Juris Doctor program policies and procedures

These Senate-approved Policies and Procedures for the Juris Doctor Program are effective September 1, 2023 and explain the governance of the JD program through University of Manitoba policies, and Law-specific policies. Any rules, regulations or conventions pertaining to the JD program that are not reflected in the JD Policies and Procedures or Operational Guidelines are no longer in effect.

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Accessibility

PREAMBLE: The Faculty of Law is committed to achieving accessibility and facilitating academic success by addressing the range of barriers that create structural inequality.

POLICY: In matters of accessibility, The Faculty of Law reasonably interprets and follows the Manitoba Human Rights Code, The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action (.pdf), and the University of Manitoba Accessibility Policy in all aspects of governance and daily operations relating to the Juris Doctor program.

PROCEDURES: The Faculty of Law follows the University of Manitoba Accessibility Policy and the Student Accessibility Procedure (.pdf).

Note: Accommodations for Juris Doctor students, including extensions, deferrals, authorized absences, and extended test time, are outlined in the Faculty of Law Juris Doctor Evaluation Policy.

Note: Expectations for attendance and class participation are found in the Faculty of Law Juris Doctor Conduct of Classes policy.

Note: Information about student Voluntary Withdrawals (.pdf) and Authorized Withdrawals (.pdf) is found on the University of Manitoba Governing documents website.

Related Law and University Policies:

Related Faculty of Law Policies:

Last Policy Review: November 2022
Policy and Procedure Review Cycle: Every five (5) years or sooner if deemed necessary by the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program.

Admissions to the Juris Doctor program

PREAMBLE: In the interests of excellence, fairness, and accessibility, admission to the first year of the Juris Doctor program at the Faculty of Law is based in three categories: Canadian Indigenous Category, Index Score Category, and Individual Consideration Category. Admission to Upper Years may be considered for students who have successfully completed First year in the common law program of another law school, within or outside of Canada. The Faculty of Law also permits students from other law schools to study in the Juris Doctor program in the Letter of Permission Category according to the requirements outlined in the procedures.

POLICY: Prospective students may be granted admission into the first year of the Faculty of Law through one of the following three categories:

Students may be admitted to the Upper Years at The Faculty of Law if they have completed First year in an equivalent common law program at another law school, within or outside of Canada. The Faculty of Law also permits students from other law schools to study in the Juris Doctor program in the Letter of Permission Category.

PROCEDURES: Refer to the main admissions page for the Faculty of Law for current dates and particulars.

Application requirements and process for letter of permission students are outlined on our Applicant Information Bulletin.

An interview may be required for admission to any of the Categories if recommended by the Admissions Committee of the Faculty of Law.

Related University Policies:

Related Faculty of Law Policies:

Last Policy Review: November 2022
Policy and Procedure Review Cycle: Every five (5) years

Reasons for decisions are neither recorded nor given.

Communication and General Information

PREAMBLE: Regular and open communication helps to build trust and foster a healthy community for work and study. In the spirit of transparency, as much information as is appropriate is shared within the Faculty of Law community.

POLICY: The Dean’s Office, Faculty, and Staff communicate regularly with relevant stakeholders and provide general information to them. In doing so, the Faculty of Law follows those policies enacted by the University of Manitoba Access and Privacy Office and all other confidentiality obligations.

PROCEDURES: Procedures for non-sensitive communication at the Faculty of Law are established and reviewed according to the following general guidelines:

1.    Follow University policies and procedures
2.    Respect privacy and confidentiality obligations
3.    Adhere to requirements or standards in the National Requirement (.pdf) of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada on communication
4.    Provision and timely provision of sufficient information to ensure students may make timely, informed decisions regarding their academic program
5.    Provision of sufficient information to Faculty and staff to perform their duties

General

The Faculty of Law follows the University of Manitoba Electronic Communication with Students Policy regarding email and computer practices.

All Faculty of Law face-to-face and electronic communications must be respectful and follow the Respectful Work and Learning Environment policy (.pdf) of the University of Manitoba.

Course Selection and Relevant Dates

Communication. The office of the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program communicates the intended course offerings for the full academic year to faculty and students by June 15 of each year.

Course Descriptions. The office of the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program ensures that course descriptions are kept up to date on the Faculty of Law website and are updated as necessary by July 1 of each year. Faculty members are responsible for ensuring their course descriptions are accurate and revised or updated as necessary before July 1 of each year.

Final Exam Schedules. The office of the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program creates and releases the Final Exam Schedules to faculty and students by July 1 of each year.

Internship/Externship Experiences. Information about available opportunities for Internship/Externship experiences, including the application and selection process, is communicated to students on the Faculty of Law website by July 1 of each year. The Faculty of Law advises students about their registration in Internships and Externships five (5) business days in advance of course registration.

Timetable. The office of the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program releases a draft course timetable to faculty members by March 31 of each year and releases the final draft to students by May 31 of each year.

Timing for Information about Courses

Report on Course Final Grades. By June 15th of each year, the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program makes a Report on Final Grades, by section, available to Law Faculty Council. This report is posted on the Faculty of Law website by June 30th of each year.

Syllabus. Within the first week of classes each term, students are provided with final course syllabus/syllabi, including course assignments and expectations.
The Faculty of Law follows the University of Manitoba’s Responsibilities of Academic Staff with Regard to Students (ROASS) policy and procedure.

Bursaries, Awards and Scholarships Information

Information about bursaries, awards, and scholarships is available through Admissions and Student Advising offices of the Faculty of Law.

Related University Policies

Related Faculty of Law Policies

Last Policy Review: November 2022
Policy Review Cycle: Every five (5) years.
Procedure Review Cycle: Every two (2) years.

Conduct of classes

PREAMBLE: This policy establishes excellent and consistent learning environments where processes and expectations are clear, and all members of the learning community are treated respectfully. The University of Manitoba has established clear policies for conduct of classes, to which the Faculty of Law adheres.

