The Diplôme de Français Juridique is a three-year limited-enrolment 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.
Application and Registration
Application for admission to the program may be made by applicants to the first year of the JD program. Application forms are available from, and should be submitted to, the Faculty of Law. The only entry date for the program is at the commencement of a student's JD program.
Applicants must meet with the Director of the program at the commencement of the JD program. They will be informed by the Director if they are tentatively admitted. Students must satisfactorily complete the French proficiency exam prior to being definitely admitted to the program. The exam is to be completed prior to registering in any course in the French Department. Details about the writing of the proficiency exam are available from the Faculty of Law.
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 complete the program and the JD program are entitled to receive the JD degree and the Diplôme de Français Juridique. Throughout the program, a student is deemed to be registered in the Faculty of Law.
Program of Study
Year One
In the first year, students complete the regular first year JD program (with the exception of (i) Foundations of Canadian Law and (ii) Legal Ethics and Professionalism) and take French 2900 (Language-Grammar). In exceptional circumstances, a student who has not taken French 1900E or French 1910 may be permitted by the Director to take French 1910 instead of French 2900, in which case the latter course must be taken during the summer following first year, in addition to the regular summer program described below.
A student who has already taken French 2900 may be admitted to the program, in which case another French course selected by the Director, in consultation with the Department of French, will be substituted for French 2900.
Summer Following Year One
During the summer following Year 1, students attend Western's Trois-Pistoles Summer School and take French 2410E (French Canadian Civilization).
Year Two
In second year, students take, Foundations of Canadian Law, Legal Ethics and Professionalism, three upper-year core curriculum law courses, at least two 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 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 attend the Faculty of Law, L'Université Laval in The University of Western Ontario/Laval University Law Exchange Program (or an equivalent French language law exchange program), and take courses approved by the Director. During the other term, students take at least fourteen credit hours in the Faculty of Law.
The Year Two and Year Three Faculty of Law courses must include the two compulsory upper-year courses and at least three core-group courses.
Progression Standards
The normal progression standards applicable to the JD program apply to the 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.
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