UManitoba Law: Unveils Strategic Map 2026-29, Redefining Legal Education

• The University of Manitoba's Faculty of Law has launched its 2026-29 strategic map, "MomentUM: The Architecture of Impact."
• The plan aims to transform the faculty into a connected legal ecosystem, integrating education, research, professional practice, and community engagement.
• Three core pillars guide the strategy: research informing practice, extensive experiential learning, and practical experiences generating new scholarship and policy questions.
• Dean Dr. Richard Jochelson emphasized preparing students for an evolving legal environment and actively shaping legal and societal changes.
• Themes of reconciliation, access to justice, equity, and public service are embedded throughout all strategic initiatives, not treated as separate projects.

Crucially, the strategic map integrates themes of reconciliation, access to justice, equity, and public service throughout its initiatives, rather than treating them as separate projects.

The University of Manitoba's Faculty of Law has unveiled its comprehensive 2026-29 strategic map, titled "MomentUM: The Architecture of Impact." This ambitious plan aims to redefine the institution's role, positioning it not merely as a traditional law school but as a dynamic, interconnected legal ecosystem that encompasses education, research, professional practice, and community engagement. Dr. Richard Jochelson, the dean of the faculty, articulated that this vision reflects a fundamental belief that a modern law faculty must extend beyond simply transmitting existing legal knowledge.

According to Dr. Richard Jochelson, the strategic map is designed to empower students to navigate and contribute effectively within a rapidly evolving legal landscape. The core objective is to cultivate knowledge that directly addresses pressing legal and societal challenges, while simultaneously equipping students with the necessary skills and judgment to apply this knowledge. Furthermore, the plan emphasizes collaborative efforts with communities and partners to translate theoretical ideas into tangible, meaningful change. This forward-looking approach underpins the entire UManitoba law strategic map 2026-29.

The University of Manitoba Faculty of Law strategic plan is built upon three foundational pillars, each designed to foster a synergistic relationship between academic rigor and practical application. The first pillar emphasizes that faculty research should directly inform both teaching methodologies and professional practice, ensuring that instruction remains current and relevant. The second pillar focuses heavily on experiential learning, providing students with invaluable hands-on opportunities in diverse settings such as legal clinics, courtrooms, community organizations, competitive events, and various public-facing projects.

The third pillar completes this cycle, asserting that these practical, real-world experiences are crucial for generating new questions and insights that can then fuel further scholarship, contribute to policy development, and ultimately drive law reform. Dean Jochelson highlighted the critical role of various institutional assets in supporting this integrated approach, including academic publications, specialized research centers, robust clinical programs, strategic partnerships with the judiciary and community groups, and extensive alumni networks. These elements collectively facilitate the law school's engagement with the legal profession, the judiciary, and the broader communities it serves, reinforcing the Manitoba law school pillars as a framework for comprehensive impact.

A distinctive feature of the UManitoba law strategic map 2026-29 is its commitment to weaving critical societal themes throughout all its initiatives, rather than treating them as isolated projects. Reconciliation, access to justice, equity, and public service are integral components of this work, reflecting a holistic approach to legal education and its societal role. This integrated strategy underscores the faculty's intention to actively shape developments in law and society, rather than passively observing them, by systematically building essential relationships, knowledge bases, and institutional capacity.

This commitment aligns with several recent initiatives undertaken by the faculty, indicating a consistent focus within its broader Canadian legal education strategy. For instance, Professor Brenda Gunn was appointed as the inaugural holder of the Phil Fontaine Professorship in Indigenous Law and Economic Reconciliation, effective July 1, 2026. Additionally, in 2022, the law school welcomed back Wendy Whitecloud as an elder-in-residence, further strengthening its ties to Indigenous communities and knowledge. That same year, the faculty also launched the Rights Clinic, establishing it as a pro bono service to enhance access to justice.

This article outlines the strategic direction of a major Canadian law school. While not directly actionable for practicing lawyers or compliance officers, it indicates the evolving focus of legal education, particularly concerning reconciliation, access to justice, and public service, which may shape the future legal workforce and professional priorities.

Source: Reporting based on a news release from the University of Manitoba.