POLICY: The Faculty of Law provides a consistent learning experience, particularly in multiple section courses; the Conduct of Classes is based on and guided by the University of Manitoba Responsibility of Academic Staff with Regard to Students (ROASS) Policy and the syllabus templates by the Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (CATL), to ensure that all members of the learning community understand expectations and responsibilities.

PROCEDURES: The Faculty of Law will follow the University of Manitoba Responsibility of Academic Staff with Regard to Students (ROASS) Policy, informed by the CATL syllabi templates, and all other policies established by the University related to conduct of classes, with the following Law-specific applications:

Student Responsibilities

Essential Elements of Learning

All students in the Faculty of Law Juris Doctor program are expected to:

  • Read and engage with assigned and related materials/sources
  • Write in a broad range of formats
  • Conduct research, using primary and secondary sources, and using legal research skills and techniques
  • Actively listen to, and engage with, teachers, guests/invited speakers, and classmates
  • Attend classes and participate in course-required activities
  • Interact respectfully with classmates
  • Give oral presentations and conduct advocacy
  • Actively participate in classroom conversations and in small group discussions
  • Contribute to teamwork within and outside of class, including collaborative oral or written projects
  • Participate in practical and experiential training
  • Take examinations with time limitations and/or word limitations
  • Submit work to meet deadlines and requirements

Variation of elements may be appropriate in response to reasonable and substantiated requests for individual accommodation.

FACULTY and STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES

Cautions for the Last Week of Classes

Make-up classes, non-scheduled classes, seminars, workshops, and the like shall not be scheduled within the last seven (7) days prior to the last day of classes.

Course Syllabus Review

The Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program will ensure the review of each course syllabus, and course syllabi for multiple sections taught by more than one instructor for academic rigour, consistency, and compliance with ROASS standards.

When applicable, the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program will return the syllabi to course instructors with comments for consideration before the syllabus is distributed to students during the first week of classes.

Dates for Instructor Submission of Syllabus

All instructors are responsible for submitting their syllabi according to a collaborative/consultative process developed by the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program for submission at least two weeks before the start of classes for review.

Fall Term: August 15
Winter Term: December 15
Summer Term: subject to consultation

It is recommended that instructors provide sample examinations to students where possible and relevant.

Multi-sectioned Courses

For those courses offered in multiple sections taught by more than one instructor, the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program shall ensure equitable treatment of all students as outlined in the University of Manitoba Multi-sectioned Courses (.pdf) policy.

Related University Policies

Last Policy Review: November 2022
Policy Review Cycle: Every five (5) years or sooner if deemed necessary by the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program.
 

Evaluation

PREAMBLE: In the course of delivery of the approved common law degree set out in the National Requirement (.pdf) of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, the evaluation system for courses in the Faculty of Law will be fair and transparent and provide reasonable accommodations.

POLICY: The evaluation system for the Juris Doctor program adheres to the National Requirement (.pdf) of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada; the current curriculum is available online. The evaluation system is transparent to students and faculty, communicates expectations in advance, enables students to understand why they received the grades they did and provides avenues for appeal on reasonable grounds. Grading guidelines are outlined in the procedures section, including accommodations provisions for students as approved by Student Accessibility Services of the University of Manitoba.

PROCEDURES: Evaluation procedures at the Faculty of Law set academic standards and assist students in meeting them. Each Evaluation procedure is established and reviewed according to the following general categories:

  • Adherence to National Standards
  • Appeals
    • Mid-Term Grades
    • Final Grades
    • Grading Guidelines
    • Guidelines for Pass/Fail Courses
    • Juris Doctor Grades Appeal Committee
      • Membership
      • Responsibility to Faculty Council
    • Senate Committee on Appeals
  • Deferrals and Extensions
    • Deferrals of Exams and Accommodation: Brief Extenuating Circumstance
    • Deferrals of Exams and Accommodation: Long-term Extenuating Circumstance
    • Rescheduled Examinations
    • Missed Mid-Term Examination
    • Illness or Emergency During Examination
    • Scheduling Deferred and Supplemental Examinations (Both Brief and Long-Term Extenuating Circumstances)
    • Nature of Deferred and Supplemental Examinations and Re-Writing Examinations
    • Papers and Assignments
    • Rescheduling Exams
  • Juris Doctor Students in Non-law courses
  • Non-Juris Doctor students
  • Reasonable Accommodations

Adherence to National Standards

Evaluation of Juris Doctor coursework adheres to the standards set out in the National Requirement of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.

APPEALS

Appeals of Mid-Term Grades

Mid-term assignments, papers, or examinations which are considered in the determination of the final grade for a course shall be retained in the custody of the instructor or the faculty until six months after the appeal period for final grades has elapsed.

A student shall be permitted to examine their mid-term assignments, papers, or examinations under conditions prescribed by the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program in consultation with the instructor.

A student may appeal the evaluation of a mid-term assignment, paper, or examination, as a part of a final course grade appeal only. As a professional school, the Faculty of Law does not permit students to appeal mid-term grades during the delivery of any course, though students have the right to challenge marks they received for term-work as part of the appeal of their final grade, in accordance with the Final Examinations and Final Grades Policy (.pdf)  of the University.

Appeals of Final Grades

Appeals at the Faculty of Law will be conducted in accordance with the procedure outlined in the Final Examinations and Final Grades Procedures (.pdf) of the University of Manitoba, in addition to the following procedures approved for use at the Faculty of Law by the Law Faculty Council. The word paper(s) in this section means all types of written and documentary evaluative devices, including mid-term assignments, papers, and examinations.

A student may examine their paper(s) under conditions prescribed by the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program in consultation with the instructor. A student shall be entitled to examine their papers either in the Faculty of Law or on premises of comparable security to those in which students are allowed to review their papers elsewhere than in the Faculty of Law (which may be
 

electronic with student-signed confidential disclosure), provided that in the latter case, the student bears any cost involved.

