Peter A Allard School of Law

Indigenous Legal Studies

We are proud to have one of the highest enrollment numbers of Indigenous law students in Canada. Since 1975, hundreds of Indigenous students have graduated from the law school. Many of these graduates are now leaders who have helped to redefine Indigenous legal issues in Canada. Our alumni include Jody Wilson-Raybould, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada; the late Judge Alfred Scow, the first Aboriginal lawyer and judge in British Columbia; and The Honourable Steven Point, former Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia and recently appointed Chancellor of UBC

With strong support from faculty members, staff, and students associated with Indigenous Legal Studies, the Allard School of Law recruits and supports Indigenous law students, offers courses in Aboriginal and Indigenous law, conducts research often in partnership with Indigenous peoples and nations, provides legal assistance to Indigenous peoples through the Indigenous Community Legal Clinic in the Downtown Eastside, and generally fosters a greater understanding of the place of Indigenous peoples in Canadian society and abroad.

 

 

Specialization in Indigenous Legal Studies

Provides JD students an opportunity to be recognized for concentrating studies on courses related to Indigenous legal issues.

Kawaskimhon (Aboriginal Rights) Moot

Students gain valuable insights by being coached by practicing lawyers and experiencing multi party consensus based negotiations on Indigenous legal issues with teams from across Canada.

Indigenous Community Legal Clinic

The clinic provides students with the opportunity to gain practical hands-on experience , while serving a historically under-served and marginalized community.

Indigenous Law Student Association

Student Support

We offer a diverse range of academic, cultural, and career support to Indigenous students.

Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre

Indigenous Cultural Competency Certificate

Participants in this program are exposed to concepts and materials on decolonization, Indigenous laws, and Elder-led teachings.

House Post

Indigenous Features at Allard Hall

Allard Hall includes several features designed to reflect Musqueam culture and the role of Musqueam.

Indigenous Community Legal Clinic

Contact Us

There is a dedicated team of faculty, staff and students here to answer your questions. Explore ILS committee member and Indigenous faculty profiles.

Featured Articles

ILS Summer Intensive in Tort Law builds community, provides skill development and Indigenous legal perspectives

This past summer, Indigenous Legal Studies brought together faculty, Indigenous alumni and other members of the legal community to offer the Indigenous Legal Studies Summer Intensive in Tort Law to incoming Indigenous first-year students.

From left to right: ILS student Levi Gordian, ILS Academic Director Lee Schmidt, ILS student Sarah Chetney

Truth and Reconciliation Resource Recommendations for Indigenous History Month and Beyond

In this list, Allard Law faculty and staff share their recommendations for students and colleagues in the legal community on the themes of truth and reconciliation and Indigenous and Aboriginal law. The list includes reports, films, articles and books by authors including Allard Law Professors Gordon Christie, Robert YELḰÁTŦE Clifford and Johnny Mack.

Collage of book covers

New Summer Program Provides Support for Indigenous Students

Starting law school can be both an exciting and daunting time if you don’t know what to expect. But imagine starting in the middle of a global pandemic? To help our cohort of newest students feel supported during these uncertain times, Allard Law had to act fast to find innovative ways of connecting with students. 

ILS Summer Intensive Course

 

Peter A. Allard School of Law UBC Crest The official logo of the University of British Columbia. Urgent Message An exclamation mark in a speech bubble. Arrow An arrow indicating direction. Caret A month-view page from a calendar. Caret An arrowhead indicating direction. Contact A page from a rolodex. Facebook The logo for the Facebook social media service. Information The letter 'i' in a circle. Instagram The logo for the Instagram social media service. Instagram An arrow exiting a rectangle. Linkedin The logo for the LinkedIn social media service. Mail An envelope. Minus A minus sign. Telephone An antique telephone. Play A media play button. Plus A plus symbol indicating more or the ability to add. Rss The logo for the Reddit social media service. Rss A symbol with radiating bars indicating an RSS feed. Search A magnifying glass. Twitter The logo for the Twitter social media service. Youtube The logo for the YouTube video sharing service.