Campus Saint-Jean and the Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Alberta join forces to strengthen access to justice and legal education in French in Alberta
14 August 2026
The agreement was formally signed on August 14, 2026 at the University of Alberta’s Campus Saint-Jean by the Dean, Professor Jason Carey, and the President of AJEFA, Marie-Audrey Girard. This partnership aims to strengthen their collaboration in order to better meet the needs of the province’s Francophone communities in the legal sector.
Through this agreement, the two institutions are committed to coordinating their efforts in several key areas, ranging from academic development to advocacy.
Priority given to training and academic innovation
The operational core of this agreement rests, amongst other things, on the creation of concrete pathways for Francophone professionals and students. AJEFA and the CSJ will work together to design and deliver targeted
d training programs. In particular, the partnership will enable the language school to offer specialised courses in legal terminology, actively support the development of a legal assistant program, and facilitate work-placed learning experience through new internship opportunities.
The partners also plan to develop professional development cohorts. Keen to adapt to changes in the sector, the two organisations will explore new, forward-looking topics, such as the impact and integration of artificial intelligence in the legal field.
Community engagement and institutional advocacy
Beyond academic programmes, the agreement provides for direct action within the community. Attentive to the needs of its local community, Campus Saint-Jean already provides logistical and financial support to the Sommet des Débats by making spaces and scholarship funds available. In addition, a twice-yearly roundtable discussion will be organised to introduce students to careers in law. At an institutional level, AJEFA and CSJ will be able to collaborate on strategic consultations and with government bodies to promote the community’s rights and interests regarding services in French.
Finally, the two signatories will ensure cross-promotion of their respective initiatives to maximise the public reach of their joint projects. The management teams of both organisations will meet every six months to assess the implementation of this agreement, monitor its progress and identify new opportunities for collaboration.
Quotes:
“The rapid growth of the Francophone population in Alberta is creating concrete needs that we must anticipate. This partnership with AJEFA is a direct response to this reality. By combining our academic strengths with their practical expertise, we are developing robust training programmes that prepare the next generation to tackle current legal challenges and better serve our community.” - Jason Carey, Dean and Chief Executive Officer of Campus Saint-Jean.
“By strengthening training, creating professional development opportunities and supporting the next generation of Francophone legal professionals, we are helping to build a justice system that is more accessible, more inclusive and better suited to the realities of our communities.” - Marie-Audrey Girard, President of AJEFA.
By combining their expertise and networks, CSJ and AJEFA are laying the foundations for a lasting partnership that will better meet the current and future needs of Francophones in Alberta and build a stronger, more accessible and forward-thinking Francophone legal ecosystem.