The Manitoba Law Journal has won maximum funding in the national competition run by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. The Aid of Scholarly Journals Competition, run every three to four years, involves rigorous review of applicants by a panel of independent experts. The MLJ’s success reinforces its standing as a top-caliber publication. The focus of this funding is on supporting student participation in the journal’s summer programming.
With the motto, “we serve our communities,” the MLJ aims to provide lively scholarship about events in Manitoba or of special interest to its communities. The readable and relevant material it produces contributes to legal debate and reform far beyond Manitoba’s borders.
The MLJ continues to be cited by the Supreme Court of Canada – the overall count is now almost sixty citations – in addition to citations in other courts and tribunals, by law reform commissions and other policy makers in the academic world.
“This is a huge achievement for a publication of our scale, said Dr. Bryan P. Schwartz, K.C., co-editor-in-chief. “We are among the smallest jurisdictions in Canada, within one of the smallest law schools. Yet in both quality and quantity, the journal has earned its place within the top ranks. For the MLJ, this helps to provide an exceptional experiential learning opportunity.
Experiential learning for scholars
Former student editors carry the skills they learn directly into practice. Travis Dech [JD/26], found the experience shaped more than his technical abilities. “Working at the Manitoba Law Journal during my second summer was one of the best things I did during law school,” he said. “While exposure to high-quality scholarship improved my attention to detail and writing skills, I was affected in a wholly unexpected way by the oral histories I worked on. It let me form a more complete understanding of this province’s legal history, and of both the professional and the person I aspire to be.”
For Larissa Einarson [JD/26], the journal’s collaborative environment proved equally formative. “Working with authors and helping bring their work to publication greatly improved my attention to detail, communication skills, and ability to collaborate effectively with others. Being part of the journal was one of the most valuable experiences of law school,” she said.
Looking Ahead
One of the journal’s priorities over the next few years is fully launching a podcast program associated with the law journal “We have been a leader in making our journal accessible to all,” said Professor Darcy L. MacPherson, co-editor-in-chief.
The Journal invites everyone to read its latest content through themanitobalawjournal.com, or one of its distribution partners including Alberta OJS, CanLII, HeinOnline, LexisNexis, Google Books or purchase a hardcopy or .epub of the book through Amazon.ca.
A complete list of the most recent award recipients for Aid to Scholarly Journals can be found on the SSHRC website.
