Graduate Programs in Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law

The Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary is internationally-recognized for its strength in examining the relationship between human society and our environment, both in terms of defining the interests we claim in the world around us in the land, water, petroleum and natural resources, minerals, forests, and plant and animal life and in shaping the consequences of using those resources. Our graduate programs are offered exclusively in the areas of natural resources, energy and environmental law.

The Faculty has an endowed Chair in Natural Resources Law and a Law Library with strong holdings in the program area of natural resources, energy and environmental law. The Faculty's resources are complemented by the internationally-renowned Canadian Institute of Resources Law (CIRL). CIRL has an ongoing program of resources law research in Canada and internationally.

We offer a thesis-based LLM program, a course-based LLM program, a Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law and special case PhDs. Please see our program guide: Graduate programs in natural resources, energy, and environmental law for an overview of our graduate programs.

The thesis- and course-based LLM degrees, Certificate program and special case PhDs are only offered to students with a law degree and exclusively in the Faculty’s areas of specialization: natural resources, energy and environmental law and policy. Transfer between these programs is possible. Excellent students in the thesis based program will be considered as candidates for transfer to a special case PhD program in Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law. Students who complete the course-based LLM program with excellent standing will also be considered as candidates for a special case PhD program.

The Faculty of Law is an affiliated Faculty with the Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy (ISEEE) Energy Environmental Systems (EES) Specialization. ISEEE is “ … a cross-faculty research and graduate training institute at the University of Calgary that works to develop cost-effective solutions to the environmental challenges of energy production and use.” The EES Specialization “is designed to go beyond disciplinary graduate programs by expanding the skill set of graduate students to encompass the interdisciplinary linkages between the applied, natural, physical, social, and behavioural sciences. Likewise, the EES Specialization exposes graduate students to ideas and concepts from the business, and policy worlds that are vitally important for implementing effective energy and environmental solutions” The EES Specialization designation “reflects the applied, interdisciplinary nature of their graduate research, which is carried out in a unique, interdisciplinary learning environment that is in demand among employers in industry, academia, and government.”

An EES Specialization extension to a law graduate degree requires a graduate student to take four ISEEE courses, in addition to the course requirements of the Faculty of Law (though some substitution may be possible). Space will be made available to an EES Specialization student in the new ISEEE building and the student will have opportunity to liaise with other EES Specialization students, ISEEE Faculty and staff, and interdisciplinary scholars. As well, the student will have opportunity to apply for ISEEE grants and funding. A student interested in the EES Specialization should consult with the Graduate Program Director, Professor Arlene Kwasniak, and visit the ISEEE website detailing the EES application and process requirements .

Please note that an LLM does not entitle the holder to practice to law in Canada. For information about the accreditation of foreign degrees, contact the National Committee on Accreditation.

For more information on any of our programs, please contact the Graduate Program Administrator and Admissions Assistant, Brenda Tschanz, at tschanz@ucalgary.ca or the Graduate Program Director, Professor Arlene Kwasniak at akwasnia@ucalgary.ca.