|
|
|
| | Message From The Dean
We hope you enjoy reading the information presented on our web site. Windsor Law Faculty continues to pursue its objective of providing our students with a learning environment which is academically challenging and inclusive. As you will read in our statement of Aims and Objectives, our Faculty is "a community which focuses on the humanistic education of persons in law, ...legal research, and the provision of services which enhance the quality of life and access to justice...." Windsor Law School enjoys a sound reputation for developing in its students a critical approach to the study of law, strong legal skills, and fine research capabilities. We began to do empirical research on the characteristics and evolution of the legal profession over 15 years ago and, as a result, have contributed to developing and generalizing new ways of providing legal services. One example is the path breaking research which created the possibility of the setting up of pre-paid legal service plans and the inclusion of this benefit in some collective agreements or insurance policies. A second example is our longstanding focus on mediation and arbitration courses; these courses prepared our graduates for recent procedural reforms which require parties to attempt mediation to settle their dispute. Progressively, we are introducing courses using new teaching technologies. In these times of change and widespread uncertainty, our legal training is aimed at providing our students with the knowledge, skills and creativity necessary to broaden their career paths. Our Faculty has developed as primary themes for teaching and research, the themes of access to justice and Canadian/American legal issues. Our access to justice theme is incorporated into core courses as well as our teaching methodologies. This theme appears, for example, in subjects related to civil or criminal procedure, to human rights law or clinical advocacy; it also informs our approach to teaching about the sources of law and the institutions which exercise power over our lives. Windsor Law has developed programs on the legal profession, legal aid, community legal education, alternative dispute resolution, and law in aid of development. In addition to the opportunity of following clinical programs at our student run Community Legal Aid, at Legal Assistance of Windsor, a community based clinic or at the Mediation Clinic our newest clinical program, our students can apply to participate in a Clerkship with the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories. Our courses present law in its social context. Essentially, we believe that successful law students are those who integrate their social concerns into the study of law and who learn to use newly acquired legal skills to promote social well-being and justice for all people. Our admission policy is a key feature of our Law School and is consistent with our theme of access to justice. In 1978 the Faculty adopted an admissions policy which considers the abilities and aptitudes of candidates to work in a profession which requires not only intellectual skills but also people skills, intuitive and strategic thinking as well as communication skills. All our candidates are evaluated on seven criteria, none of which is more important than the other. The criteria are: university program, work experience, community involvement, personal accomplishments, career objectives, personal considerations and Law School Admission Test scores. Our student body is one of our greatest strengths, incorporating as it does students with a slightly higher than average age, gender parity, a significant degree of ethnocultural and racial diversity, as well as a wide spectrum of professional and community backgrounds. We believe that we must continue our efforts to attract and accommodate more Aboriginal students and students with disabilities. Our Faculty publishes The Windsor Yearbook of Access to Justice, which is a multidisciplinary and internationally acclaimed thematic journal. It regularly features articles of scholars from many parts of the world who share our interest in researching and disseminating a critical analysis of the role of law and legal institutions and the theme of access to justice. Windsor law students publish the Windsor Review of Legal and Social Issues, also a thematic legal publication. Equally important is our theme of Canadian/American legal issues. Windsor's geographic location provided us with a golden opportunity to develop courses and programs in international economic law and trade law. The creation and continuing evolution of NAFTA make these programs all the more timely. We have established a Canadian American Research Centre and created transborder programs which allow our students to study American law and legal institutions while progressing toward their LL.B. degree. The Intellectual Property Law Institute (IPLI) also attracts many students interested in acquiring legal skills to complement other technical skills or simply motivated by the growing importance of intellectual property and intellectual technology. IPLI courses are offered jointly by the Windsor Law Faculty, the Law Faculty of the University of Detroit Mercy and the Law Faculty of Wayne State University. The Dispute Resolution Institute of North America combines our dual themes of access to justice and Canadian/American legal issues. Although this Institute is still in the developmental stages, it has been incorporated in both the Canadian and American jurisdictions and will provide services, education and research to companies or other corporations interested in avoiding, managing or settling disputes. Our LL.B. program offers all the core areas which are required by the Law Society of Upper Canada and other provincial and territorial law societies, as well as a wide spectrum of optional courses, seminars, and workshops which allow our students to increase their knowledge and skills in specific areas of the law; the proximity of Michigan campuses enables us to augment our course offerings with courses offered "north of the border". At Windsor Law, we value student participation in all our decision-making processes. Student activities are particularly vibrant; with numerous clubs and associations, there is a large array of projects with which to become involved. Students are active in Alumni affairs and have the opportunity of meeting and discussing with persons engaged in many interesting careers. As a relatively young law school, Windsor has been innovative and responsive in designing our curriculum and methods of teaching. We have created a special learning environment and earned a track record as a non-conventional school. We intend to keep it that way. We would be pleased if you choose to apply to Windsor Law School. Dean Questions or comments should be directed to uwlaw@uwindsor.ca |