Research facilities and opportunities

The Sir James Dunn Law Library, housed in a very attractive working space, contains a collection of over 180,000 bound volumes, 50,000 volume equivalents in microform, and 740 current journal titles. Especially strong in the fields of maritime and public international law, the library has in recent years also devoted considerable resources to its holdings in environmental law. The collection includes primary source materials for all Canadian jurisdictions as well as major series from Great Britain, the United States, and some Commonwealth jurisdictions.

Besides having a well-rounded collection in all aspects of law, the law library provides various services to users. These include traditional research methods, as well as online access to many databases. Reference staff offer specially-tailored library tutorials for graduate students many of whom concentrate in subject areas such as marine and environmental law. In addition, interlibrary loan service is available should students or faculty need to obtain material not held by the Law Library.

The strength of the Dalhousie Law Library in marine affairs is also demonstrated in the publication of research tools. In 1980, the Law Librarian initiated the "Marine Affairs Bibliography" as one of the projects of the Dalhousie Ocean Studies Program. This current bibliography on every aspect of marine affairs continues to be directed by the librarian. Its contents reflect holdings of both the Dalhousie and the University of Virginia Law Libraries, the two rich storehouses of information on marine and environmental law in North America. Finally, Dalhousie Law Library has excellent collection and expertise on international treaties.

Numerous links exist between MELP and other organizations ensuring student access to current research developments in marine law and policy. The Halifax Marine Research Institute (HMRI), launched in 2011, is a consortium of universities, federal and provincial governments and ocean industry which pulls together an impressive ensemble of world class ocean research expertise in the natural and social sciences, based at Dalhousie University. MELAW was involved in consultative processes leading to the establishment of HMRI and is now poised to participate through Dalhousie in future HMRI activities. 

The Marine Affairs Program (MAP) of Dalhousie provides an interdisciplinary curriculum in ocean development and management and organizes numerous seminars and workshops. Its Master of Marine Management (MMM) degree attracts an international body of graduate students. Courses in the Marine Affairs Program are also open to law students in MELP.

The International Ocean Institute (IOI), devoted to ocean law and policy reform and training around the world, is also located on the campus of Dalhousie University. The Ocean Yearbook, the major review of the IOI, is housed at the law school and edited by members of MELP prior to publication by the University of Chicago Press.

A broad range of interdisciplinary opportunities are also provided in environmental law training and research. In cooperation with the School for Resource and Environmental Studies, MELP students and faculty have been active in research projects in various regions of the world including the Caribbean and Southeast Asia. For example, MELP faculty collaborated with other organizations including the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute and the Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies in producing an important report about toxic chemicals in that region. The East Coast Environmental Law Association, founded by MELP faculty and students, has its office in Halifax and promotes public legal education and environmental law advocacy.

Dalhousie Law School is also home to the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute which attracts judiciary from around the world for advanced legal education. MELP plans to take an active role in environmental law education for judges. This initiative builds on previous collaboration with the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice in hosting a national conference an preparing a publication on environmental law for the judiciary. Close research links also exist between MELP and the Canadian Council on International Law (CCIL). MELP faculty and students collaborated in a CCIL project on global forests an international environmental law.

The Marine & Environmental Law Programme welcomes visits by scholars from Canada and other countries who wish to undertake sabbatical or short-term research in the marine and environmental law field. Interested applicants should contact the Director of the Marine & Environmental Law Institute. The law school provides an office and library support for visitors.