Education
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Field Law has the largest education law practice in Alberta, providing a comprehensive range of services for universities, colleges and technical institutes. We also represent the Alberta Teachers Association. We understand that advanced education is delivered in a complex governance and legislative environment, and that accountability, transparency and integrity are essential to the operation of post-secondary institutions.

Post-secondary institutions navigate many settings and rely on our assistance in numerous areas including:

LABOUR + EMPLOYMENT

  • Collective bargaining
  • Grievances and Arbitrations
  • Disability Management and Human Rights
  • Pensions and retirement incentives
  • Immigration

ACADEMIC STAFF

  • Designation and de-designation of academic staff
  • Academic freedom
  • Relations with CAUT and Universities Canada
  • Secondment agreements
  • Contingent funding agreements
  • Research integrity and Tri-Council policies
  • Research services agreements

GOVERNANCE  

  • Bicameral governance
  • Interpretation of Post-Secondary Learning Act
  • Government relations
  • Public accountability and Office of the Auditor General
  • Policy development
  • Bylaw review and interpretation

CAMPUS SAFETY

  • Sexual violence policies
  • Detention of individuals
  • Electronic surveillance
  • Petty Trespass Act
  • Relationships with policing agencies

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

  • Copyright and trademark registration
  • Patents
  • Licensing agreement
  • Technology transfer
  • Access Copyright
  • Data sharing

PRIVACY

  • Access to information
  • Legislative compliance
  • OIPC inquiries
  • FOIPPA interpretation
  • CASL compliance

REPUTATION MANAGEMENT

  • Public accountability obligations
  • Social media
  • Defamation
  • Freedom of expression on campus
  • Class actions

  ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

  • Program reorganization
  • Accreditation reviews
  • Affiliation agreements
  • Distance learning and Massive Open Online Courses 

STUDENTS

  • Codes of Conduct and discipline
  • Academic appeals
  • Training of adjudicators
  • Tuition fee regulation
  • Student residences
  • International student fees, employment and sponsorship
  • Student groups

ENDOWMENTS/GIFTS

  • Advancement
  • Donors, donations and charitable giving
  • Trusts and endowments
  • Donation investment, management and administration

CORPORATE/COMMERCIAL

  • Land and business trusts
  • Public-private partnerships
  • Tendering
  • Commercial agreements

HEALTH + SAFETY

  • Institutional legislative compliance 
  • Policy development and implementation 
  • Incident investigation and response

Field Law hosts a legislative monitoring service to support our clients with their legislative compliance. For details on enrolment to the legislative monitoring service please contact Gina Linden at library@fieldlaw.com or call 780-423-7692.

