University of Victoria Faculty of Law

06/05/2026

Rebecca Wong is graduating this spring — and her experience in the JD/JID program is simply inspiring. 🎓

Q: What motivated you to return to school and pursue a JD/JID?

A: I grew up hearing how deeply my grandparents cared for our Bidayuh native customary rights land in Borneo. Over time, I learned that the struggles of Indigenous peoples in the Asia-Pacific and on Turtle Island are similar. I realized I needed a legal degree. I was hesitant because I felt Canadian law was a rigid, colonial system. Then I learned about the JD/JID. It enabled critical engagement with Canadian common law and true engagement with Indigenous law.

Q: What moment or memory stands out most from your time at UVic?

A: A field school in the Northwest Territories, with Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation and Pedzeh Ki First Nation. It was a dream of mine to see the Northern Lights.

Q: Which instructor had a positive impact on you?

A: Professor Pooja Parmar! I worked as a research assistant for her. Her expertise on the Indigeneity in a Global Context project shaped a lot of my own research. Through our work, I connected with other Indigenous Asian scholars which created opportunities to travel to Taiwan and Hawaii to present my major research paper on Bidayuh law called “adat.”

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

A: I will be articling with a small firm based in Ontario, called Fullerton Beresford Law LLP. They work with First Nation governments and support governance, self-government and land claim negotiations.

Q: What would you tell someone who is considering choosing UVic for their degree?

A: The transsystemic nature of our law degree provides the chance to expand how we see and think through law. In my major research paper, I applied the case brief methodology we learned in the program, developed by Val Napoleon and Hadley Friedland, to Bidayuh stories. It is probably the first application of the methodology in a Southeast Asian Indigenous context. It provided me with a brand-new way of learning about our Bidayuh law.

06/03/2026

Tl’ul’thut Robert Morales has dedicated his life to holding up Indigenous legal orders — long before they were discussed in law school classrooms.

For three decades he’s helped restore Indigenous jurisdiction to its rightful place. Today, we honour Tl’ul’thut, in advance of his UVic Honorary Degree, with a symposium celebrating his decades of leadership advancing land claims and treaty negotiations.

An early Indigenous UVic Law graduate (’86), Tl’ul’thut has been chief negotiator for the Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group for 25 years, representing six First Nations in some of the most difficult and consequential treaty negotiations in BC. He has changed law, policy and public understanding of Indigenous law in BC, Canada and beyond.

We raise our hands to Tl’ul’thut for his his continued work in Indigenous law and the many transformative advances in Indigenous rights we see today.

05/28/2026

We invite you to join us in celebrating UVic Law alum (Tl’ul’thut) Robert Morales (’86) in advance of his upcoming Honorary Degree from UVic. For 25 years, he has shaped vital conversations on treaty-making, governance, jurisdiction and Indigenous–Crown relations.

Be part of Honouring Tl’ul’thut: Treaty-Making and the Return of Territorial Authority Symposium.

📅 June 3
📍 Large Gathering Space, Indigenous Law Wing
🕙 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
🔗 https://events.uvic.ca/law/event/108073-symposium-honouring-tlulthut-robert-morales

05/19/2026

Registration open for summer courses in Intellectual and Cultural Property Law! Offered jointly by the UVic Faculty of Law and Continuing Studies at UVic, the program is the first of its kind to offer a specialized, intersecting approach combining Canadian intellectual property laws with the recognition and protection of Indigenous laws and culture.

Registration now open for Indigenous Intellectual Property (taught by Dr. Val Napoleon) and Intellectual Property (taught by Robert Howell). Courses are in-person, June 1-30.

✅Complete four of the five core courses to earn a Professional Specialization Certificate in Intellectual and Cultural Property Law.
✅Courses are accredited and qualify for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit through the Law Society of British Columbia.

Full details:

This professional development program explores the principles, concepts and relationship between intellectual property and Indigenous cultural property, la

05/14/2026

Join the Law Centre! The University of Victoria Faculty of Law is seeking a Supervising Lawyer to join the Law Centre Clinical Program.

⚖️ The Supervising Lawyer is a clinical law instructor and a licensed practicing lawyer working to provide supervision, advice, feedback, and assistance to students in the provision of legal services. The role works under the supervision of the Clinical Director to lead seminars, develop policies and contribute to the Law Centre's efforts to improve access to justice.

🎓 The appointee is expected to have a J.D. or LL.B. degree and have membership or eligibility for membership in the Law Society of British Columbia. They must have a minimum of three years call to the Bar in British Columbia and are expected to have 3 to 10 years of relevant legal practice.

See full job description for details and how to apply!

The Law Centre at the University of Victoria's Faculty of Law is seeking a Supervising Lawyer to fill a term appointment from June 2026 to January 2027, with the possibility of renewal.

05/07/2026

Last week Dr. Val Napoleon was honoured with the Janusz Korczak Statuette, awarded for lifetime achievement in child advocacy and for vision and leadership in promoting the holistic approach to the wellbeing of children.

In an award ceremony at Government House in Victoria, Dr. Napoleon’s reception speech featured two stories that discuss citizenry from the perspective of Raven Tricksters.
Congratulations Val!

Left to right: Dr. Christine Loock, Dr. Val Napoleon, and Dr. Parmis Aslanimehr.

05/02/2026

The Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria invites candidates to apply for an Impact Chair position in International Indigenous Law.

The International Indigenous Law Impact Chair will provide academic leadership in Indigenous legal scholarship with an international and transsystemic focus, connecting Indigenous legal orders across jurisdictions while grounding the work in respectful, community-engaged methodologies.

Application deadline: June 15

🔗Full posting:

Inspired by and honouring place, we are a community-minded, globally engaged university where we transform ideas into meaningful impact.

05/01/2026

Dr. Darcy Lindberg is transforming the landscape of Indigenous law research.

🏆 To celebrate his work, Dr. Lindberg was honoured with the ʔəy̓ nəwəl ʔist | ÍY,NEUELIST | Moving forward together for the good of all | Indigenous Scholar Award for Excellence in Research at the 2026 REACH Awards last night.

Accepting the award on behalf of Dr. Lindberg was Ruth Young, Special Advisor, Indigenous Initiatives at UVic Law.

🔗 Learn more about Dr. Lindberg’s impact and research: https://www.uvic.ca/law/news-and-stories/stories/reach-lindberg-2026.php

05/01/2026

As one of Canada’s leading voices on legal pedagogy, Professor Gillian Calder's work shapes how law is taught at UVic.

🏆 In recognition of her work, Calder was presented with UVic's top teaching honour, the Harry Hickman Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching and Educational Leadership, at the 2026 REACH Awards last night.

🔗 Explore how Calder helps students to deepen their understanding of the law through experiential learning:

Calder receives the 2026 Harry Hickman Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching and Educational Leadership, UVic’s top teaching honour.

04/30/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Val Napoleon on being named a 2026 Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation Fellow!

The fellowship recognizes Napoleon’s vision for a society where Indigenous legal orders stand strong alongside Canadian law.

💬 “I am grateful to the foundation because in recognizing this work, they’re recognizing all the people—Indigenous leaders, community members and allies—that came before me and continue the important work in Indigenous law.” - Val Napoleon

The fellowship will support her in expanding her latest research initiative Next Steps Rebuilding Indigenous Law, dedicated to Indigenous law renewing and rebuilding Indigenous legal orders across Canada.

🔗 Learn more about this fellowship: https://ow.ly/1RY750YSJpO