From Law to Legal Studies and Beyond: 50 Years of Law and Legal Studies at Carleton University

Abstract

This paper considers the evolution of Carleton University’s Department of Law and Legal Studies and its approach to the study of law and the legal within the context of the continuing growth of legal studies programs across Canada. It starts by outlining the historical development of the Department and the evolution of its perspective of its role and purpose. Part II examines a number of aspects of the architecture of fourteen undergraduate legal studies programs across the country and the ways in which the roles of these programs are described. Part III provides a brief outline of the current structure of the undergraduate programs offered by the Department and considers how it fits within the broader landscape of academic units offering undergraduate legal studies programs in Canada. The paper concludes by identifying some of the challenges faced by the Department as it prepares for the next 50 years.

Keywords: legal studies, law and society, Canada, socio-legal, education, law, undergraduate