McMaster courts future law students with new justice program and undergraduate journal

In previous years, most secondary school students looking to pursue careers in law would not even have McMaster on their shortlist of schools to apply to. Though well known for its strengths in legal philosophy, the Hamilton-based university famed for its scientific innovations did not stand out among a wealth of other options.

But acknowledging that no single approach guarantees admission to law school — especially during a time when competition to get in is particularly high —McMaster has entered into greener pastures with several changes that may beckon to prospective students.

As the Silhouette reported in Nov 2013, the university introduced a new program dubbed Justice, Political Philosophy, and Law (JPPL), which gained approval from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities following several years of lobbying by members of the Department of Philosophy.

When asked about the effort that went into obtaining approval for the experimental program, Dr. Elisabeth Gedge said it was only natural. The Philosophy Department was already well established at the graduate and research level and there was a demand from the university to direct attention towards the needs of undergraduates.

Gedge has seen desire for spots in the program increase and she anticipates a growing interest. The Chair of the Department of Philosophy said that the interdisciplinary nature of JPPL attracts open-minded, intelligent students who like the flexibility the degree offers after graduation.

Dr. Stefan Sciaraffa believes the JPPL has a lot to offer, saying that the writing-intensive nature of the program provides students with valuable skills.

“[The program is] a unique opportunity to hone a highly valuable skill that will serve him/her well in any number of careers that require him/her to write legal briefs, memoranda, policy papers, and so on,” he said.

After seeing faculty succeed in bringing JPPL to life, the students enrolled in the program are now taking the lead in initiating further change with impressive results to show for it.

During the fall/winter term of 2013, Chris Leblanc, Louisa Matozzo, and Tiffany Leslie joined forces to create the McMaster Undergraduate Journal of Law and Politics (MUJLP). While undergraduate journals in other areas of study are not uncommon, MUJLP is the first undergraduate journal in Canada to focus on law and politics.

The trio was driven to found the journal in order to fill the void in the undergraduate journal landscape. They also want to give students an outlet for scholarly expression that is not normally afforded to them.

Leslie said she and her peers were disappointed at the lack of excitement with which most university students greet academic tasks.

She hopes that the thrill of having original work published in a peer-reviewed journal will offer an example of the practicality of theoretical knowledge to the skeptics.

The third-year JPPL student also emphasized the collaborative nature of the project, noting that hshe, Matozzo, and Leblanc have added nine more members to their ranks and that she would love to see the team expand further.

Leslie also noted that the number of the new hires speaks to the wide appeal of law and how it can be applied to any stream of learning.

“We have editors who are in Chemistry, some who are in Economics, and others who are in Political Science. There is really a broad range of interest being shown from all faculties.”

Various university employees were called upon to help steer the students to a manageable first year at the helm of an ambitious endeavor, as Gedge put it.

Along with Dr. Gedge, people like Associate Dean of Humanities Dr. Anna Moro, Dr. Stefan Sciaraffa, Dr. Nancy Doubleday, and Rowena Muhic-Day of Humanities Career Services were instrumental in handling procedural matters so that the students could focus on plotting the journal’s future.

For students interested having their writing published in MUJLP, Leslie said that the editorial board is welcoming submissions to the email listed on their website ahead of a conference that will take place in mid-March. They aim to have several professors and keynote speakers engage with students in a sociable atmosphere.

Combined with the JPPL program, the new journal is another feature that may entice future law students to McMaster.