To the extent that the appeal puts their assessment in issue, all of the student’s papers in that course will be reviewed, including work submitted during the term.

In the appeal document, the student must specify valid grounds for appeal and provide detailed particulars supporting these grounds. The student’s grounds for appeal should center on the academic merit of the work at issue. Examples of invalid grounds for appeal include the following:

  • Student is applying for jobs that require excellent marks
  • Student was surprised or disappointed by mark
  • Student worked very hard on the course
  • Student’s other marks are higher

An appeal will be considered by the instructor who assigned the original grade and a second reader with appropriate knowledge of the subject matter. Instructors are encouraged to provide a rubric and/or model answer when papers are reviewed. The standard of review for the second reader is whether a reasonable marker could have reached the same conclusion as the instructor, rather than whether the second reader would have assigned a different grade.

All exams, papers, or assignments resulting in a final course grade value of 1.0 or less shall be automatically reread by the instructor and another instructor (second reader) with appropriate knowledge of the subject matter. Instructors are encouraged to provide a rubric and/or model answer when papers are reviewed.

Students who wish to appeal the results of a grade appeal based on procedural grounds must file an appeal with the office of the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program. A request for a review of appeal procedures must be filed within ten (10) working days of receipt of notification of the result of a Grade Appeal.

Grading Guidelines

The grade performance of students in all courses will be recorded according to the University of Manitoba grading guidelines. A change to the grading mode requires Senate approval through the appropriate Senate Standing Committee.

Guidelines for Pass/Fail Courses

In each pass-fail course, the University of Manitoba ROASS procedure (.pdf) requires that the instructor must communicate in writing to students what is required to earn a pass.

A list of these courses is available online in the University Academic Calendar.

Juris Doctor Grade Appeals Committee

The Juris Doctor Grade Appeals Committee oversees the processing of student appeals related to pass-fail, grade re-calculation, and re-evaluation of final grades in the Faculty of Law. If an appeal document clearly does not raise any valid ground of appeal, the Committee will deny the appeal without it being considered by the instructor or the second reader. To be valid, grounds of appeal must center on the academic merit of the work at issue.

The Juris Doctor Grade Appeals Committee ensures fair and consistent grade appeal processes that maintain the integrity of the Juris Doctor Program. The Faculty of Law Juris Doctor Appeals Committee is the first level of appeal of final grades and oversees the processing of appeals at the Faculty of Law. The committee does not typically decide any given appeal; that is left to the instructor whose grade is being appealed, and the second reader.

Membership

  • The Chair (Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program)
  • Two faculty members of the Faculty of Law elected by Faculty Council

Should an appeal be made regarding a grade assigned by one of the members of the Juris Doctor Appeals Committee, the Dean shall appoint an alternate to perform that member’s duties on the Committee for that appeal only. A Committee member whose grade is being appealed shall still be involved in the determination of the appeal as the instructor who assigned the grade, along with a second reader.

Responsibility to Faculty Council

The Chair of the Appeals Committee will provide an annual report to Faculty Council summarizing the work of the Committee of the previous year. The report will include the number and types of appeals heard and their disposition. It shall also include, where deemed appropriate, any recommendations for change in these procedures, or any other matters arising out of the Committee’s experience of concern to the Council.

Senate Committee on Appeals

The Senate Committee on Appeals (.pdf) is the second level of appeals.

DEFERRALS and EXTENSIONS

Extenuating Circumstances Defined

  • Brief Extenuating Circumstance: a situation outside of a student’s control that affects their ability to fulfill their academic obligations and requirements for a period lasting no more than 120 hours (5 days). This means a medical event or condition; a student circumstance requiring compassion, including bereavement; a religious observance; or participation in an inter-university, provincial, inter-provincial, national or international scholastic or athletic event. A scheduled vacation or holiday is NOT a Brief Extenuating Circumstance.
  • Long-Term Extenuating Circumstance: a situation outside of a student’s control that affects their ability to fulfill their academic obligations and requirements that lasts longer than 120 hours (5 days), or an accumulation of Brief Extenuating Circumstances for a given student in each semester totalling ten or more business days. This means a medical event or condition; a student circumstance requiring compassion; an accommodation authorized through Student Accessibility Services; or a religious observance. A scheduled vacation or holiday is NOT a Long-Term Extenuating Circumstance.

Deferrals of Exams and Accommodation: Brief Extenuating Circumstance

A student who cannot write a particular test, including a mid-term examination and a final examination, due to a Brief Extenuating Circumstance will receive a deferral by submitting a Self-Declaration Form for Brief or Temporary Absence to their instructor and to the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program. The Associate Dean’s office will monitor students’ use of Brief Extenuating Circumstances at the Faculty of Law.

For any test other than a midterm or final examination, and for any midterm or final examination, the office of the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program, in consultation with the course instructor, shall be responsible for scheduling the deferral.

Deferrals of Exams and Accommodation: Long-Term Extenuating Circumstance

A student who cannot write a particular test, including a mid-term examination and a final examination, due to a Long-Term Extenuating Circumstance must apply for a deferred examination to the office of the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program setting out the reasons for the deferral.

The application must normally be filed within forty-eight (48) hours of the scheduled date of the missed examination or, in a case where more than one examination was missed, within forty- eight (48) hours of the scheduled date of the last examination missed.

The application must be accompanied by a medical certificate or otherwise, appropriate documentation certifying the reasons for the requested deferral, the inability of the student to write the examination at the regularly scheduled time and, where possible, an indication of the period of incapacity. Based on the evidence, the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program shall decide whether the application is approved. Based on the student’s ongoing incapacity or in other justifiable situations, a deferral may be granted to a student who applies after the forty- eight (48) hour period has lapsed.

