Programme de droit canadien

Update coming

Please note that due to recent changes to our JD program, this course sequence is currently under review for implementation as of September 2025. An update will be posted in the coming days.

For more than 50 years, �糵��’s Faculty of Law has been offering, in both official languages, complete programs in the two most widely used legal systems in the world: common law and civil law. Beginning in September 2008, the Faculty launched a new program, the Programme de droit canadien (PDC), and allowing students to earn both a JD and an LL.L. in three years, thus opening the doors to the practice of law across Canada and abroad. The Programme de droit canadien reflect the needs of future lawyers in Canada. It is an innovative program that permits students to benefit from the richness of diverse Canadian legal traditions in order to better respond to changes in society.

Twenty exceptional candidates are admitted each year to the PDC. Students spend three years, including summer course-work, at the Faculty of Law. Certain courses are designed specifically for PDC students, and most of the program is offered in French, though knowledge of English is required.

�糵��’s Faculty of Law has long been recognized for its vast range of courses in law and technology, international law, social justice, environmental law, and Aboriginal peoples and the law. Located at the heart of the federal capital, the Faculty of Law offers students unique internship opportunities within the country’s decision-making institutions—Parliament, Supreme Court, federal departments and tribunals, and non-governmental organizations. The Faculty of Law offers candidates an enriching and stimulating education corresponding to the values of an open society and respectful of the rule of law.

What distinguishes our alumni?

They are knowledgeable and understanding of the legal traditions of Canada;
They can work in common law and civil law jurisdictions in Canada as well as the rest of the world;
They have comparative analytical skills that make them an asset to the Canadian law firms who deal with international customers in an increasingly globalized market.

Program requirements

Additional information

The admission process is the same process that applies to the French Common Law Program (PCLF) at the Faculty of Law. Applications are submitted online through the Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS). Candidates must clearly indicate that their application should be considered for the PDC (Programme de droit canadien).

The admission criteria are as follows: at least three years of university study (with the exception of adult candidates), an outstanding academic record, a form of community and social engagement, the ability to follow a rigorous study program in French, some knowledge of English and favorable letters of recommendation.

Each candidate must submit a personal statement, two letters of recommendation and official transcripts for all post-secondary education. The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is not required for admission to the PDC.

The cumulative grade point average for admission based on academic grades is usually 80% or more. Occasionally, candidates whose weighted average is slightly below this limit may be selected for admission based on other factors such as the difficulty of the previous curriculum, previous work experience, degree of community engagement, quality of the personal statement and letters of recommendation.

Student testimonials

Pierre-Arnaud Barry-Camu

Clerk Supreme Court of Canada – Class of 2014

I really enjoyed my experience in the Programme de droit canadien. I originally chose this program to develop an understanding of the different international law systems and to master not only the Canadian common law but also the Quebec civil law. I believe I have become a better lawyer with a significant degree of proficiency and knowledge of the legal methods of common law and civil law. I loved being trained jointly by both Sections.

Jamil-Daniel Beauchamp-Dupont

Norton Rose Fulbright Intern – Class of 2014

I highly recommend the Programme de droit canadien at the University of Ottawa to anyone who wishes to acquire an overview of the Canadian legal system. Having the opportunity to study and be trained in both Canadian legal systems, in French and English, is a unique opportunity. This bijuridical training is a constant help to me in my work and allows me to have a very different perspective than if I had studied only one or the other of the two legal systems.

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Class of 2015

Having a great desire to get into the field of international law, I was looking for a program that would provide me with opportunities to develop myself and open myself to the world. The intensive training offered by the PDC showcases the French-Canadian experience, the two official languages of Canada and the two most important legal systems internationally. Consequently, my bilingual and bijuridical education at the University of Ottawa has allowed me to do law internships at the Parliament of Canada, the Canadian Embassy in Costa Rica and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada. I was also able to embark in an academic exchange in Spain and I got a job as an intern at a law firm that practices law on a worldwide basis.

Clementine Mattesco

I recommend the Programme de droit canadien (PDC) to anyone who wishes to become a well-rounded jurist who can appreciate the richness of our bijural Canadian system. During my 3 years at the PDC, I benefited from the complementary strengths of legal training in civil law and common law. My common law courses taught me from my first year of law school to handle case law and to present legal arguments with clarity and precision. My civil law courses allowed me to understand logical legal thinking and taught me how to use it to develop solid and coherent reasoning. I am convinced that these additional training courses have made me a more enlightened lawyer and better equipped to start my legal career.

