Lakehead University: Margaret Hall Named Bora Laskin Law Dean

• Margaret Hall has been appointed the new dean of Lakehead University's Bora Laskin Faculty of Law, with her official tenure beginning on January 1, 2027.
• She brings extensive academic and leadership experience from Simon Fraser University and was a founding faculty member at Thompson Rivers University Faculty of Law.
• Hall's background includes significant contributions to curriculum development, clinical programming, and the establishment of legal studies programs.
• She expressed admiration for Bora Laskin's commitment to Indigenous law and justice, identifying it as a key area for future collaboration and development.
• The Bora Laskin Faculty of Law's curriculum is uniquely focused on aboriginal and indigenous law, environmental law, and preparing students for sole or small-town practice.

The Bora Laskin Faculty of Law distinguishes itself among Canadian institutions through its profound dedication to Indigenous law and justice, an area where she looks forward to collaborating with local First Nations communities and Indigenous organizations to further develop.

Lakehead University has announced the appointment of Margaret Hall as the new dean of its Bora Laskin Faculty of Law. This significant leadership change will see Professor Hall officially assume her duties on January 1, 2027. Until that time, Elizabeth Birmingham will continue to serve as the interim dean for the faculty.

Professor Hall joins Lakehead University from British Columbia's Simon Fraser University, where she currently holds multiple distinguished positions. Her transition marks a new chapter for the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law, bringing a wealth of experience in legal scholarship and academic administration to the institution.

Margaret Hall's professional journey reflects a broad and deep engagement with legal education and practice. At Simon Fraser University, she is a criminology professor and holds the applied legal studies professorship. Her leadership extends to directing SFU's master of arts in applied legal studies program, and she also serves as a special advisor for legal studies to the dean of the faculty of arts and social sciences.

Before her tenure at SFU, Professor Hall was instrumental in the establishment of Thompson Rivers University's Faculty of Law, where she was one of six founding full-time faculty members and an associate professor. In this foundational role, she contributed significantly to developing the law school's curriculum, clinical programming, and experiential learning initiatives, alongside participating in faculty appointments. Her earlier career included serving as a staff lawyer with the British Columbia Law Institute and founding the Canadian Centre for Elder Law. Academically, she holds a bachelor of arts (honours) in history, a master of laws, and a PhD in interdisciplinary studies, all from the University of British Columbia, in addition to a bachelor of laws from Queen's University. Her current research interests span tort law, health law, medical assistance in dying, wills and incapacity planning, mental capacity, vulnerability, and legal theories of states of mind.

Upon her upcoming appointment, Margaret Hall expressed profound admiration for the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law's dedication to excellence and innovation within legal education. She particularly highlighted the faculty's distinctive commitment to Indigenous law and justice, recognizing it as a unique strength among Canadian law schools. Hall conveyed her eagerness to build upon the foundational work of previous deans and faculty members, emphasizing collaboration with local First Nations communities and Indigenous organizations.

Key areas of interest for her leadership include enhancing support for Indigenous law students and fostering interdisciplinary research initiatives in partnership with local communities and organizations. Hall also underscored the inherent value of a smaller law school situated outside a major metropolitan area, noting the unique opportunity it provides to cultivate a robust internal community and strong ties with the local legal community, alumni, and the broader region. She believes this sense of community is crucial for student success and for fostering an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit. The Bora Laskin Faculty of Law's curriculum is notably structured around core pillars of aboriginal and indigenous law, environmental and natural resources law, and sole/small town practice.

Gillian Balfour, Lakehead University's Provost and Vice-President (Academic), lauded Professor Hall's appointment, citing her impressive background as an educator, scholar, and academic leader. Balfour specifically pointed to Hall's valuable experience in helping to establish a law school from its inception, underscoring her understanding of community importance and the vital regional role a law school can play. This endorsement reinforces the university's confidence in Hall's ability to lead the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law.

The faculty itself maintains a distinct identity within Canadian legal education leadership, characterized by its specialized curriculum and its deep engagement with regional needs. Its focus on aboriginal and indigenous law, environmental law, and preparing students for sole or small-town practice positions it uniquely to serve both its students and the broader community, particularly in the context of Indigenous law education Canada.

This news primarily concerns an academic appointment and does not present a direct, actionable implication for practicing lawyers or compliance officers in terms of new regulations, compliance exposures, or legal precedents.

Source: Original reporting via legal news outlets