Students requesting a deferred examination due to a known condition must normally apply twenty (20) working days before the day of the scheduled examination with the office of the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program. Students who receive accommodations from Student Accessibility Services must work with the office of the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program to schedule their deferred examinations.

Initial approval of all deferred examinations by the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program shall be conditional upon verification that the student has completed all required components of
 

the course and that it is mathematically possible for the student to pass the course by writing the final examination. Approval will be rescinded if these conditions are not met.

Any students requesting a deferred examination(s) on the grounds that the examination(s) conflict(s) with vacation or holiday plans will not normally be granted a deferral.

Rescheduled Examinations

Upon request, an examination scheduled in the December and April examinations shall be rescheduled by the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program under circumstances specified by the University’s Registrar’s office.

Missed Mid-Term Examination

Where a student is granted a deferral of a mid-term examination, the final grade for the course may be calculated based on the other evaluations used in the course (i.e., assignments, papers, and final exams) weighted at 100% without including the mid-term examination, only if the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program determines that the student has met the bona fide academic requirements for the course based on those other evaluations.

Illness or Emergency During Examination

If a student becomes ill or receives word of a family emergency during an examination and is unable to continue, the student must report at once to the examination invigilator, hand in the examination, and indicate either that they wish to submit their examination paper as: (1) completed; or (2) not completed and with the right to request a deferred examination. The invigilator must record all notifications. Students leaving an examination early in compliance with this section are eligible to apply for a deferred examination.

Only students who do not complete the examination and notify the invigilator of why they cannot complete the examination shall be eligible to apply for a deferred examination.

Scheduling Deferred and Supplemental Examinations (Both Brief and Long-Term Extenuating Circumstances)

The scheduling of deferred, rescheduled, and supplemental examinations shall be at the discretion of the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program.

Deferred and supplemental examinations ordinarily shall be scheduled to enable the results to be communicated by August 15th, annually.

When an application for a deferred examination is approved, the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program, in consultation with the instructor concerned, shall schedule the deferred examination to take place normally within thirty (30) working days from the end of the examination series from which the examination was deferred, considering the following:

If a deferred final examination is granted for a course that is a prerequisite to another course or courses, students may be permitted to remain registered in those affected courses. However, if the examination is written after the revision deadline and the pre- requisite course is not satisfied, the student will be withdrawn from all courses requiring it. Deferred examinations in pre-requisite courses should be scheduled early in a term to ensure that results are available before the course revision deadline.

The Faculty of Law shall endeavour to schedule deferred examinations as soon as possible for potential graduands so that final grades may be available in sufficient time to meet planned graduation deadlines.

In the event students are unable to write the deferred examination within thirty (30) working days:

  • The deferred examination shall be written at the next scheduled examination series in which the course is offered (unless the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program chooses to make other arrangements); subsequent requests for re-deferral may result in the student being denied registration in the current or a future term until all outstanding examination obligations have been completed.
  • The Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program in consultation with the instructor concerned may assign a grade without examination. In such cases, the grades shall be assigned based on the term work and assignments.
  • The deferred examination must be written within a time frame that enables the examination to be written and graded, and, if necessary, a supplemental examination to be written and graded before the start of the next academic term where the progression rules require the successful completion of an entire academic year before a student is eligible to proceed in the next academic year.

Nature of Deferred and Supplemental Examinations and Re-Writing Examinations

The nature, character, format, length, and content of all examinations, including deferred, rescheduled, and supplemental examinations, shall be at the discretion of the instructor responsible for setting the examination.

Apart from supplemental examinations that a student may be required to write to be eligible to progress or to graduate, a student cannot re-write an examination or assignment to improve a grade.

Papers and Assignments: Brief Extenuating Circumstances

A student who cannot complete a particular assignment, including a final paper, by the deadline due to a Brief Extenuating Circumstances will receive an extension by submitting a Self- Declaration Form for Brief or Temporary Absence to their Instructor and to the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor Program.

The Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor Program may grant an extension for an appropriate number of days, not exceeding five business days.

Papers and Assignments: Long-Term Extenuating Circumstances

A student who cannot complete a particular assignment, including a final paper, by the deadline due to a Long-Term Extenuating Circumstance must apply for an extension to the Office of the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program setting out the reasons for the extension.

The application must be accompanied by a medical certificate or otherwise, appropriate documentation certifying the reasons for the requested extension, the inability of the student to complete the assignment by the deadline and, where possible, an indication of the period of incapacity. Based on the evidence, the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program shall decide whether the application is approved, in consultation with Accessibility Services when appropriate.

University policy states that in addition to the grade, the recommendation for extension should indicate the reason(s) for consideration being given, a description of the outstanding work to be completed, and the date by which the work must be submitted. The following maximum extensions are allowed:

  • for courses terminated in April – August 1st
  • for courses terminated in August – December 1st
  • for courses terminated in December – April 1st

Juris Doctor Students in Non-law courses

Information related to non-law courses is found in the Progression Rules procedures.

Non-Juris Doctor Students

Students not currently in the Juris Doctor program but taking Juris Doctor courses (LLM, MHR students) may have rules particular to their program that apply in addition to these rules about evaluation in the Juris Doctor courses.

Reasonable Accommodations

Upon request and submission of satisfactory documentation, other accommodation, such as extended time for writing an examination, or writing an examination in a separate room, shall be made by the office of Student Accessibility Services, consonant with the National Requirement (.pdf) of the Law Societies of Canada.

Related University Policies

Last Policy Review: December 2022
Policy and Procedure Review Cycle: Every two (2) years.

Operational Guidelines

Policy and Procedure Review

PREAMBLE: In the interests of currency and compliance, the appropriate governing bodies of the Faculty of Law Juris Doctor program will regularly monitor policies and procedures on a scheduled cycle.