Chris Casimiro

The Programme de droit canadien (PDC) is a unique experience that allows students to learn common law and civil law distinctly and simultaneously. Some areas of law are taught in a comparative way, such as torts and extra-contractual liability, which allows you to learn the differences between common law and civil law. Most courses are offered by the Common Law Section or the Civil Law Section, which allows students to delve deeper into an area of law in either legal tradition. The CFP has empowered me to think in both the common law and civil law traditions, which is a very beneficial experience for anyone who wishes to practice across Canada or internationally.

Graeme McConnell

With their understanding of common law and civil law and their ability to work in both official languages, the doors are open for graduates of the Programme de droit canadien (PDC). The ability to view the law from multiple perspectives and to build relationships with and between the different legal and linguistic communities in Canada has greatly benefited me as a junior lawyer.

Amélie B. Lavigne

Class of 2015 - Conseillère juridique au Commissariat des langues officielles

The Programme de droit canadien (PDC) (2015 Grad) was an unforgettable experience. I had the opportunity to study and compare Canada's two legal traditions, in both official languages. This bilingual and bijural training allowed me to acquire unique skills that I have actively used in my career, having since worked as a law clerk at the Federal Court, at the Department of Justice for Canadian Heritage, for the Office of the Chief Justice of the Federal Court and now as legal counsel at the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages. My understanding of both legal traditions gave me a unique perspective on the law and allowed me to create connections that continue to this day!

Shahrzad Shab Afrouz

Legal Counsel at Taggart Group of Companies – Class of 2021

The Programme de droit canadien broadened my professional horizon, allowing me to practice law in both civil and common law jurisdictions early in my career. The Faculty's ongoing commitment to equity, especially its support during unforeseen circumstances such as the pandemic, has ensured that all students have the resources needed for success. Their dedication helped me gain the confidence I needed to begin my articles, prepare to write the bar, and ultimately achieve my career ambitions. The program provides a solid foundation for any future lawyer in addition to support that does not stop upon graduation, revealing an excellent choice to complete their legal studies.

Guillaume Garih

Barrister-at-Law - Class of 2013

The Programme de droit canadien gave me the legal vocabulary required to go to trial in both official languages. In criminal law, it is essential for linguistic minorities to be defended, or prosecuted, in the official language of their choice.

Course sequences

(Content available in French only)

ANNÉE 1 - 36 crédits (10 cours)

1ère année d’études : les étudiants du Programme de droit canadien relèvent à l’unité scolaire de la section de common law.

Automne

CML1701 Délits civils et responsabilité extracontractuelle I (3 crédits)
CML1704 Législation (3 crédits)
CML1705 Droit, histoire et société (3 crédits)

Automne/Hiver

CML1503 Droit pénal et procédure (3 crédits)
CML1506 Introduction à la résolution des différends (3 crédits)*
CML1508 Droits des biens (3 crédits)
CML1611 Compétences et habiletés juridiques (6 crédits)
CML1602 Les contrats (6 crédits)
CML1613 Droit constitutionnel I (3 crédits)
CML1702 Délits civils et responsabilité extracontractuelle II (3 crédits)

*Le cours CML1506 est offert en janvier seulement de façon intensive pendant 3 semaines.

Year 2 - in French only

(Content available in French only)

ANNÉE 2 - 39 crédits (13 cours)

2e année d’études: les étudiants relèvent à l’unité scolaire de la section de droit civil.

É��é

CML 2741 Philosophie du droit (3 crédits)

3 crédits optionnels DRC ou CML

Automne

DRC 4790/4390 Droit des obligations I (3 crédits)

DRC 4791/4391 Droit des biens (3 crédits)

DRC 4792/4392 Droit des personnes et de la famille (3 crédits)

DRC 4797 Procédure civile I (3 crédits)

6 crédits optionnels DRC ou CML

Hiver

DRC 4794/4394 Droit des obligations II (3 crédits)

DRC 4789 Droit international privé bijuridique (3 crédits)

DRC4798 Procédure civile II

CML 2713 Droit constitutionnel II (3 crédits)

3 crédits optionnels DRC ou CML

Year 3 - in French only

ANNÉE 3 - 33 crédits (11 cours)

3e année d’études : les étudiants du Programme de droit canadien relèvent à l’unité scolaire de la section de common law.

Automne/Hiver

CML2702 - Droit des sociétés (3 crédits)

CML2712 - Droit administratif (3 crédits)

CML3776 - Responsabilité professionnelle (3 crédits)

24 crédits optionnels DRC ou CML