Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office (EDIO)

Allard Law has long been committed to diversifying the faculty. During a period of faculty expansion between 2015 and 2020, 26 new faculty members were hired. Of these 26, 11 (or 42%) were Indigenous, Asian or Black.  Since 2020, eight new faculty members have been hired. Of these eight, six (or 75%) have been Indigenous, Asian or Black.

In 2025-2026, Allard Law is introducing an Indigenous Legal Traditions Distinguished Scholar position. This position will bring an Indigenous scholar into the law school on an annual basis to teach a one-credit course and deliver a public lecture. 

Allard Law established the Hon. Selwyn Romilly UBC Professorship in Race and Access to Justice, held by Dr. Irehobhude Iyioha and made possible by financial support from the Law Foundation of British Columbia. The Professorship was created to elevate and increase capacity for the law school’s teaching, research and advocacy efforts in the areas of race, racism and the law and access to justice.

In November 2024, Allard Law created an EDI Research Fund (with support from the Law Foundation of BC) to promote faculty research on race and law, with a priority for research proposals relating to anti-Black racism and law. $30,000 is available annually to support projects.

Launched in August 2024, the IDEA (Identity, Diversity, Equity, Allyship) Leaders Pre-Orientation Program brings together incoming first-year students from historically, systemically and persistently marginalized groups and allies with the aim of supporting students and building connections from day one.

We have an expanding Academic Resource Program for students from persistently and historically marginalized groups.

We offer numerous bursaries and scholarships to law students who self-identify or work substantially with Indigenous, racialized, or historically, persistently, and systematically marginalized groups, totalling more than $400,000 each year. We are committed to continuing to work with donors and the university to increase this support.

An in-house Student Wellbeing Counsellor dedicated to the law school helps students navigate personal and professional challenges.

In 2023, Allard Law created the Afghan Women Judges Program. This program, which includes English language instruction, generously provided on a tuition-free basis by UBC’s English Language Institute, continues to support three judges who were forced to flee Afghanistan to Canada in response to the Taliban’s takeover. 

We continue to seek out a broad range of voices and perspectives to feature in Allard Law’s annual endowed lectures, including the Mawhinney, the McK Brown, the Owen, the Southin and the Law at UBC Distinguished Speaker lectures.

In 2023-2024, Allard Law restarted its Global South Visiting Scholar-in-Residence Program. Scholars from Tanzania and Sri Lanka were hosted in both 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 (respectively), and the next scholar (from Bangladesh) will arrive in August 2025.

Allard Law has continued to develop an institutional relationship with the University of Ghana School of Law, including by hosting a visit by the Dean of UGSOL to Allard Law and by taking steps to organize a joint conference between Allard Law and UGSOL in Ghana in October/November 2025. 

Annual funding is available for students to attend EDI-oriented conferences.

The law school continually strives to improve its curriculum to be consistent with EDI principles. Recent developments include:

• In 2024-25 and 2025-26, Allard Law staff and faculty are taking part in UBC’s Universal Design for Learning Fellows Program to develop expertise in UDL while improving accessibility and inclusion in teaching and learning.
• As a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, Allard Law introduced a mandatory course for all first-year students at the law school, Indigenous Settler Legal Relations. Additionally, Allard Law’s Specialization in Indigenous Legal Studies provides students with an opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of legal issues affecting Indigenous peoples and Aboriginal law in Canada.

The EDI Office is developing an EDI Training Program for faculty, staff and senior administrators of the law school.  It is anticipated that the program will officially launch in the winter of 2025.

The EDI Office, in collaboration with Allard Law’s Student Wellbeing Counsellor, is developing a toolkit for students and faculty focused on navigating difficult and sensitive course content in classroom. The project is funded through the UBC Wellbeing Strategic Initiative Fund.

The diversity of the student body is a strength of our law school. In an incoming class of about 200 JD students in 2023, 57% of students identified as Indigenous or racialized. For the incoming class of 2024, 59% of students identified as Indigenous or racialized.

Our graduate programs continue to attract a diverse student body, representing a broad range of cultural and educational backgrounds. International students now make up over 50% of students in our research-based graduate and professional programs, with a majority of our international students coming from East Asian, South Asian and Sub-Saharan African countries.

Our Student Ambassadors’ Program supports prospective students in making an informed decision about applying to law school. Students from historically underrepresented groups – including first-generation students, students who identify as Black, Indigenous or as a person of colour, and students with disabilities – are strongly encouraged to apply as Ambassadors, and can help answer any questions and provide prospective students with first-hand knowledge of the law school experience.