POLICY: Each policy and procedure of the Faculty of Law will be reviewed regularly by Law Faculty Council and the Dean’s Office according to the review cycle contained within each policy.

PROCEDURES: All policies and procedures of the Faculty of Law will be reviewed by Law Faculty Council for relevance and compliance with the University of Manitoba governing policies and the National Requirement of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.

Note: The recommended review cycle can be found here.

Related University Policies

Related Faculty of Law documents

Last Policy Review: October 2022
Policy Review Cycle: Every five (5) years.

Operational Guidelines

Practice-Based Learning

PREAMBLE: Excellent, practice-based experiences for the Juris Doctor students of the Faculty of Law are an important element of a high-quality legal education.

POLICY: Practice-based learning at the Faculty of Law will be comprised of for-credit and not- for-credit opportunities for students to experience and acquire skills for the effective practice of law under the mentorship of qualified faculty and practitioners. Practice-based learning at the Faculty of Law will adhere to the standards of the National Requirement (.pdf) of the Federation of the Law Societies of Canada.

PROCEDURES: Practice-based learning at the Faculty of Law responds to the needs of legal practice and is established and reviewed according to the following general guidelines:

  • All for-credit opportunities must be initially submitted to the Faculty of Law Academic Affairs Committee for consideration and ultimately be approved by Law Faculty Council.
  • The maximum number of Pass/Fail for-credit opportunities for Juris Doctor students in third year will be restricted to 18 credit hours.
  • The maximum number of Pass/Fail for-credit opportunities for Juris Doctor students in second year will be restricted to 12 credit hours.

Procedures for the following topics are outlined below:

  • Externships
  • Competitions
  • Internships and other Clinical Opportunities
  • Clerkships

EXTERNSHIPS

General Requirements

  • Externships are for 3L students.
  • Co-requisite course LAW 2020 Legal Professions and Professional Responsibility in the Fall term
  • Some externships may have additional prerequisite and co-requisite course requirements.

Academic Credit

Externships involve an 8-month placement spanning the fall and winter terms. Students earn six (6)    credits per term for twelve (12) credits over both terms.

Typical enrolment limits:

  • Legal Help Centre Externship: normally up to ten (10) students.
  • University of Manitoba Community Law Centre (UMCLC) Criminal Law Externship: up to normally ten (10) students.
  • Manitoba Law Reform Commission Externship: normally one (1) student.
  • L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic Externship: normally up to ten (10) students.
  • Cochrane Saxberg Indigenous Community Legal Clinic Externship: normally eight (8) - ten (10) students.
  • RobsonCrim Attorney General Externship: normally one (1) – two (2) students.

A stated, these are typical enrolment limits. The Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program has discretion to increase or reduce these numbers in consultation with the Director of Clinical Practice.

Application Criteria

  • 3L
  • Completion of required externship application forms
  • If required, an interview

Application Process

  1. To apply for externships, students must fill out the appropriate externship application package(s).
  2. Each externship has a separate package to be filled out and submitted to the UM Faculty of Law Externship Online Application Portal, and application deadlines vary from year to year and across the Externships.
  3. Students may apply for more than one externship and must rank each application according to their preference.
  4. Student interviews, if necessary, will take place after the application deadline has passed.
  5. Following interviews, students will be ranked by the placement organizations. Successful students will be informed of their placement.

Externships Include

Legal Help Centre Externship

The Legal Help Centre is a legal clinic in Winnipeg that offers legal and social service information and summary legal advice to those who meet the financial eligibility guidelines. Students assist clients through legal clinics and fieldwork. They can also expect to conduct research and prepare legal documents, participate in the court process, participate in outreach services and community involvement, and engage in other learning experiences.

University of Manitoba Community Law Centre (UMCLC) Criminal Law Externship

This course is meant to develop a student’s skills in criminal law by having the student participate in seminar instruction, court observation, and assisting supervising lawyers in relation to criminal law activities and case conduct. Students can expect to be taught foundational criminal law knowledge and engage in student representation of Legal Aid Manitoba clients charged with summary conviction offences.

Manitoba Law Reform Commission Externship

The Manitoba Law Reform Commission is Manitoba’s official law reform agency. Students will be given the opportunity to assist with all stages of Commission reform projects, from proposals to final reports. The students will mostly assist in the projects' legal research and consultation stages.

L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic Externship

This externship provides students with fundamental corporate and commercial law skills. Students will be exposed to work from various entities such as not-for-profits, charitable, community-based, and start-up enterprises. The legal skills learned will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of business law.

Cochrane Saxberg Indigenous Community Legal Clinic Externship

Students will work with supervising lawyers in numerous locations near Winnipeg to provide free legal assistance to Indigenous community members. During the externship, students will learn how to interview clients, provide counsel, develop and manage client files, and conduct qualitative research. Significant focus on decolonization and indigenizing the law will be part of this externship opportunity.

RobsonCrim Attorney General Externship

A unique externship opportunity placing students within the Manitoba Department of Justice in the Public Safety Division. The focus of this externship will be for students to work with government lawyers and staff on matters related to policing.

COMPETITIONS

Participation by the Faculty of Law in any competition in each academic year is at the discretion of the Dean, with input from the Director of Clinical Practice. Note: a moot or competition may or may not happen each year, due to resource constraints.

General Requirements

  • Competitions are for 2L and 3L students
  • Tryouts for oral presenters
  • Writing sample if applying as a researcher
  • Any competition must be approved by Law Faculty Council, relying on recommendations from the Academic Affairs Committee

Academic Credit

Moot competitions count as 3 credit courses. The Solomon Greenberg moot is part of the LAW2650 Advocacy class program and does not count for 3 credits.

