Today, Allard Law professor Bruce MacDougall begins a one-year term as Dean pro tem of the Peter A. Allard School of Law.
In this Q&A, Dean MacDougall shares his reflections on nearly four decades as a faculty member at the law school, his enduring love of teaching, and what he’s most looking forward to about his new role.
What made you decide to take on the role of Dean pro tem?
It’s not so much aspirational in nature. I have a sense of loyalty and a great affection for this place. So when the university asks me to do something because they think I might be useful, I’m more than willing to do what I can for the law school.
What is it about the law school that means so much to you?
It’s almost entirely the people, and first and foremost, the students. I draw so much inspiration from them. Some of the details are different, but they’re the same optimistic, curious, intelligent, energetic people that I remember from almost 40 years ago when I started teaching here.
I’ve also always had a great affection and a lot of respect for the staff. They’ve been the most approachable, generous and talented people that we could hope for. And my colleagues – I’m always amazed at the issues they’re investigating, the courses they’re teaching and the perspectives they take. I learn a lot from them.
I confess, I used to have more affection for the old building. It was sort of a lovable monstrosity.
You first came to Allard Law as an assistant professor in 1988. Can you say a bit more about how things have changed since you started?
In the old days, when students were bored with my lectures, some would read newspapers in class, and so it was a little more obvious that they were less than engaged or less than amused, because there would be a great big newspaper that would go up. Whereas now, one just gets the sense that they might be looking at something else on the screen rather than what I’m doing.
Tell us about a memory from your early days here that stands out to you.
I remember in the old days that there were teas once a week or once a month at the Dean’s house for the faculty members’ wives to get together. Being gay, I didn’t have a wife, so I wasn’t sure if I did have a partner, whether or not the partner would be expected to go... I think it was on Thursday morning – the “Thursday morning faculty wives’ events.”
That didn’t last a long time, but the concept of it amused me while it lasted.
You’re known for your love of teaching and will continue to teach during your term as Dean pro tem. Why was it important to you to keep teaching?
I very much enjoy teaching. I actually wanted to teach more than the university was willing to let me while I’m dean pro tem!
The students always point out gaps in my knowledge because they’ll ask questions I hadn’t thought about, or they’ll point out that something’s not logical or that’s missing. Over the years, I’ve gone off on so many research projects simply because the students asked questions.
I also think it’s important that those who are in the Dean’s Office have ongoing contact with students in general, and not just student leaders or students who are in a difficult situation. In my mind, one of the easiest ways to do that is to see students in class.
What’s been your favourite course to teach?
Secured Transactions. I could teach that course 10 times a week and I’d never grow tired of it. It’s just a riot of rules, but there’s a real logic to it. Students have to stay on top of the material, because you cannot understand tomorrow’s class if you weren’t there for today’s. It’s like a story that unfolds, and I love revealing it with all its complexity.
I haven’t taught Law and Sexuality for a while, but that was also very rewarding. Not everybody in the class identified as queer or LGBTQ+ , but many of them did, and I think everybody felt it was kind of a safe place. You could see them relax there.
Over the years, you’ve been an advocate for maintaining a strong connection between the law school and the Law Society. Why is this connection so important?
We have an obvious connection with the profession, and I think it’s extremely important that we retain, cherish and foster that connection.
As part of the university, we’re mainly an academic institution, but the fact is that most of our students are here because they want to become professional lawyers. Part of what we teach, how we teach it, and when we teach it are driven by the norms set by the Federation of Law Societies across the country. So, it’s imperative that the law school understand what’s important to the profession, and perhaps what the profession expects we’re going to teach students, so that they’re prepared when they leave law school.
What are you looking forward to most this year?
I’m very much looking forward to connecting with alumni and getting to meet former students. The ones I’ve met over the years so far, I’m impressed with how well they’ve done. Not necessarily that they’ve become rich or reached high office, but I’m proud of the choices they’ve made. I always look forward to seeing them and I hope this role will mean more opportunities for that.
