The University of Alberta, Faculty of Law would like to offer its sincerest congratulations to Professor Cameron Jefferies for successfully defending his doctoral thesis at the University of Virginia, School of Law on 21 February, 2014.
Professor Jefferies' S.J.D. Dissertation, titled "Effective Implementation of Articles 65 and 120 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea: Towards Rational Conservation and Sustainable Management of Marine Mammals" explores the role that law can play in restructuring our relationship with marine mammals in the 21st century. In so doing, this work proposes and drafts a new international agreement governing marine mammals.
"It was a pleasure to work on a project that I have been passionate about for quite some time," said Professor Cameron Jefferies. "The S.J.D. dissertation presented an opportunity to explore an area of law that is both in need of reform and of interest to the general public. At this point in history it is imperative that we pursue innovative conservation approaches and the important role that law occupies in achieving sustainability. Overall, it was an excellent experience and I am very proud of this degree and my association with the University of Virginia."
Professor Jefferies is an Assistant Professor and Borden Ladner Gervais Fellow at the Faculty of Law. Professor Jefferies holds a Bachelor of Science degree and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Virginia (where he studied as a Fulbright Scholar). He will graduate from the University of Virginia with a Doctor of Laws degree this coming May.
"I would like to congratulate Cam on the successful completion of his doctoral thesis," said Dean Philip Bryden. "This is an important milestone on what I am confident will be an outstanding academic career."
Prior to joining the Faculty, he articled at Field LLP in Edmonton, Alberta and was called to the Alberta Bar in 2010. He also spent one year as a Research Associate at the Health Law Institute here at the Faculty. Professor Jefferies researches in the areas of environmental law, natural resource law, ocean law, and animal law and teaches in the areas of environmental law, foundations to law, and professional responsibility. He is also interested in public interest law and advocacy and is the founder of Fin Free Edmonton, a chapter of United Conservationists, through which he is pursuing shark conservation in Edmonton and elsewhere. He has authored a number of scholarly works.
Professor Jefferies would like to thank the members of his exemplary examination committee: Professor John Norton Moore (UVA, advisor), Professor Myron Nordquist (UVA, reader), Professor Paul Stephan (UVA, reader), and Dr. Susan Lieberman (Wildlife Conservation Society, external). He would also like to thank everyone at the Faculty of Law who supported him over the last three years, with a special thanks to Professor Percy, Professor Adams, Professor Harrington, Professor Henderson, Professor Ogbogu, Vice-Dean Law, Dean Bryden and Sandra Teves. Finally, he would like to thank Mer McLernon and Julie Garmel at the Center for Oceans Law and Policy for all of their support and assistance and, of course, his family for all of their encouragement.