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The faculty at the Schulich School of Law are known for their extensive knowledge of law, their pursuit of excellence in interpreting legal issues, and their impassioned approach to engaging students. The winners of this year’s Teaching Awards made a lasting impression on their students.

DLAA & LSS Award for Excellence in Teaching Law –
Matthew Dylag
 

The Dalhousie Law Alumni Association (DLAA) & Law Students’ Society (LSS) Award is given in recognition and appreciation of excellence in teaching demonstrated by enthusiasm, commitment, dedication, and outstanding service to students. Nominations are made by current law students and a winner is selected by a committee comprised of students and alumni.

This year’s recipient, Assistant Professor Matthew Dylag, joined the law school community in September of 2022. Prior to this, he was a Max Weber Fellow in Law at the European University Institute. Before entering academia, he was a civil litigator in Ontario.

“I am absolutely honoured to receive this award,” says Dylag. “I spend a lot of time reflecting on my teaching practices and this recognition indicates that it is time well spent. I thoroughly enjoy teaching and am so glad my students have enjoyed their time in my classroom.”

He shares that his goal as a teacher is to foster an engaging and inclusive learning environment that facilitates analytical thought and critical reasoning. His courses are informed by his research on access to justice and examine the underlying policy goals of the law, how the law works in practice, and its impact on the public interest.

“The courses I teach – legal ethics, torts, and civil procedure – all focus on questions about how lawyers engage with their clients, the public, and the justice system,” says Dylag. “To that end, I draw on my experience as a practicing lawyer and on current events to make the material relevant. I know some of the content can seem dry or abstract, but I really want to help students understand and apply the principal concepts so they have a strong foundation, both for future studies and for their careers in law.”  

He shares that in-class discussion always brightens his day and is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching. “I love seeing how students are engaging with and interpreting the material – it's inspiring to witness them getting excited and intrigued by the law.”

Third-year student Liam Sherlock nominated Dylag after taking his Legal Professions and Civil Procedure courses. “I understand why he has a glowing reputation among students. Professor Dylag is an excellent lecturer and is uniquely skilled at bringing in students’ interest in lectures. He breaks down concepts and makes us feel both excited and engaged to learn those concepts. He genuinely cares about his students.”

Dylag is looking forward to attending this year’s Convocation. “The first students that I taught at Schulich Law will be graduating this year. It will be great to witness the completion of their law school journey and celebrate their success.”

Hannah and Harold Barnett Excellence in Teaching Award –
Steve Coughlan
 

The Hannah and Harold Barnett Excellence in Teaching Award is given by the LSS to a professor who teaches first-year law. Each first-year section collectively puts forward a nomination, then a winner is chosen by a committee of students.

This year’s recipient, Professor Steve Coughlan (LLB ’85), has been teaching at the law school for more than three decades. He joined the Schulich Law community in 1988 in a part-time capacity and began teaching full time in 1992. This is his third time receiving the award – he was previously recognized in 2004 and 2009. He was also selected for the DLAA & LSS Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2000.

Coughlan says that he appreciates the honour very much. “There have been many years when I did not receive an award for teaching and still considered it an enjoyable and rewarding experience, but knowing that my students have also seen it as valuable is a great feeling.”

He believes that teaching is not the most important thing in a classroom – learning is – and the experience should be as interactive and engaging as possible. “What an instructor does is important, but ultimately what matters is whether there’s a difference in the minds of the students, and whether they have come to a greater understanding of the subject before them. An instructor’s task is to help that happen.”

He says that one of the most rewarding parts of teaching law is taking challenging content and making it accessible to his students. “There are moments in the classroom where you can just feel that students are getting it and that they care, and that they are forming opinions which shape them as people, as opposed to just working out whether they need to know it for the exam. Those are the best moments.”

First-year student Davin Caratao says it is clear that while Coughlan is an expert, he is also someone who loves to teach. “Professor Coughlan’s classes are a jolt of energy at 9:30 in the morning on Mondays and Wednesdays. He is a dedicated educator whose many years of experience have sharpened his abilities to communicate to the class in an engaging way. Our whole section looks forward to his lectures and dynamic style of teaching. There is never a dull or wasted moment in Criminal Law. When it comes to teaching this subject matter, he is truly the best there is.”

Coughlan adds that teaching is the most fun part of his job. “When a class goes as it should, it’s enormously satisfying. I have often said that teaching defies the laws of physics, because I get more energy out of it than I put in.”

Congratulations to Professor Dylag and Coughlan on their awards and a special thank you to the entire Schulich Law faculty for their hard work and dedication!