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| | Aims and Objectives of the Faculty of Law The Faculty of Law, University of Windsor, is a community which includes scholars, teachers, students, administrators, support staff, caretakers and others, whose combined efforts are to serve society as a centre for the humanistic education of persons in law, for legal research, and for the provision of services which enhance the quality of life and access to justice, and in particular: 1. To study the nature and social function of legal institutions and to provide a general overview of the legal system in the larger social, economic and political context of society; 2. To foster study and research into legal theory and values; to examine the relationship between theory and practice; and to enhance opportunities and provide support for scholarly research, writing and publication by faculty and students; 3. To encourage and support, in particular, scholarly endeavour in access to justice and in Canadian-American issues; in the case of the former, to question fairness and the equality of opportunity to obtain legal services and to enjoy rights and freedoms, and from this perspective to inquire into the nature and quality of the law and legal institutions; in the case of the latter, to exploit fully the geographical location of the faculty and to develop and pursue opportunities for curriculum development, joint programs, cross accreditation and research in Canadian-American issues and comparative law with legal and other scholars and faculties in the United States; 4. To enhance access to justice through a broad and progressive admissions policy which will focus upon the personal attributes of the individual applicant, including women and those who are socially or economically disadvantaged, differently abled, late vocational and from aboriginal and various ethnic backgrounds and which will permit the realization of the vocation of persons to serve the community; through educational programs which extend legal services and provide information about the law and the justice system to those for whom that would not otherwise be available and through the inculcation of a desire to reform the law to better serve the community and to aid the oppressed and disadvantaged; 5. To create a sensitive, caring and supportive environment for the study of law, enhancement of professionalism, and the personal development of faculty and students alike, and in particular: a. To provide the opportunity to develop skills and aptitudes in comprehension, analysis, synthesis, judgment and the creative resolution of issues; b. To develop a research capability in law and related fields, and to present and critique, in an effective and persuasive manner, the results of research; c. To encourage the development of independent critical thought; d. To develop lawyering skills including writing and drafting, fact investigation, management, interviewing and counselling, advocacy, negotiation, mediation and conciliation; e. To provide substantive knowledge in several areas of law; f. To establish faculty/student relationships which will, through greater collegiality, enhance the learning process for both; 6. To create an academic and social environment which is conducive to learning and to the personal development of students, particularly women and those who are socially or economically disadvantaged, differently abled, late vocational and from aboriginal and various ethnic backgrounds, and in particular: a. To provide opportunities for the development of social consciousness and self-awareness by students, and to examine and develop ethical and social values in relation to personal and professional responsibility; and in particular, to instill in the students a sense of social responsibility in the practice of law and the need for examination of social structures with a view to contributing to such changes as may ensure social justice; b. To encourage students to build upon their background experience in a way which will increase their effectiveness in the roles they assume following graduation, especially outside the private practice of law; c. To encourage students to contribute meaningfully to society and to participate creatively in the process of legal development and social change; d. To anticipate the physical, emotional and psychological tensions and pressures associated with the practice of law and to provide practical assistance in coping with them; e. To provide a support mechanism for students to help them deal with the emotional and psychological tensions and pressures associated with the study of law; f. To foster in students an attitude of fairness and openness in dealing with others, free of bias; g. To encourage consideration of career options which are consistent with the personal qualities, lifestyles and ambitions of students in order that they may achieve personal satisfaction. Questions or comments should be directed to uwlaw@uwindsor.ca |