Program Requirements
**This program is currently not offered.**
The 45-credit, LL.M. program, non-thesis option, in Environment is offered in collaboration with the Bieler School of Environment. The program considers how various dimensions (scientific, social, legal, ethical) interact to define environment and sustainability issues. It complements previous legal education through specialized graduate-level coursework and in-depth research. The program focuses on selected areas of legal scholarship and includes a written, supervised, substantial, and publishable paper in a area of interest related to the environment.
Candidates must remain in residence for three terms for which full-time fees will be charged. The third term is devoted to the Research Project, usually taken in the Summer of the first year, meaning that students usually complete their program within one calendar year. If the research project is not completed in this time, students must register for additional sessions as needed. All degree requirements must be completed within a maximum of three years of the date of first registration.
Research Project (15 credits)
The non-thesis option requires a substantial supervised research project during the third term of registration, a 15,000-word paper, assessed by the supervisor on a pass-fail basis, and typically completed in the Summer.
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CMPL 655 Research Project 1 (15 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : A major research paper on a current topic.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restriction: This course is only open to students registered in a non-thesis Master's program in the Faculty of Law.
Required Courses (9 credits)
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CMPL 610 Legal Research Methodology 1 (1.5 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Legal research methodology, including electronic legal research and the formulation of research plans.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Sheppard, Colleen (Fall)
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken CMPL 610, CMPL 610D1/D2 prior to 202109.
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CMPL 611 Legal Research Methodology 2 (1.5 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Legal research methodology, including electronic legal research and the finalization of research plans.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Sheppard, Colleen (Winter)
Prerequisite: CMPL 610
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken CMPL 610, CMPL 610D1/D2 prior to 202109.
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ENVR 615 Interdisciplinary Approach Environment and Sustainability (3 credits)
Overview
Environment : Through a series of modules on current environmental and sustainability issues, this course emphasizes the value and challenges of an interdisciplinary approach by examining how different fields can work together to address these issues.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restriction(s): Open to graduate students enrolled in the Environment Option or permission of instructors
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LAWG 601 Communication 1 (1.5 credits)
Overview
Law General : Key writing and research strategies for graduate students in law.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Abram, Zachary (Fall)
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LAWG 602 Communication 2 (1.5 credits)
Overview
Law General : Key writing and research strategies for graduate students in law.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Abram, Zachary (Winter)
Prerequisite(s): LAWG 601.
Complementary Courses (21 credits)
12-15 credits chosen from:
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CMPL 500 Indigenous Peoples and the State (3 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Current legal topics relating to Indigenous peoples, including the concept of Indigenous title, and constitutional aspects of contemporary land claims. Aspects of Canadian law relating to Indigenous peoples, their constitutional status, and hunting and fishing rights.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Sloan, Kerry (Winter)
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CMPL 546 International Environmental Law and Politics (3 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Examination of institutions and processes for global environmental protection. Consideration of means for advancing international cooperation for environmental protection, focusing on international law. Analysis of obstacles to applying international law to environmental problems. Examination of a range of governance structures for environmental protection and the way in which they operate.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Zumbansen, Peer (Winter)
Public International Law recommended
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CMPL 580 Environment and the Law (3 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Environmental law, with emphasis on ecological, economic, political, and international dimensions.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
and/or other Faculty of Law offerings at the 500 level or higher.
3-6 credits chosen from:
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ENVR 610 Foundations of Environmental Policy (3 credits)
Overview
Environment : Analysis of current environmental policies to reveal implicit and explicit assumptions regarding scientific methods, hypothesis testing, subject/object, causality, certainty, deities, health, development, North-South concerns for resources, commons, national sovereignty, equity. Discussion of implications of such assumptions for building future environmental policies.
Terms: Summer 2025
Instructors: Umana-Kinitzki, Carmen (Summer)
Restriction: Enrolment in the Graduate Environment Option or enrolment in the Neotropical Environment Option (NEO) or permission of the instructor.
**Due to the intensive nature of this course, the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Add/drop is the second lecture day and withdrawal is the fourth lecture day.
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ENVR 614 Mobilizing Research for Sustainability (3 credits)
Overview
Environment : Through workshops and practice, students will develop communication strategies and acquire collaboration and leadership skills to foster innovation and help translate knowledge into action to address complex environmental and sustainability issues. Students will learn methods, build skills, and develop mindsets that can enable their research to have an impact on the most pressing issues in sustainability.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restriction(s): Open to graduate students enrolled in the Environment Option or permission of instructor
0-3 credits chosen from:
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ENVR 585 Readings in Environment 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Environment : Interdisciplinary literature project/essays related to environment, enabling advanced-level study under guidance of Environment faculty in areas outside the scope of individual departments.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Summer 2025
Instructors: Lovat, Christie (Winter)
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ENVR 630 Civilization and Environment (3 credits)
Overview
Environment : Considers ways to reduce the human impact on Earth's life support systems through variables such as population size, wealth, technology, and conduct. Critically describes ethical frameworks for judging personal and policy choices, including post-collapse scenarios.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor
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ENVR 680 Topics in Environment 4 (3 credits)
Overview
Environment : Seminars and discussion of advanced, interdisciplinary aspects of current problems in environment led by staff and/or special guests.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restriction: students taking the Neotropical Environment Option.
Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor
or 3 credits at the 500 level or higher recommended by the Advisory Committee and approved by the Environment Option Committee.
