Schulich School of Law

Schulich School of Law
Motto Latin: Ora et Labora (Pray and work)
Established 1883
Type Public Law School
Religious affiliation non-denominational
Chancellor Richard Goldbloom
President Tom Traves
Dean Kim Brooks
Students 480 (approx.)
Location Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Campus Urban
Colours           black & gold
Nickname Dal Law
Affiliations AUCC, IAU, ACU, CIS, CUSID, AUS
Website law.dal.ca

The Schulich School of Law is part of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Formerly called Dalhousie Law School, it was established in 1883, making it the oldest university-affiliated common law school in the Commonwealth. It is the primary law school in Atlantic Canada and attracts students from all parts of Canada. The law school is a member of the North American Consortium on Legal Education. The school was renamed the Schulich School of Law in October 2009.[1]

Contents

Name

On September 30, 2009, Dalhousie University President Tom Traves and Dean Phillip Saunders announced that philanthropist Seymour Schulich presented a $20 million gift designated entirely for the Faculty of Law. In honour and recognition of Schulich's support, the Faculty of Law was renamed the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University. The greatest portion of the donation will create 41 new scholarships, each averaging $12,000.[2]

Facility

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, including the construction of a new library addition after a fire in 1985 destroyed the top floor of the building.[3] The most recent refurbishment took place in 2004.

Degrees offered

Students attending the Schulich School of Law may undertake a regular Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or elect to concentrate their J.D. 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: J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.P.A. (Master of Public Administration), J.D./M.L.I.S. (Master of Library and Information Studies), and J.D./M.H.A. (Master of Health 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 Juris Doctor Programme are eligible to proceed to bar admission and articling program throughout the country.

Institutes and legal aid service

The law school is the home of the Health Law Institute [1], Law and Technology Institute [2], and the Marine & Environmental Law Institute [3].

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.

The law school is also the home of the Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies, a student-run academic publication of student writings. It was founded in 1991 and publishes on an annual basis.

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 the Schulich School of Law 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. The last of this tradition is proudly displayed in the Weldon Law building student lounge with the "Homeless Class of 2005." 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 at "The Beer Market" at the Lower Deck, also known as the Middle Deck, and the annual Halloween party which attracts law students and other faculties. Efforts to acquire a new home for Domus Legis continue along with Alumni support. 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 Die."

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

The Weldon Times

The Weldon Times is a law student run newspaper.

Notable alumni

See also

References

External links