Association of Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (“AASUA”) v the Governors of the University of Alberta (“University of Alberta”), 2024 CanLII 23298 (AB GAA)
University of Alberta v Association of Academic Staff: University of Alberta, 2023 CanLII 45765 (AB GAA)
Governors of the University of Alberta v Edmonton (City), 2022 ABKB 725
Governors of the University of Alberta v The City of Edmonton, 2021 ABECARB 1338
Alberta Teachers' Association v Buffalo Trail Public Schools Regional Division No 28, 2020 ABQB 582 (CanLII)
Harun-ar-Rashid v Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), 2019 ABQB 54
Concordia University of Edmonton v Concordia University College of Alberta Faculty Association, 2018 CanLII 122660 (AB GAA)
Elkow v Sana, 2018 ABQB 1001
Calgary School District No. 19 v Alberta Teachers' Association, 2017 CanLII 10820 (AB GAA)
Alberta Teachers Association v Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School Division No. 1, 2016 CanLII 97764 (AB GAA)
University of Alberta Non- Academic Staff Association affecting University of Alberta, 2016 CanLII 72742 (AB LRB)
Alberta Teachers' Association and Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School District No. 1, 2015 ABQB 302
College of Dietitians of Alberta v. 3393291 Canada Inc. (Canadian School of Natural Nutrition), 2015 FC 449
Concordia University College of Alberta Faculty Association v Concordia University College of Alberta, 2012 CanLII 40025 (AB LRB)
Alberta Teachers' Association v. Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School District No. 1, 2012 ABCA 45
R. v. Jonkman, 2010 ABPC 245
October 30, 2024
2024 Post-Secondary Summit
Conference
Join us for our annual summit which focuses on key strategic and legal issues facing Alberta’s post-secondary institutions.Date: Wednesday, October 30 Time: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Location: Holiday Inn Edmonton South, Evari...
August 2024
The Best Lawyers™ in Canada 2025
Field Law is pleased to announce that 50 of our lawyers are recognized in their respective practice areas in the 19th edition of The Best Lawyers™ in Canada. Recognition in Best Lawyers™ is based on peer reviews of ...
July 2024 - 6 min read
First Court Decision Interpreting New Streamlined Trial Rules in Alberta
In January of 2024, the Alberta Rules of Court were amended to repeal the summary trial process and replace it with “streamlined trial” rules. Field Law's Frank Molnar, KC successfully represented an employer ...
April 2024 - 6 min read
Justice in the Classroom: A Key Decision on Student Disciplinary Rights
A recent decision from the Alberta Court of Appeal emphasizes the critical importance of procedural fairness in internal disciplinary actions within post-secondary institutions. The ruling centred on a student's right to acces...
August 2023
The Best Lawyers™ in Canada 2024
42 Lawyers Recognized  
Field Law is pleased to announce that 42 of our lawyers are recognized in their respective practice areas in the 18th edition of The Best Lawyers™ in Canada. Recognition in Best Lawyers™ is based on peer reviews of ...
April 2021 - 8 min read
Changes to Post-Secondary Compensation
Alert
Reform of Agencies, Boards and Commissions (Post-Secondary Institutions) Compensation Regulation Extended to More Post-Secondary Executives as of April 1, 2021 On March 24, 2021, the Alberta Government passed an amendment to the Reform o...
October 2020 - 6 min read
Major Win for York on Copyright: York University v. Access Copyright Case Review
Update: On October 15, 2020 the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) granted the applications for leave to appeal. The judgment of the Federal Court of Appeal, in York University v. The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (“Access Copyright”), Num...
May 2020 - 5 min read
Returning to Campus During a Pandemic: Privacy Issues
This week, as this article went to press, several major Canadian and American universities announced plans to maintain classes online when the fall semester starts in September. Other universities and colleges are making plans to bring students ba...
December 2019
2019 Field Law Post-Secondary Summit Recap
The fourth annual Field Law Post-Secondary Summit was held on November 28 in Calgary and was co-chaired by Frank Molnar, KC and Greg Harding, KC. Brief summaries of the presentations given at the Summit are provided below. Innovative Governance During...
November 28, 2019
2019 Field Law Post-Secondary Summit
Conferences
Join us for our fourth annual Summit to focus and collaborate on legal issues facing Alberta’s post-secondary institutions.Topics to be covered include: Innovative Governance During Challenging Times Update on Recent Labour Relations Board ...
November 2019
Bill 20 + Bill 21: Key Aspects for Alberta's Post-Secondary Institutions
Alert
On October 28, 2019 the Alberta government introduced two bills (Bills 20 and 21) which propose several legislative changes that will impact post-secondary institutions in the Province, as well as their students. The legislation has various aspects wor...
May 2019
New Challenges to Free Speech on Campus
Alert
Last week the new provincial government announced its intention to require Alberta post-secondary institutions to enact policies about free speech on campus. While no specific proposals were released, and the Minister of Advanced Education said he inte...
November 29, 2018
2018 Field Law Post-Secondary Summit
Conferences
Join us for our annual Summit to focus and collaborate on legal issues facing Alberta's post-secondary institutions. Topics to be covered include:  Governance: Representative Roles + Responsibilities Academic Labour Relations + Barg...