Curricular Streams
Western Law has developed several curricular streams to provide students with informal guidance on the courses and co-curricular activities they may wish to pursue in light of their personal interests and career aspirations. Students do not formally enrol in these streams and should not feel compelled to adhere to one. The streams simply provide advice for navigating a course of study – helping students to understand the relationships among courses and to progress toward more advanced study in an area, if desired. They also provide suggestions on the types of experiential learning, clinical work, research or advocacy opportunities that can enhance students’ understanding and skills.
Each curricular stream culminates in an optional “capstone” course in the winter term of third year, which will bring together theoretical, practical and interdisciplinary components and will require students to apply the knowledge and skills that they have gained over the course of the JD program. The capstone courses are intended to assist students in making the transition from legal education to legal practice. Note: some capstone courses may not be offered every year.
There are many other practice areas that are not reflected in the curricular streams, but in which Western Law nevertheless offers specialty courses (eg tax law, environmental law, family law). Students interested in these areas are encouraged to seek advice on recommended courses from the relevant faculty members.