Usual per student limits on the number of competitions

  • A student may participate, either as an oralist or as a researcher, in no more than one external Appellate Advocacy Moot for academic credit in each academic year. For the purposes of this rule, “Appellate Advocacy Moot” includes the Jessup International Moot, the Gale Cup Moot, the Fox Moot, the Corporate Securities Moot, and the Bowman Moot.
  • In addition to an appellate advocacy moot, a student may participate in one of the following competitions for credit in the same year as the appellate advocacy moot: the Kawaskimhon National Aboriginal Moot, the McIntyre/Sopinka Cup, the National Family Law Negotiation Competition, and the Canadian Negotiation Competition. The rationale for this rule is that these competitions provide a different educational experience than an appellate advocacy moot. For example, a student could participate for academic credit in the Kawaskimhon National Aboriginal Moot, or the Bowman Moot, or both the Bowman Moot and the Kawaskimhon Moot, in the same year.
  • Any participation in external competitions, either Appellate Advocacy Moots or otherwise, must not exceed the maximum number of Pass/Fail for-credit opportunities for a given year, as outlined above in the general guidelines to this Procedure.
  • A student is generally prohibited from participating in the same competition in the same role in two successive years. For example, a student shall not participate in the Bowman Moot as an Oralist in their second year and then again in that moot as an Oralist in their third year; however, a student may participate for example, in the Bowman Moot as an Oralist for one year, and as a Researcher in the next.
  • The Director of Clinical Practice has the discretion, in collaboration with Academic Affairs, to waive these limits in appropriate circumstances, such as when there are more spaces than students who would be eligible under the usual limits.
  • The Director of Clinical Practice will inform students of their selection for moots in advance of course registration.

Application Process

  • Students must sign up for tryouts and rank the moots they wish to participate in by preference.
  • A tryout will be held during which students argue for a prescribed number of minutes in front of the Moot Selection Committee.

Competition Descriptions

Donald G.H. Bowman National Tax Moot
Moot is based on taxation in Canada.

Jessup International Law Moot Court
This moot involves a simulated dispute between states before the International Court of Justice.

The Laskin Moot
Bilingual moot concerning administrative and constitutional law.

Kawaskimhon Moot
A consensus-based, non-adversarial moot that incorporates Indigenous legal traditions with federal, provincial, and international law. This includes roundtable negotiations on a topic pertaining to Indigenous law.

Solomon Greenberg Trial Moot → Western Canada Trial Moot (MacIntyre Cup) → Sopinka Cup.
The Solomon Greenberg Trial Moot is an in-house advocacy moot. Eight (8) competitors are chosen by the professors of the 2L LAW2650 Advocacy course, who select the top students from that class to compete. The top two students from the Solomon Greenberg Trial Moot will go on to represent the Faculty of Law in the Western Canada Trial Moot and, if successful, will move on to the Sopinka Cup Moot.

National Family Law Negotiation Competition (NFLNC)
This competition will simulate legal negotiations in which law students, acting as lawyers, negotiate a series of family law issues. The National Family Law Negotiation Competition is a competition for students who have studied family law and negotiation. Working in teams of two, the law students will negotiate with opposing teams in three successive rounds of increasing complexity. The competition will be judged by senior family law practitioners and judges from across Canada. Preference will be given to students who have already completed both Negotiation and Family Law, but students who are enrolled in either or both of those courses during the Fall Term after the selection process may also be considered.

Bastarache Moot
A French-language legal advocacy competition centered around an appeal from a lower court decision concerning statutory or constitutional language rights.

Canada Negotiation Competition
A competition where students engage in a simulated legal exercise to negotiate a series of legal issues.

Julius Alexander Moot
An equity and diversity issues moot.

Gale Cup Criminal Appellate Moot
Concerns a previously decided Supreme Court of Canada Decision on criminal and/or constitutional law topics.

Harold G. Fox Moot
Intellectual property law competition.

Moot Researcher
Engages in research to assist the moot team before and at the competition. Generally, a 3L student.

Selection Criteria

Preference is given to third-year students.

INTERNSHIPS AND OTHER ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES

General Requirements

Internships and clinics are for 3L students.
Some internship and clinical courses have prerequisite and co-requisite course requirements.

Academic Credit

Academic credit is determined by the Academic Affairs Committee and endorsed by Law Faculty Council.

Application Process

Application processes are laid out in the syllabus for each course.

Internships

Public Interest Law Centre Internship 1 & 2 (PILC)
Normally one (1) – two (2) students work with the PILC under the supervision of a PILC lawyer. They will engage in significant legal research projects relating to current or potential PILC cases; interviews, assessments, and referrals of persons seeking to employ the PILC’s services; and they will be responsible for conducting one (1) or two (2) files.

Other Clinical Course Opportunities

UMCLC (Legal Aid Clinic)
Students will assist in the operations of Legal Aid Manitoba. No limit on student numbers.

Clinical Administrative Law
Students learn and develop legal skills through classroom work and simulated exercises focused on administrative law. Normally up to sixteen (16) students.

Rights Clinic
Students work on real-world litigation files under the supervision of a lawyer. Students also engage in community advocacy and legal information delivery. Usually up to ten (10) students.

Selection Criteria

Selection criteria are laid out in the syllabus of each course.

CLERKSHIPS

General Requirements

The twenty-five (25) students with the highest-grade point average in 2L are invited to apply.

Clerkships Include

  • Court of Appeal Clerkship
  • The Court of King’s Bench Clerkship
  • Provincial Court Clerkship

Academic Credit

  • The Court of Appeal Clerkship spans the entire year in the form of two 3 credit hour courses. The students who take this clerkship will take the Court of Appeal Clerkship in the fall semester and the Court of Appeal Clerkship Advanced in the winter semester.
  • Normally four (4) students
  • The Court of King’s Bench is 3 credits and offered in the Fall and Winter terms.
  • Normally two (2) students per term
  • The Provincial Court Clerkships are 3 credits each and are offered in the fall and winter terms.
  • Normally two (2) students per term

Application Process

Students who apply for a clerkship will be selected by a committee of faculty members chosen by the Dean’s Office.

