About
World-class research. Legendary Maritime charm.
The Schulich School of Law is part of Dalhousie University: a research powerhouse, a member of Canada's U15, and home to 53 Canada Research Chairs (including 3 here at the law school!)
Deep roots
Our history as the first university-based common law school in Canada sets us apart. Since 1883, we've been known for:
- our intellectually ambitious and rigorous approach to the profession of law
- serving as the model for legal education in Canada
- our unique emphasis on public service – now widely known as the "Weldon Tradition of Unselfish Public Service"
> Read about our rich history.
Strong foundation
Our strengths include a number of firsts and accolades:
- Ranked among the world's top 100 law schools in the 2019 Times Higher Education (THE) rankings
- Ranked in the top three Canadian law schools in Corporate Knights' 2011 Knight Schools Survey
- Canada's first clinical law program
- First Canadian law school awarded the prestigious Emil Gumpuert Award by the American College of Trial Lawyers for excellence in trial advocacy training
- Experiential learning through Environmental Law, Health Law, and Public Law placement courses as well as the Dalhousie Legal Aid Service and a Criminal Law Clinic
- Specialized degrees and institutes: Marine & Environmental Law, Health Law & Policy, Law & Technology, Business Law
> Find out more about our unique programs.
Accomplished faculty
Our faculty are internationally respected leaders in academia, practice, and policy-making:
- Distinguished full-time and adjunct faculty bring expert legal, judicial, and legislative experience
- Passionate teachers driven to deliver the best possible legal education bring practical experience, discovery, analysis and interpretation into the classroom
- University Research Professors Professor Richard Devlin and Professor Jocelyn Downie
- Canada Research Chair in Ocean Law & Governance, Dr David VanderZwagg
- Canada Research Chair in Maritime Law and Policy, Professor Aldo Chircop
- Royal Society of Canada Fellows Professor Jocelyn Downie and Professor Richard Devlin
- Fulbright Scholar Professor Jon Penney
- Rhodes Scholar Professor William Lahey
- Trudeau Fellow Professor Jocelyn Downie and Trudeau Scholar Professor Elaine Craig
- 3M National Teaching Fellow Professor Kim Brooks
- Queen's Counsel designations for lawyers Shawna Hoyte and Heather McNeill (Dalhousie Legal Aid Service), and Professors Bruce Archibald, Philip Saunders, Rollie Thompson, Professor Emeritus Wayne MacKay and Professor Emeritus John Yogis
- Member of the Order of Canada: Professor Emeritus Wayne Mackay and Professor Jocelyn Downie
- Canadian Academy of Health Sciences Fellow, Professor Jocelyn Downie
- President's Research Excellence Award - Research Impact, Professor Jocelyn Downie
> Learn more about our distinguished faculty.
Accomplished student body
Our bright, motivated students are:
- drawn from across Canada: from coast to coast to coast!
- well represented in clerkships at every level of the Canadian judiciary
- strong in advocacy and mooting
- highly engaged and community minded: our school was singled out for best practices in "student-led initiatives" in Corporate Knights' 2011 Knight Schools Survey
- hired by every major firm in Canada and by firms around the globe
- successful after graduation: excellent job placement rate
> Hear what our students think about the Schulich School of Law.
Accomplished alumni
Our 7,000-strong living alumni cover the globe and make remarkable contributions to public life. They include:
- three prime ministers and many premiers, party leaders, cabinet ministers, senators, and elected officials
- over 300 judicial appointments to every level of court in every province of Canada – our alumni currently make up 20% of the Federal Court of Canada and 25% of the Tax Court of Canada
- the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada, the Honourable Justice Bertha Wilson
- Canadian Business Hall of Famers Purdy Crawford, the "dean emeritus of Canada's corporate bar" and Sir Graham Day, knighted for his contribution to British industry
- human rights advocates such as Alex Neve, Secretary General, Amnesty International Canada and Kim Pate, Executive Director, Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
- a long list of leading practitioners named as "Best Lawyers in Canada", "Lawyer of the Year" and Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers
> Find out more about our remarkable alumni.
