadership, and who has made a significant contribution to the legal profession and/or community through their public interest work, pro bono activities and/or community service.

Nominations are due by 11:59 p.m. on August 31, 2024.

Nominate your fellow alumni today: https://www.law.utoronto.ca/news/call-nominations-2024-alumni-awards

Congratulations Class of 2024! We are so proud of you! 🎓

Next Tuesday, join us for a thought-provoking panel discussion exploring the complex ethical terrain of medical experimentation, inspired by the groundbreaking insights from Professor Carl Elliott's recent work, "The Occasional Human Sacrifice: Medical Experimentation and the Price of Saying No."

Beginning with the public health worker who exposed the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and ending with the four physicians who in 2016 blew the whistle on lethal synthetic trachea transplants at the Karolinska Institute, this work tells the extraordinary stories of insiders who spoke out against such abuses, and often paid a terrible price for doing the right thing.

Our distinguished panel features renowned experts in the field, each bringing a unique perspective to the table:

James Turk, Director, Centre of Free Expression, Toronto Metropolitan University

Doris Rajan, Director of Social Development, and Kelly Johnson, Indigenous front-line worker, Institute for Research and Development on Inclusion and Society

Nancy Olivieri, Professor, Pediatrics, Medicine and Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto

Trudo Lemmens, Scholl Chair in Health Law and Policy, University of Toronto Faculty of Law

Register now to reserve your spot: https://t.co/Z9Um3UhMwO

📅 SAVE THE DATE 📅

We’re kicking off the 75th Anniversary of the modern law school with an evening of laughter and song!

On September 14, 2024, join us at the Isabel Bader Theatre, as we welcome alumni, faculty, and past Deans to the Law Follies stage.

You don’t want to miss this special edition of Law Follies with post-event reception at the Jackman Law Building.

Limited early-bird tickets on sale starting July 1, 2024.