A Legal Forum for Intellectual Diversity

The Runnymede Society is a membership-based organization that invites speakers from all across the ideological spectrum to debate legal ideas that engage the rule of law, constitutionalism, and individual liberty. The goal is to focus on these age-old principles in the context of real issues that are not often explored in the law school classrooms.

Runnymede Society Announces Major and Rothstein Fellows! | La Société Runnymede annonce les noms des boursiers Major et Rothstein !

(La version française suit) CALGARY: The Runnymede Society is pleased to announce that Allison Jandura and Christoph Pike have been selected as our Jack Major and Marshall Rothstein Fellows for 2025–26. Ms. Jandura and Mr. Pike have both begun pursuing SJDs at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law this fall and share, among other impressive attributes, an undying commitment to the timeless principles of constitutionalism, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law. Ms. Jandura holds an MSc in Molecular

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The Common Law and the Judicial Role

What is the proper pace of development of the common law? Today’s encore episode from Law & Freedom 2025 features Christoph Pike (McCarthy Tétrault), Prof. Stéphane Sérafin (University of Ottawa Faculty of Law), Alexi Wood (St. Lawrence Barristers), Asher Honickman (Jordan Honickman Barristers), and Prof. Malcolm Lavoie (University of Alberta Faculty of Law). Watch the full video on our Member Area. The full recording contains 1 hour and 05 minutes of Professionalism Content (Law Society of Ontario).

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Morton: The Politicization of the Courts

Have the courts become political? In this encore episode from Law & Freedom 2025, Professor Ted Morton argues that changes in how Canadians view the role of our courts and the purpose of our constitution have politicized our courts. The full panel discussion, featuring three other speakers, can be found on our Member Area.  Further reading: The Charter Revolution and the Court Party.

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Veel: A Quantitative Analysis of the Supreme Court

How does the Supreme Court of Canada decide which cases it hears? Paul-Erik Veel, adjunct professor at the University of Toronto, shares a fascinating quantitative analysis on the Court’s decision-making, exploring everything from case selection and output to judicial agreement. Watch this full session on Runnymede’s Member Area: https://runnymedesociety.ca/en/account/.

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The Runnymede Society Announces Two Graduate Legal Fellowships, Honouring Justices Jack Major and Marshall Rothstein

(La version française suit) CALGARY: The Runnymede Society is pleased to announce the expansion of its graduate legal fellowship program, offering two prestigious awards to exceptional Canadian students pursuing graduate legal studies. This year, in addition to the established Jack Major Fellowship, the Society will award a new Marshall Rothstein Fellowship. Both fellowships provide a $25,000.00 award. These fellowships are designed to support students who demonstrate a commitment to constitutionalism, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law, principles central to

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Milousis: Limiting Harm vs Freedom of Expression

Can free expression be limited based on an administrative body’s prediction of resulting harm? Can a university expel a student for having an opinion on a particular social issue that it considers unprofessional? Lia Milousis, lawyer with the Acacia Group and leader of our Ottawa lawyers’ chapter, discusses two cases involving the prevention of harm as a reason for limiting freedom of speech.

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Wednesday
11
March 11, 2026 | 1:00 pm

The Decline of International Law

McGill University (NCDH 100) |

Please join the Runnymede Society’s McGill University Chapter for a lecture with Justice Malcolm Rowe of the Supreme Court of Canada, on Wednesday, March 11th. [...]

Wednesday
11
March 11, 2026 | 11:30 am

Vavilov en conversation : sept ans d’évolution du droit administratif

Université de Moncton (Pièce 132 - Pavillon Adrien-J.-Cormier) |

Joignez-vous à la section de l’Université de Moncton de la Société Runnymede pour une discussion sur l’arrêt Canada (Ministre de la Citoyenneté et de l’Immigration) [...]

Monday
09
March 9, 2026 | 12:30 pm

Testing the Notwithstanding Clause? The Constitutional Battle Over Québec’s Bill 21

Western University Faculty of Law (Moot Court Room) |

Please join the Runnymede Society’s Western University Chapter, in partnership with the Christian Legal Fellowship (CLF), the Jewish Law Students Association, the Muslim Law Students’ [...]

Wednesday
04
March 4, 2026 | 6:00 pm

Can the Centre Hold?

Miller Thomson LLP (Vancouver) |

Please join the Runnymede Society’s Vancouver Lawyers Chapter for an evening with Justice Malcolm Rowe of the Supreme Court of Canada, on Wednesday, March 4th, [...]

Wednesday
04
March 4, 2026 | 12:30 pm

The Charter and Liberal Democracy: Part II

UBC Allard Hall (Franklin Lew Forum) |

Please join the Runnymede Society’s University of British Columbia (Allard) Chapter for a lecture with Justice Malcolm Rowe of the Supreme Court of Canada, on [...]

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Why join?

INTELLECTUAL ENRICHMENT

We provide funding for debates, symposia, and panel discussions with external speakers and refreshments. We are able to assist with reaching out to speakers and fund out-of-town speaker travel expenses.

SOCIAL LIFE

We host regular networking events with local members of the legal profession, academics, journalists, and other students.

ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE

We aim to connect first-year students with upper-years who can provide mentorship and academic guidance, as well as course summaries.

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