Program Overview

Certification in Common Law in French

The University of Calgary Faculty of Law offers the Certification in Common Law in French (CCLF) through a partnership with the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law. This unique opportunity is available to select students with French-language ability, providing them with valuable skills in French legal writing and advocacy, as well as a deep understanding of language rights in Canada.

Program Details

Through the CCLF program, students will gain:

• Valuable skills in French legal writing and advocacy
• A deep understanding of the important issues surrounding language rights in Canada
• The ability to increase access to justice for French-speaking clients in Alberta and across Canada

Career Opportunities

The CCLF is a first step towards a variety of career opportunities, including:

• Prestigious clerkship opportunities with the Supreme Court of Canada, the federal courts, and the federal public service
• Legal careers where legal training and proficiency in both official languages is an asset
• Providing legal services to the Francophone community, in the language to which they are entitled
• Contributing to the administration of justice in both official languages
• Joining a network of more than 1,000 alumni of the uOttawa French Common Law Program who share this unique training, recognized for its excellence in Canada and around the world

Program Information

The CCLF program is offered through a partnership with the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, and is one of only two law schools in Canada to offer this unique opportunity. The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of French language and law, and to prepare them for a career in law where proficiency in both official languages is an asset.

Graduate Success

Matthew Benson is the first graduate of the law school's Certification in Common Law in French, and is an example of the success that can be achieved through this program. The CCLF program opens doors for graduates, providing them with a unique set of skills and knowledge that can be applied in a variety of legal careers.