Indigenous Legal
Studies Program

The Peter A. Allard School of Law at UBC was among the first in the Canada to offer courses and experiential learning opportunities focused on Indigenous peoples, issues, and Aboriginal Law when we first began Indigenous Legal Studies nearly 50 years ago.

Since then, it has grown to boast one of the highest enrollments of Indigenous law students in Canada, and hundreds of Indigenous students have graduated from the law school. With support from faculty members, staff, and students, Indigenous Legal Studies:

• recruits and supports Indigenous law students throughout their law school experience with one-on-one advising, approachable faculty, and opportunities like the Indigenous Legal Studies (ILS) Academic Leadership Certificate — Summer Intensive;
• Indigenous and non-Indigenous faculty members offer courses and research focused on Indigenous peoples and issues including Aboriginal law;
• conducts research in partnership with Indigenous Peoples and Nations;
• provides legal assistance to Indigenous individuals through the Indigenous Community Legal Clinic in the Downtown Eastside and;
• fosters greater understanding of Indigenous peoples in Canadian society and abroad through the Indigenous Cultural Competency Certificate.

However, the Allard School of Law recognizes there is a greater call — to increase opportunities for Indigenous students to study law, to address inequitable access to justice for Indigenous communities, make a meaningful contribution to a historically underserved community, and aid in decolonizing the law so that the Indigenous legal system and civil and common law in Canada work in harmony.

If you believe in a more representative justice system, with more Indigenous members of the bar; increased legal scholarship aimed at bringing more equity for Indigenous peoples within the system; and finding innovative ways to practice law to protect both Indigenous and non-Indigenous interests—such as the environment, climate change, natural resource extraction, and land treaties — please, make a gift today to support Indigenous Legal Studies.