Have you ever thought about pursuing an exchange as part of your program?

Jiire Fowler is entering into her fourth year with a major in Law and a minor in Community Engagement. Jiire has been active with the Law Society and was also a Law Ambassador in our department last year and is also the recipient of this year鈥檚 Transformation Scholarship.

Jiire is currently in Australia for the fall term to pursue an exchange as part of her degree! She has shared her experience in the exchange program below.

What made you decide to pursue an exchange term as part of your program?

My decision to pursue an exchange was spontaneous, as I considered and made the choice to apply less than a week before the deadline. At the time, I was genuinely enjoying my experience at 杏吧原创. However, I began to feel that my university experience was becoming very predictable and routine. I was not particularly keen to enter another year feeling that way, and I found myself wanting something new, which gave me a renewed sense of anticipation for my university experience. I felt that an exchange would give me the opportunity to rediscover those feelings of excitement and discovery I had at the beginning of university while challenging myself in a new environment. 

What did you choose Australia?

Australia has always been a country I was curious about, particularly because of its unique landscapes and history. While the opportunity to escape the Ottawa weather was definitely appealing, my decision to choose Australia was primarily driven by my academic interest in Indigenous legal issues. Throughout my time at 杏吧原创, I have developed a strong interest in Indigenous law and the ongoing impacts of settler colonialism. Australia offered a unique opportunity to explore these issues within a different settler-colonial context. I was particularly interested in how sovereignty was never ceded through treaties. The fact that Australia has always been, and will always be, Indigenous land really resonated with me and made it a particularly meaningful place to explore questions of Indigenous sovereignty. This was also especially relevant to my academic work. I am currently writing my honours thesis on violence against Indigenous women and criminal justice system responses, using a comparative analysis of Canada and Australia. Being able to live and study in Australia has therefore given me the opportunity to engage with these topics firsthand. 

What have you been enjoying about the country, and/or your classes?

I am absolutely loving my time in Australia鈥攊t has genuinely been a dream come true. The weather has been amazing, there is always something new to do and explore, and I have really enjoyed the laid-back but active lifestyle. In my first few weeks, I have loved exploring Sydney, from visiting the Harbour and Opera House to spending time at Bondi Beach and exploring the business district. Also, it has been really fun meeting and living with students from all over the world. I live in on-campus student accommodation, which has been one of the highlights of my experience.

I have also really enjoyed my classes. My tutorials have been a particular highlight because students here make a real effort to participate and engage with the lecture material, leading to some really interesting discussions. The course materials have also introduced me to topics I had never encountered before. One class I am particularly enjoying is Gender, Crime and Violence, which explores the intersections of gendered violence across a range of contexts. We have discussed topics including gender and drug education, environmental justice, and pregnancy and gendered violence. The diversity of these topics has challenged me and expanded my critical thinking.

What is one thing that stands out as being different from your experience as a student at a Canadian University?

One of the biggest differences I have noticed is how laid-back university culture feels in Australia. Of course, students work hard and professors maintain high expectations, but I have found that many Australian university students have a lot happening outside of their studies. Many of my peers work close to full-time hours while also maintaining other commitments. University seems to be an important part of their lives, but not necessarily the centre of it. This has actually been a really meaningful lesson for me personally. Throughout my education, I have struggled with allowing academics to consume and define me. Being in Australia has helped me realise that being a student is something I do, rather than something that defines who I am. I have started to think more about balance, making time for things that bring me joy outside of university, and developing an identity beyond academics. That is something I hope I will carry with me long after my exchange ends.

What advice would you give to someone interested in doing an exchange?

 I would absolutely recommend going on exchange to anyone who is interested. Even if you are unsure how you would make it work, I would encourage you to apply! An exchange is a significant academic, personal, and financial commitment, but if you can make it work, I genuinely believe the experience is worth it. I would recommend doing as much research as possible before choosing where to go. Look into the city, university, courses, accommodations, things to do, and the overall student experience. Think about what you want to get out of your exchange and what kind of environment you thrive in. Specifically, the host university, city, and the accommodation you live in really shape your experience, so finding the right fit is important. If you value community, I would highly recommend a school and city known for a strong student experience and living amongst other students. I was really glad that I took the time to research and ask questions beforehand because I felt like I knew what to expect, which made the transition much easier. Finally, don’t compare your exchange experience to anyone else’s. Comparison is most definitely the thief of joy, and social media can make it easy to feel like everyone else is having a more exciting experience, but your exchange is your experience. You do not have to recreate someone else’s version of exchange to have an amazing time. Focus on what makes you happy and the experiences that are meaningful to you. 

The post All about the exchange program with Jiire Fowler appeared first on Department of Law and Legal Studies.

We are pleased to welcome Sam Ghebrai to the department!

Sam recently joined us as a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow, working under the supervision of William H茅bert. Trained as a sociologist and specializing in qualitative inquiry, Sam鈥檚 research interests span the areas of critical criminology, gender and sexuality studies, and the sociology of law. Sam鈥檚 work primarily focuses on examining the impacts of, and critiquing, discretionary decision-making in the criminal justice system. Their doctoral research explored legal and administrative decisions and correctional policies to interrogate how social and legal discourses around sex are used to regulate people鈥檚 gender identities and expressions in Canada. For their postdoctoral research, Sam is currently exploring how trans people, legal practitioners, and advocacy groups respond to the tension between recently entrenched human rights advancements and their actual implementation in correctional practice. By exposing the gap between policy and practice, Sam鈥檚 work joins an array of scholarship calling for us to rethink how sex and gender are regulated beyond legal systems and in everyday life.

Welcome Sam!

