Peter A. Allard School of Law

Today, Allard Law professor Bruce MacDougall begins a one-year term as Dean pro tem of the Peter A. Allard School of Law.

Dean MacDougall first joined the law school as a faculty member in 1988. He's served as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Professional Programs, and has extensive experience in teaching at the JD and graduate level. He is also an accomplished writer and contributes yearly to publications for the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC. His work is frequently cited by the courts.

Learn more about Dean MacDougall in this Q&A, where he shares reflections on his time at Allard, his love of teaching, and what he’s most looking forward to about his new role as Dean pro tem: https://allard.ubc.ca/about-us/news-and-announcements/2026/get-know-bruce-macdougall-allard-laws-new-dean-pro-tem

Our deepest thanks to Professor Ngai Pindell for his leadership and dedicated service to Allard Law during his time as Dean.

Get to know Bruce MacDougall, Allard Law's new Dean pro tem | Peter A. Allard School of Law Dean MacDougall shares his reflections on nearly four decades as a faculty member at Allard Law, his love of teaching, and what he’s most looking forward to about his new role.

For many law students, participating in a moot can be an important step towards building those legal advocacy skills and gaining confidence in a courtroom.

We spoke with three Allard Law students and recent grads who competed in upper-year moots this spring about what they learned from the experience.

They say mooting helped them move beyond their notes and meaningfully engage with a judge – a skill that will stay with them throughout their legal careers.

Thank you to everyone who played a part in supporting our students throughout their moots. We're so grateful to the volunteer judges, coaches and all the people behind the scenes.

Allard Law’s mooting program is also made possible by the financial support of the legal community. Thank you to all our generous supporters for their recent sponsorship!

Learning to think on your feet in moot court | Peter A. Allard School of Law Long before your first real court appearance, participating in a moot can be an important step in getting more comfortable with legal advocacy.

Congratulations to 2026 Allard Law grads Tyleigh Massey-Leclerc and Dylan Nouri on their Supreme Court of Canada clerkships! They'll be heading to Ottawa next year.

Tyleigh says she was “smiling ear to ear” when she first got the call from Justice Nicholas Kasirer offering her the position. She's particularly excited about the opportunity to “take a peek behind the curtain at our court of last resort” and to practice her French legalese.

Dylan says it was “absolutely surreal” getting his offer from Supreme Court Justice Mahmud Jamal. Since starting law school, he's closely followed the Supreme Court’s decisions. “This is an extremely unique opportunity to be on the other side of the bench," he adds.

Meet the Allard Law grads bound for Canada’s highest court | Peter A. Allard School of Law A Supreme Court of Canada clerkship is one of the highest honours available to Canadian law school graduates. Allard Law grads Tyleigh Massey-Leclerc and Dylan Nouri will begin SCC clerkships in September 2027.

Congratulations to Judge Perbeen Mann, Judge Jacinta Lawton, and Judge Scott Wright on their recent appointments to the Provincial Court of British Columbia!

Judge Mann has taught courses in Allard Law's LLM program as an adjunct professor since 2018, Judge Lawton is an Allard Law alum, and Judge Wright has served as a volunteer coach in our moot program and supervised trials as part of the Law Students Legal Advice Program.

Learn more:

Appointing three Provincial Court judges to serve southwestern B.C. (Updated April 29, 2026) Appointments strengthen access to justice in Port Coquitlam, Surrey and Abbotsford

Congratulations to the Allard Law professors who were named UBC Faculty Wellbeing Champions! Professors Emma Cunliffe, Jon Festinger, KC, Carol Liao and Salima Samnani, KC and Adjunct Professor Amin Sabzevari were honoured at a special event earlier this month.