Selection Criteria

The committee considers a range of factors in making their decisions, including:

  • Proven academic strength.
  • Proven research strength.
  • Genuine interest in the program.
  • Other considerations students wish to raise.

PRACTICE-BASED CLASSROOM LEARNING

The following mandatory courses in the Juris Doctor curriculum provide practice-based learning:

  • Legal Methods – LAW 1540 or Méthodes jurisdiques - LAW 1542
  • Legal Systems - LAW 1530
  • Legal Negotiation - LAW 2680 or Négociation - LAW 2682
  • Introduction to Advocacy – LAW 2650 or Plaidoirie - LAW2652

Several elective (optional) courses in the Juris Doctor curriculum provide practice-based learning, including the following:

  • Advanced Legal Research – LAW 3360
  • Advanced Advocacy – LAW3340
  • Intensive Criminal Law – LAW 3532
  • Clinical Administrative Law – LAW 3020

EXPERIENCE RECORD 

Optional, not-for-credit learning opportunities will be made available to students in the Juris Doctor program. Where a given learning opportunity requires a substantial investment in time and energy, it will be recorded on the participating students’ experience records.

Related University Policies

Related Faculty of Law Policies

Last Policy Review: October 2022
Policy Review Cycle: Every two (2) years.
Procedure Review Cycle: Every two (2) years.

Operational Guidelines

Progression Rules

PREAMBLE: These rules provide a map to guide and support students throughout their Juris Doctor degree to achieve a logical progression and foundational framework for a career in law. The Juris Doctor program is designed to offer increasing complexity and sophistication through progression so that students develop increasing mastery in their legal training. The Academic Standings Committee has been established to deal with all matters related to a student’s academic progression through the Juris Doctor degree program.

POLICY: To earn a Juris Doctor degree, a student will undertake a comprehensive program of study to obtain an understanding of the complexity of the law and the interrelationships between different areas of legal knowledge in line with the National Requirement (.pdf) of the Federation of the Law Societies of Canada.

PROCEDURES: The Juris Doctor program of study is ordinarily a three-year full-time degree. Ordinarily, a student must complete two years of the program in residence to obtain the Juris Doctor degree. However,

  • with the permission of the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program, a student may take one year of the Juris Doctor program at another university.
  • with the permission of the Juris Doctor Academic Standings Committee, in special circumstances, a student may take more than one year of the Juris Doctor program at another Canadian university toward their University of Manitoba Juris Doctor degree.

Academic Program

The University of Manitoba’s academic program for the study of law (.pdf) consists of three full-time academic years or equivalent, for a total of 92 course credits.

The course of study consists primarily of in-person instruction and learning and/or instruction and learning that involves direct interaction between instructor and students.

Faculty-specific policies are permitted under the Final Examinations and Final Grades Policy of the University.

The Faculty of Law Juris Doctor Prerequisites

Many of the courses in the Juris Doctor program have prerequisites. A list of these courses and a progression chart are available on the Faculty of Law website.

General Progression Rules

A student must complete an academic year according to the prescribed accumulation of credits before being allowed to progress to the following year or to graduate.

Students may be prevented from re-registration in the following circumstances:

  • Withdraw from the program for medical or compassionate reasons
  •  Received deferred examinations for all exams in a final examination series
  • Who fail to write deferred examinations as scheduled

In these situations, students may be required to establish, through appropriate medical consultation, preparedness to resume studies.

Progression Rules – Concurrent Programs

  1. Students enrolled in concurrent degree programs are governed by the academic regulations of the Faculty of Law while completing their JD requirements.
  2. Up to 9 enhanced credit hours from the other program may be used as fulfillment of the JD requirement for that concurrent program.
  3. In cases of appeals, or academic, or non-academic misconduct occurring in a concurrent program, and the allegation occurs in the other program, Law will defer to the processes, findings, and penalties of the other program.
  4. The maximum normal time to completion of programs for any concurrent degree will be 8 (eight) maximum years.
  5. JD/MBA students who become ineligible to complete the JD of the concurrent JD/MBA may be eligible to complete the MBA and must consult the supplementary regulations of the University of Manitoba MBA program and confer with an MBA advisor

Non-Law Courses

Juris Doctor students may take a non-LAW course in addition to their LAW courses. In first year, law, JD students are required to take 32 credits. They may, with the approval of the Associate of the Juris Doctor program, take a non-LAW course in addition to those 32 credits. In second and third year law, JD students require 30 LAW credits each year. They may, with the approval of the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program, take a non-LAW course in addition to those 30 credits. Grades obtained in non-law courses are not applied to JD degrees.

Outside Courses

With the prior approval of the Office of the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor, admitted JD students may take a maximum of 6 credit hours of courses offered by other university law programs during an inter-session or summer session and these courses may count toward their University of Manitoba Juris Doctor degree.

Students may receive credit only for studying at approved institutions. "Approved institutions" are institutions that are party to an exchange agreement with the Faculty of Law, courses which are offered or administered by another Canadian law school, those approved by the Association of American Law Schools, or those offered by any other well-reputed university approved by the Associate Dean’s Office.

Part-Time Students

Per academic year, a student enrolled in 18 or fewer credit hours is a part-time student in the Faculty of Law.

Course Requirements for Part-Time Students

In a part-time student’s first year, they must take LAW 1460 Constitutional Law, LAW 1530 Legal Systems, and LAW 1540 Legal Methods (or Méthodes jurisdiques), in addition to at least one additional course from the first-year curriculum. The Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program has the authority to waive this requirement.
In a part-time student’s second year, they must take all outstanding first year courses. The Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program has the authority to waive this requirement.

