The Diplôme de Français Juridique is a 3-year limited enrollment program offered in conjunction with the JD program. It is administered by the Faculty of Law in cooperation with the Department of French.
Open only to students registered full-time in the Faculty of Law, this program is designed to meet the needs of students who have a background in French and who wish to achieve a high level of fluency in written and spoken French for professional reasons.
Structure of the Program
The program is administered on behalf of the Faculty of Law by a Director appointed by the Faculty of Law. The program is designed to be completed at the same time as the JD program. Students who successfully complete the Diplôme program and the JD program are entitled to receive the JD degree and the Diplôme de Français Juridique. Throughout the program, a student is registered in the Faculty of Law.
Application and Registration
Application to this program may be made after acceptance into the first year of the JD program. Application forms are available from, and should be submitted to, the Faculty of Law's Admission Office. The only entry date for the program is at the commencement of a student's JD program.
Admission to the program will be approved by the Director. Students must satisfactorily complete the French proficiency exam prior to being admitted to the program. Details about the writing of the proficiency exam are available from the Faculty of Law's International Programs Office.
Program of Study
Year One
In the first year, students complete the regular first year JD program (with the exception of Legal Ethics and Professionalism) and take French 2905A/B (Language and Reading) and French 2906A/B (Language and Expression).
A student who has already taken
French 2905A/B or
2906A/B (or the equivalent) may be admitted to the program, in which case another French course selected by the Director, in consultation with the Department of French Studies, will be substituted for
French 2905A/B or
2906A/B.
Summer Following Year OneDuring the summer following Year One, students attend Western's Trois-Pistoles Summer School and take enroll in a 3000- or 4000-level course as approved by the Director.
Year Two
In second year, students take Legal Ethics and Professionalism, three upper-year core curriculum law courses, at least three credit hours of elective couses, a January Term law course, Law 5735 (Français Juridique) and six credit hours in Law or law-related courses taught in French, whether in the French Studies Department, the Faculty of Law, or any other department of the University with the approval of the Director.
Year Three
During one term, students must apply for and be approved to participate in a French language law exchange program, and successfully complete a full-time courseload as approved by the Director. During the other term, students take at least fifteen credit hours in the Faculty of Law.
The Year Two and Year Three Faculty of Law courses must include the upper-year compulsory and core course requirements of the JD program.
Progression Standards
The normal progression standards applicable to the JD program apply to the Diplôme program.
Special Exceptions
Students who are unable to take part in the summer language program at Trois-Pistoles may substitute such other equivalent experience as may be approved by the Director. The sequence of the course pattern can be altered with the permission of the Director.
FACULTIES 