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The Council of Canadian Law Deans (CCLD)

The Council of Canadian Law Deans (CCLD) is composed of the Deans of all of Canada’s law faculties and departments and provides them with a forum to discuss matters of mutual concern. The affairs of the CCLD are overseen by the Executive Committee comprised of the President and four representatives, one from each of the following regions: the Western Region, the Ontario Region, the Quebec Region and the Atlantic Region. The daily operations are managed by the Executive Director. The CCLD logo reflects Canada’s commitment to legal plurality. Its three pillars represent the foundational systems of law in Canada and affirm the CCLD’s dedication to recognizing Indigenous Legal Orders as living and enduring systems of law that coexist alongside Canada’s common and civil law.

By the numbers

Canadian law schools

Common law faculties

Civil law faculties

Law students

Law professors

Masters programs

A word from our President, Dean Kristen Boon

Welcome to the Council of Canadian Law Deans. We are the leaders of Canada’s 25 law schools. In English and French, common law and civil law, our 12000 students are tackling the most pressing legal issues of the day and developing the skills to become the legal leaders of tomorrow. We prepare graduates to embrace innovation, champion access to justice and engage with the pressing challenges of our time.

In legal academia, we are looking towards the future. One of the benefits of the CCLD is that we are constantly learning from each other. Canadian legal education is very dynamic and we are focused on:

  • Diversified teaching methods: many professors now teach beyond the traditional case method, to include problem-based learning, alternative dispute resolution, and experiential learning;
  • Indigenous Law: most faculties now offer a compulsory first-year course;
  • Mental health and wellbeing of students and the law school community;
  • How artificial intelligence is reshaping the practice of law, legal education, and the digital literacy and ethical frameworks required for a profession in rapid transformation.

Canada’s law schools remain dedicated to delivering a legal education that is dynamic, inclusive and world-class.

I am proud to be the President of this extraordinary group. I will ensure the CCLD continues to be at the forefront of this legal journey.

New Dean - Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law

We are delighted to announce that Professor Christopher Essert has been appointed Dean of the Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law, effective February 1, 2026, through December 31, 2030, following an extensive international search.

Professor Essert is an innovative scholar whose research focuses on private law, property and tort theory, and legal and political philosophy. Professor Essert received his BA from McGill University, his JD from the University of Toronto (U of T), and his LLM and JSD from Yale Law School.

Since joining U of T in 2018, Professor Essert has served as Associate Dean of the JD Program (2020–2025) and held visiting academic appointments at UCLA School of Law and Auckland Law School. Prior to joining U of T, he was a faculty member at Queen’s University Faculty of Law.

As a sought-after NSERC and SSHRC funded researcher, Professor Essert is the author of over thirty articles, editor of two different collections, co-author of the main Canadian textbook in tort law, and author of a monograph, Property Law in the Society of Equals (OUP 2024). He has published articles in Philosophy & Public Affairs, Legal Theory, Law & Philosophy, Jurisprudence, the McGill Law Journal, and the University of Toronto Law Journal.

Please join us in congratulating Professor Christopher Essert on his appointment as Dean.

Our upcoming meeting

Saskatoon - April 30th & May 1st

Dean Boon will chair our upcoming meeting. Members look forward to discussing a wide range of issues related to legal education in Canada. 

What we  do

The Council of Canadian Law Deans (CCLD) is an independent and unincorporated not-for-profit association bringing together the heads of the various law schools across Canada. The CCLD’s main purpose is the consultation, amongst its members, on matters of mutual concern, such as:

  • legal education in Canada
  • legal research
  • cooperation among law schools
  • relations with law teachers, accreditation bodies, the legal profession and other learned bodies

Where appropriate, the CCLD issues public statements and communicates with government and other organizations on issues relating to legal education.

History of the Council

The Council of Canadian Law Deans (CCLD), established in 1974, has long served as a national forum for collaboration amongst the deans of Canadian law schools. Over the decades, it has addressed key issues in legal education, curriculum reform, and responses to regulatory change and accreditation standards. Leadership of the CCLD rotates amongst deans from across the country. Past presidents have played a vital role in shaping its ongoing priorities. Collectively, these leaders have ensured that the CCLD remains a strong voice in shaping the future of Canadian legal education.

Past members have included leaders in promoting bilingual legal education, civil liberties, Indigenous rights and a variety of other fields. Some have been called to the bench to continue their contribution to the legal system, others have returned to scholarly pursuits. Collectively this group of dynamic individuals has played a ongoing role at the forefront of the Canadian legal system.