Time to Completion

The time to completion for all requirements of the Juris Doctor degree is three (3) full-time equivalent years, or up to six (6) years with exceptions for accommodation consonant with the National Requirement, determined through the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program in consultation with the Academic Affairs Committee.

JURIS DOCTOR ACADEMIC STANDINGS COMMITTEE

Membership

  • The Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program as Chair (non-voting)
  • Two Faculty Members (elected by Law Faculty Council)
  • Two Student Representatives (one appointed by MLSA, one appointed by MILSA).
  • Student Advisor or Indigenous Legal Studies Coordinator, as applicable.

Good Academic Standing

To be in good academic standing, a Juris Doctor student must satisfy the following requirements:

  • achieve a degree grade point average (DGPA) in the Faculty of Law of 2.0 or higher; and
  • achieve a grade point value of 2.0 or higher in any graded mandatory course in the Faculty of Law; and
  • achieve a Pass in any Pass/Fail course in the Faculty of Law.

Procedure for students whose DGPA does not meet the standard

Student grades shall be reviewed by the Student Advisor at the conclusion of each academic term in which they receive a final grade, to flag any students whose TGPA (Term Grade Point Average) is below 2.0 or has received a grade point value of less than 2.0 in any mandatory course. The Student Advisor will notify the Chair of the Academic Standings Committee with these student numbers and grade information for consideration and action by the Committee.

Academic Warning. The first time a student’s DGPA drops below 2.0 they will receive an Academic Warning from the Chair of the Academic Standings Committee. Students who receive such a warning are required to meet with the Academic Advisor to explore the potential need for additional support.

Academic Probation. The second time a student’s DGPA drops below 2.0 the student will be placed on Academic Probation by the Chair of the Academic Standings Committee and must meet with the Academic Standings Committee and provide a plan for addressing the matters that led to academic probation.

Required to Withdraw. The third time a student’s DGPA drops below 2.0 the student is required to withdraw from Law and will be ineligible to take courses from the Faculty of Law for a period of one academic term. The student must submit a written request for reinstatement to the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program who will confer with the Academic Standings Committee. The decision of the Academic Standings Committee may be that the student is found to be ineligible to proceed in Law. This decision may be appealed to the Senate Committee on Appeals.

Written requests for reinstatement must be received by the office of the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program by May 1 for Fall term reinstatement, and by November 1 for Winter term reinstatement. In addition, oral submissions may be considered. If the student is reinstated to take courses in the Faculty of Law, that student will be in Good Academic Standing until and if the student’s DGPA drops below 2.0.

First Year Law Students

Any student who earns a grade point value of less than 2.0 in any mandatory first-year course may write one supplemental examination or assignment in that course.

Second Year Law Students

In any mandatory second year course, the Committee has the discretion, if it believes circumstances warrant, to permit any student who earns less than a grade point value of 2.0 to write a supplemental examination or assignment. If a student receives less than a grade point value of 2.0 on any supplemental examination or assignment (in any year of the JD Program), the student must repeat the course.

Third Year Law Students

Any student who earns less than 1.0 in any mandatory third-year course may write one supplemental examination or assignment in that course.

Senate Committee on Appeals

The Senate Committee on Appeals (.pdf) is the second level of appeals.

Related University Policies

Undergraduate

Last Policy Review: December 2022
Policy and Procedure Review Cycle: Every two (2) years.

Operational Guidelines

Respectful Work and Learning Environment

PREAMBLE: The Faculty of Law promotes and supports a community that recognizes the dignity and equality of all people, intellectual diversity, the free expression of ideas, and non- discrimination in hiring, admission, and evaluation. In the interpretation and application of policies and procedures of the Juris Doctor program, the Faculty of Law is committed to the principles of substantive equality as protected by the Manitoba Human Rights Code and the federal Charter of Rights and Freedoms (.pdf).

POLICY: Within the administration of the Juris Doctor program, the Faculty of Law will follow:

  • applicable human rights legislation and Constitutional protections
  • University of Manitoba statements and policies on Respectful Work and Learning Environment
  • University of Manitoba statements, policies, and collective agreement provisions on academic freedom and responsibilities
  • University of Manitoba statements and policies on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)

The Faculty of Law will be assisted in EDI efforts by the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Liaison, who consults with and reports to the Dean’s Office.

PROCEDURES: In the interpretation and application of these policies and procedures, the Faculty of Law is guided by

Related Law and University Policies

Last Policy Review: October 2022
Policy and Procedure Review Cycle: Every five (5) years.

Sensitive Information Release

PREAMBLE: This policy aims to ensure all privacy and confidentiality obligations are respected.

POLICY: The Faculty of Law respects the release of sensitive information as outlined in the University of Manitoba Access and Privacy statement with Law-specific provisions.

PROCEDURES: The following procedures specifically address student grades:

The Registrar’s Office is responsible for disclosing all final grades. No individual final grades are publicly released or posted by anyone in the Faculty of Law. The Faculty of Law will publish statistical grade distributions only as provided for in the Faculty of Law Evaluation Policy.

Upon receipt of a written request from a student, the office of the Associate Dean of the Juris Doctor program shall disclose the student’s quartile ranking to the student or a student-specified third party.

Related University Policies

Related Faculty of Law Policies

Last Policy Review: September 2022
Policy and Procedure Review Cycle: Every five (5) years.

Glossary

ADGPA Accumulated Grade Point Average
CATL Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning
DGPA Degree Grade Point Average
JD Juris Doctor
LPPR Legal Profession and Professional Responsibility
LSAT Law School Admission Test
MILSA Manitoba Indigenous Law Students Association
MLSA Manitoba Law Students Association
PILC Public Interest Law Centre
ROASS Responsibilities of Academic Staff with Regard to Students (.pdf)
RWLE Respectful Work and Learning Environment
SAS Student Accessibility Services
TRC Truth and Reconciliation Commission
UM University of Manitoba
UMCLC University of Manitoba Community Law Centre