As a law school accredited by the Canadian Federation of Law Societies, the Common Law Section of the Faculty of Law offers a full range of courses in public law, private law, litigation and dispute resolution, aboriginal law, international law and human rights, technology law, and environmental law, all with numerous opportunities for experiential learning.
This program is offered in English and in French.
The Common Law Section offers a special double degree program under which selected civil law graduates, through subsequent studies, may be awarded the JD degree. Applicants apply to the one-year program after completing a civil law degree or during the third year of their civil law studies.
The number of places in this program is limited. Priority is given to applicants who have completed their civil law studies at the University of Ottawa, though a number of spaces are reserved for out of province students. Applicants are evaluated primarily on academic performance in the LLL program. By way of reference, in the past few years, successful applicants have had on average a 6.0 (or "B") GPA. Applicants may use a personal statement to highlight discrepancies in their transcripts which resulted from circumstances beyond their control.
Active knowledge of French and English is necessary. Students must therefore be able to read and express themselves in both official languages, otherwise they may encounter difficulties.
Requirements for this program have been modified. Please consult the 2019-2020 calendars for the previous requirements.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory courses 1 | ||
| CML 3376 | Professional Responsibility | 3 Units |
| CML 4341 | Contracts | 3 Units |
| CML 4342 | Torts | 3 Units |
| CML 4347 | Property | 3 Units |
| CML 4144 | Civil Procedure I | 3 Units |
| A course of a minimum of 3 Units, from those listed below, that meets the oral advocacy requirement: 2, 3 | 3 Units | |
| Appellate Advocacy | ||
| Mediation Theory and Practice | ||
| Alternative Dispute Resolution Processes | ||
| Studies in Oral Advocacy | ||
| Moot Court Competition | ||
| Gale Cup Moot | ||
| National Aboriginal Law Moot: Kawaskimhon "Speaking With Knowledge | ||
| Wilson Moot Competition | ||
| Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Competition | ||
| Willms and Shier Environmental Law Moot | ||
| WTO/ELSA WTO Law Moot | ||
| Canadian Corporate/Securities | ||
| Intellectual Property Advocacy | ||
| Trial Advocacy | ||
| Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy | ||
| Arnup Cup | ||
| Eco-Justice Environmental Law Clinic | ||
| Labour Law II | ||
| Introductory Legal Aid Clinic Course | ||
| Interviewing and Counselling | ||
| Negotiation | ||
| Corporate Immigration Advocacy | ||
| Collaborative Family Law Practice | ||
| International Trade and Investment Law Practicum | ||
| Intellectual Property Litigation | ||
| Dispute Resolution in Family Law | ||
| Clinical Legal Aid II | ||
| Clinical Legal Aid III | ||
| Philip C. Jessup International Moot | ||
| Laskin Moot Court | ||
| Dispute Resolution Practicum | ||
| Advanced Refugee Law | ||
| Advocacy Before International Tribunals | ||
| Optional courses | ||
| 12 optional course units in English or French in common law (CML) 4 | 12 Units | |
| Total: | 30 Units | |
Note(s)
- 1
The Faculty may offer these mandatory courses in English or in French.
- 2
Students who have already completed an oral advocacy course or who have already participated in a competitive moot as part of their studies in civil law (final eligibility determination to be made by the National Program Director) will be deemed to have met the oral advocacy requirement, will not have to register for a course contained in this list, and will therefore have to complete 15 Units of optional courses.
- 3
These courses may not all be offered every year. Also, some of these courses are worth more than 3 Units, which would reduce the number of optional credits to be completed. French equivalent courses are also acceptable.
- 4
Among the 12 optional course units (or 15 optional course units for students who have already met the oral advocacy requirement), students must take a course in English or French during the January intensive session.
The 30 units must not include courses taken by the student before entering the program or courses that are substantially the same as courses taken by the student before entering the program.
Students who have taken a required course before entering the program may not repeat that course as part of their minimum 30 units.
Students who have previously completed courses at the Common Law Section, including the required courses of the National Program before being admitted to the program must replace these courses with other electives to meet the minimum requirement of 30 units.
Students must satisfy the major-paper requirement of the Common Law Section.
A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher is required for the success of the program.
Students cannot enroll simultaneously in the National Program and any other full-time program such as the Barreau du Québec.
In the National Program, students cannot register:
- in internships sponsored by the Faculty or individually proposed, unless they provide evidence of a common law content that the Director of the National Program would judge acceptable;
- in courses where the civil law content is too high, in the view of the Director of the National Program.