Graduate studies in a bi-juridical and bilingual environment : The Faculté de droit de l’Université de Montréal

2019 International Legal Education Abroad and LL.M. Administrators Conference, American University Washington College of Law, Washington, D.C.,

21/22-02-2019

Legal education at the Université de Montréal reflects the bilingual and bi-juridical nature of the Federal Law of Canada and the Provincial Law of Quebec. The LLB program is offered exclusively in French. It covers both the Civil Law of the Province of Quebec and the Public Law of Canada, which belongs to the Common Law tradition; Business Law also belongs to this tradition (with a few exceptions). In the past, Graduate Studies programs were offered exclusively in French. Over time, they attracted a large number of students from Quebec, Europe and Africa, especially in the fields of Business Law and International Law, notwithstanding the fact that LLM Degrees are not recognized by the Quebec Bar. As for notaries (very roughly, the equivalent of solicitors), they must complete a LLM in Notarial Law, which includes 16 weeks of articling.

In 2001, a one-year JD graduate program was created. Because LLB Graduates have an excellent knowledge of Constitutional, Administrative, Criminal and Business Law, two academic terms are enough to master the core rules of private law in force in other provinces. Furthermore, students are exposed to both Canadian and U.S. rules. As a result, graduates of this program can sit the exams of the various Canadian bars outside of Quebec, as well as the New York Bar.

In 2007, a LLM – Business Law in a Global Context was launched, with courses offered exclusively in English. It attracts a large number of students from China, but also from Latin America, India, Iran and a host of other countries, including France (for students who want to improve their knowledge of English). Finally, apart from a long-standing PhD program in which students are frequently allowed to write their dissertation in English, we created last year an option in Innovation, Science, Technology and Law in which most students speak English.

The diverse origins of students, the different legal systems they study, the two languages of instruction and the challenges confronting foreign students (especially those from the non-Western world) make for an extraordinary rich Faculty life, especially at the Graduate Studies level. It is hoped that comparing the difficulties we face at the Université the Montréal with those encountered in the administration of U.S. LLMs will be instructive for all participants, including the presenter.

Ce contenu a été mis à jour le 18/04/2019 à 11 h 29 min.