Dr. Carol Liao was asked to speak at the event, and reflected on what it meant to her, and her fellow honourees, to be nominated by their students:

“Teaching is, at its core, a relationship built on trust, vulnerability, and shared effort. To be seen in that very special professor-student relationship, and to be recognized for it, is deeply meaningful to me and for all of us professors in the room… My students challenge me, they inspire me, they expand the way I think about law, justice, and community. Being a teacher is mutually sustaining. I gain so much from the energy, curiosity, and integrity that my students bring into the classroom. Being even a small part of their journeys is something I feel so utterly grateful for.”
– Dr. Carol Liao

Read more about the inaugural celebration event: https://wellbeing.ubc.ca/news/april-04-2026/faculty-wellbeing-champions-celebrated-inaugural-student-driven-event

Congratulations to Dr. Craig Jones, Director of the Housing Assessment Resource Tools (HART) Project, on receiving the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association's Leadership Award!

Dr. Jones has been a dedicated advocate for more non-profit housing, more community housing on public land, stronger tenant protections, and better access to housing data for everyone who needs it. He’s led the development, implementation and advocacy of the HART Project since its inception, and has researched and advocated for better housing policy for over a decade.

Launched in 2022 and based at the Peter A. Allard School of Law, the HART Project’s tools have saved governments and non-profit organizations millions annually.

Learn more: https://allard.ubc.ca/about-us/news-and-announcements/2026/dr-craig-jones-awarded-canadian-housing-and-renewal-association-leadership-award

Congratulations to Professor Sara Gordon on being awarded the George Curtis Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence!

Gordon's student nominators say the amount of thought and care she puts into her teaching has been incredibly motivating. Her approach to teaching is grounded in research that shows students who feel psychologically safe and enjoy their classes have better learning outcomes.

Professor Sara Gordon recognized for making legal learning “a joy” for students | Peter A. Allard School of Law Allard Law Professor Sara Gordon has been awarded the George Curtis Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence.

Applications now open for this year's LSAT preparation course for self-identifying Black and Indigenous applicants.

Apply before May 8, 2026.

The 2026 program will take place from June to August, with live virtual sessions held on Monday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 pm PT. Exact dates will be provided soon.

LSAT Preparation Course for Black and Indigenous Applicants | Peter A. Allard School of Law Allard Law Indigenous Legal Studies, in partnership with the UBC Black Law Students' Association, will be offering a free LSAT preparation course for self-identifying Black and Indigenous applicants this summer. Program Features course will prepare you for taking the LSAT as early as S...

Congratulations Professor Karin Mickelson for being awarded the 2025/26 Killam Teaching Prize!

The prize is awarded annually to faculty nominated by students, colleagues and alumni in recognition of excellence in teaching.

Last year Professor Mickelson was awarded the George Curtis Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence and she reflected on her career and the most rewarding aspects of teaching: https://allard.ubc.ca/about-us/news-and-announcements/2025/professor-karin-mickelson-awarded-george-curtis-memorial-award-teaching-excellence

Thank you for your generosity and spreading the word on Giving Day!

In an inspiring 24 hours of giving, the Allard Law community raised $72,523 (and counting as gifts continue to be processed) for five meaningful causes!

✅ UBC Innocence Project: $55,435
- The Leon Judah Blackmore Foundation generously gifted $50,000 in challenges, which were all successfully unlocked!

✅ Allard Law Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award: $5,200
- When 10 donors gave to the DEI Award, a gift of $2,500 was unlocked from an anonymous donor.

✅ Indigenous Law Students' Association Award: $5,078
- When 10 donors gave to the ILSA Award, $2,000 was gifted from an anonymous donor.

✅ International Justice and Human Rights Clinic: $3,585
- The first $1,500 in gifts to the IJHR Clinic were matched by CFM Lawyers LLP.

✅ Centre for Feminist Legal Studies: $3,225
- We unlocked a challenge gift of $1,000 in matched funds from an anonymous donor.

In total, UBC Giving Day 2026 has raised $1,309,579 (and counting) from over 4,738 donors across both campuses and we are grateful for everyone’s support!

Thank you! To learn more about the university-wide impact of the day, please visit givingday.ubc.ca.