The post Welcome Sam Ghebrai! appeared first on Department of Law and Legal Studies.

Meet David Minanengiyeofori! David is an international student from Lagos, Nigeria and is going into his final year of a combined honours BA majoring in Law and Psychology. David is one of the recipients of this year’s Sarah Metrick Scholarship in Introductory Law.

What lead you to decide to pursue your BA at 杏吧原创?

I realized early that the way members of society experience the law is significantly different and was intrigued by this phenomenon. The interdisciplinary nature of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Law program provided me with the opportunity to understand how and why legal institutions work in favour of some groups while simultaneously harming other groups in society.

Do you have a favourite part of your program?

My favourite part of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Law program is the instructors that I have had the honour of learning from. They not only look to impart you with knowledge but also champion your success inside and outside the classroom. A specific course and Instructor that stands out is LAWS 2202 (Obligations) with Alberto Salazar! (Highly recommend)

What are you hoping to do after graduation and what do you hope to gain from your degree?

After I graduate, I hope to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in psychology and then attend Law School. Ultimately, I hope to work in academia and contribute to research focusing on the experiences marginalized members of society face when proceeding through the legal system.

Any advice for incoming students?

1. Do you. University is a challenging journey; it only gets harder if you try to fit into the expectations of an 鈥渋deal student.鈥� It鈥檚 fine if you don鈥檛 study on the quiet floors in the library or take handwritten notes as opposed to typing.

1. Setbacks are inevitable, what is more important is how you deal with them. 鈥淔ind your passion, pursue it with excellence, and persevere till you achieve!鈥�- Dr. Salim Abdool Karim

1. Seek people out. University is a journey that seems daunting without the help of others. Thankfully there are a ton of people who are available to help. Professors and teaching assistants are always happy to help, going to office hours might be one of the best things you do for yourself. There are also over 100 clubs and student organizations (there鈥檚 something for everyone) that serve as a great way to make friends and gain extra curricular experience!

The post David Minanengiyeofori: Sarah Metrick Scholarship in Introductory Law recipient appeared first on Department of Law and Legal Studies.

We are pleased to share that Alberto Salazar, an Associate Professor in our department, was recently quoted in an article with CHCH, a Toronto based news outlet, in an article that discusses grocery surveillance pricing.

You can read this article .

The post Alberto Salazar quoted in CHCH article appeared first on Department of Law and Legal Studies.

We are pleased to share that Megan Gaucher, an Associate Professor in our department, recently had a publication featured on the Institute for Research on Public Policy titled, “Which families belong? Rethinking Canada鈥檚 Family Class Program.”

You can find this publication .

The post New Publication by Megan Gaucher appeared first on Department of Law and Legal Studies.

We are pleased to share a new publication that was put together by Laura Beach, a SSHRC postdoctoral fellow in our department.

This report on mental health, substance use, and incarceration in Nova Scotia, prepared by Dr. Beach and based on research they led during their time in our department.

You can read the full report here, and an article outlining this report on Wire Service Canada can be found .

The post Postdoctoral Fellow Laura Beach publishes report on mental health, substance use, and incarceration in Nova Scotia appeared first on Department of Law and Legal Studies.

Curious to hear what our faculty have been up to this summer?

Professor Christiane Wilke recently returned from Vienna, Austria where she was was invited to be a visiting professor at the University of Vienna’s Faculty of Law for their summer term. The Faculty of Law at the University of Vienna is the oldest and largest Faculty of Law that operates largely in German, teaching law since 1365.

The visit included teaching a class and giving a research presentation to faculty, Postdocs, and PhD students.

Professor Wilke will be teaching a fourth year seminar this fall on International Law and Armed Conflict (LAWS 4606). The course she taught in Vienna was short and intense: five days with two two hour classes every day. This gave an opportunity to try out some of the materials she plans to use in her class this coming year. The short and intense course was also an opportunity to build trust and have complex conversations about law, armed conflict, memory, and responsibility.

Professor Wilke has been on sabbatical since July 2025, returning this summer, and has made progress on a new research project that investigates how the US military has rationalized civilian casualties during the war in Iraq and Syria 2014-2018. The visiting professor position also included an opportunity to present this new research. She was also awarded a 2025 FPGA Teaching Excellence Award.

Registration for LAWS 4606 “International Law of Armed Conflict” will open to students in July. Check out the for more details.

If you have any further questions our courses, you can contact our undergraduate advisor at law@carleton.ca.

The post Christiane Wilke teaches course in Vienna appeared first on Department of Law and Legal Studies.

Monday June 8th was a very hot day, but also a momentous occasion as hundreds of graduates in our BA, MA and PhD programs crossed the stage at convocation to celebrate many years of hard work!

On behalf of the entire department, we want to extend a huge congratulations to our incredible Law and Legal Studies graduates. Your hard work, resilience, and brilliance have officially paid off. We are all proud of your accomplishments and cannot wait to see what you will do next!

The post 2026 Convocation Recap appeared first on Department of Law and Legal Studies.

We are pleased to share that Professor Vincent Kazmierski recently had a co-authored article published along with Yan Campagnolo of the University of Ottawa. This article was recently discussed in the Substack account of Canadian journalist Dean Beaby.

You can read more .

The post Vincent Kazmierski’s co-authored article featured in Dean Beaby’s Substack post appeared first on Department of Law and Legal Studies.

Congratulations to MA graduate Esquay Matsy, who was recently profiled by the university on her background, her journey in our MA program and her next steps.

You can read more about Esquay’s journey here.

The post Graduate Spotlight: Esquay Matsy appeared first on Department of Law and Legal Studies.