Celebrating 75 years of modern legal education

In 1949, the establishment of the modern Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto, under the leadership of Dean Cecil “Caesar” Wright, marked a transformative moment in legal education in Ontario.

Wright, a graduate of Harvard Law School’s Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) program, had long championed a new vision for legal education in the province. Alongside colleagues from Osgoode Hall, he broke away from the prevailing apprenticeship-based model, advocating instead for a university-based, academically rigorous approach to the study of law. This pioneering shift laid the foundation for what would become one of the world’s leading law schools.

Over the past 75 years, U of T’s Faculty of Law has remained true to its founding ideals—fostering a distinctive scholarly ethos grounded in analytical depth, critical inquiry, interdisciplinary engagement and a strong sense of community.

We are immensely proud of our community. Whether you attended our gala kick-off event, connected with Global Professional Master of Laws student Claudio Klaus—who set an ambitious networking goal for the anniversary year—or joined one of the many events hosted in celebration of Law 75, thank you! From the outset, our aim was not only to commemorate this milestone, but also to engage our community and to honour the enduring values that continue to shape our Faculty’s future.

Cecil Wright understood that law underpins and influences nearly every aspect of human society—locally, nationally, and globally. He knew then, as we know now, that while the law will continue to evolve, a rigorous legal education—one that teaches students to ‘think like a lawyer’—will be of enduring value, both to the learner and to society.

I hope you enjoy this look back on our anniversary year, in this issue of Nexus. 

Jutta Brunnée, FRSC
Dean, University Professor and James Marshall Tory Dean’s Chair
Associate Member, Institut de droit international