Dalhousie Law School

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Dalhousie Law School
Established: 1883
Type: Public
Dean: Phillip Saunders
Students: 480 (approx.)
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Campus: Urban
Website: law.dal.ca

The Dalhousie Law School, part of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada was established in 1883, making it the oldest university common law school in the Commonwealth of Nations[citation needed]. In addition to its standing as the primary law school in Atlantic Canada, Dalhousie attracts students from all parts of Canada. The law school is a member of the North American Consortium on Legal Education [[1]].

The school is situated in the Weldon Law Building, on Studley Campus. The building is named after the first Dean of the school, Richard Chapman Weldon. Originally completed in 1966, it has been renovated three times. The most recent refurbishment took place in 2004.

The Weldon Law Building, Dalhousie University
The Weldon Law Building, Dalhousie University

Contents

[edit] Degrees offered

Students attending Dalhousie Law School may undertake a regular Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree or elect to concentrate their LL.B. in one of four specific areas: health law, business law, marine and environmental law, and law and technology. The school is particularly well known for its scholarship in marine and environmental law.

In addition, the school has a number of combined-degree programmes: LL.B./M.B.A., LL.B./M.P.A. (Master of Public Administration), LL.B./M.L.I.S. (Master of Library of Library and Information Studies), and LL.B./M.H.S.A. (Master of Health Services Administration).

The law school also offers postgraduate studies which lead to the degrees of Master of Laws (LL.M.) and Doctor in the Science of Law (J.S.D.)

As an accredited law school in Canada, graduates of the Bachelor Programme are eligible to proceed to bar admission and articling program throughout the country.

[edit] Institutes and legal aid service

The law school is the home of the Health Law Institute [2], Law and Technology Institute [3], and the Marine & Environmental Law Institute [4].

The Dalhousie Legal Aid Service provides important legal services to the Halifax Regional Municipalities. It brings together law students, practising lawyers and community actors to serve the less fortunate segment of the community.

[edit] Student life

Domus Legis Society

Law student life at Dalhousie is known for its collegiality and tradition. The student-run Domus Legis Society (better known as Domus Legis) is Canada's oldest social society for law students, and has operated since 1965. It was created by Dalhousie law students “to promote good fellowship among congenial men and women at the Faculty of Law of Dalhousie University; to encourage a high standard of professional work; and to assist by every honourable means the advancement of its members.”

The Domus Legis continues to be run by students of Dalhousie Law School independent of the university administration. It receives some support from alumni, and from Canadian law firms. The society adheres to a constitution and is run by an executive composed of students from the Faculty of Law who are elected annually. Despite its independence, the Domus Legis has close customary ties to faculty, alumni, visiting justices and the Dean, who is given honorary designation as "Member #1."

Over the years, traditions have grown to include the customary signing of the Domus Legis Society's walls by law graduates and visiting dignitaries. While the original building that housed the society was demolished in January 2004, Domus Legis' many traditions live on, including the weekly "Domus Night" which takes place every Thursday, and the annual Halloween party which attracts law students and other faculties.

The name "Domus Legis" derives from Latin, meaning "House of Law".

When the executive was finishing the final cleaning-out of the house in January 2004, the slogan "usque ad mortem bibendum" was re-discovered on the back of the Domus' exterior sign. Derived from Latin, "usque ad mortem bibendum" translates as "Drink Till You Drop."

Domus Legis membership is open to all students of Dalhousie Law School.

The Weldon Times

The Weldon Times is a law student run newspaper administrated by the Dalhousie Law Students’ Society.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] External links