Master of Laws (LLM)

LLM Programs in Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law

The Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary is internationally-recognized for its strength in examining the relationship between human society and its environment, both in terms of defining the interests we claim in the world around us in the land, water, petroleum and natural resources, minerals, forests, and plant and animal life and in shaping the consequences of using those resources. Our graduate programs are offered exclusively in the areas of natural resources, energy and environmental law.

The Faculty has an endowed Chair in Natural Resources Law and a Law Library with strong holdings in the program area of natural resources, energy and environmental law. The Fauclty's resources are complemented by the internationally-renowned Canadian Institute of Resources Law (CIRL), which is affiliated with the Faculty, and is housed in the same building. CIRL has an ongoing program of resources law research in Canada, and internationally. Faculty members, CIRL researchers and adjunct professors working in the program areas have formed the Natural Resource, Energy and Environmental Law Research Group.

Since 1988, students studying natural resources, energy and environmental law from around the world have come to the University of Calgary to pursue their thesis-based LLM degrees. In September 2007 we added a course-based LLM stream to our graduate programs. Adding this route to a graduate degree allows the Faculty to better meet the needs of lawyers engaged in private, corporate and government practice in the natural resources, energy and environmental law sectors of the economy. The course-based LLM will also appeal to international students trained in civil law legal systems who seek an introduction to the common law and an opportunity to take courses and seminars on a variety of natural resources, energy and environmental law topics. Transfer between the thesis-based and course-based streams of the LLM program is possible.

Practicing lawyers and international law students may also be interested in our Post Graduate Certificate in Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law. Transfer between the course-based LLM and the Post Graduate Certificate programs is possible.

For more information on our graduate programs, check out the Graduate Programs in Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law program guide.