LAW(S), LANGUAGE(S) & SOCIETY(IES) / DROIT(S), LANGUE(S) ET SOCIÉTÉ(S)
June 16, 2017, McGill University
The eleventh edition of the Summer Institute of Jurilinguistics was held on June 16th 2017 at McGill University. Organized by the Paul-André Crépeau Centre for Private and Comparative Law, in collaboration with other members of the Network of Jurilinguistic Centres, the event brought together more than 130 participants from different fields tied to jurilinguistics.
This year, the theme of the Institute was “Law(s), Languages & Society(ies)”. The scholarly programme for the day included two plenary sessions and four workshops, covering a wide range of subjects presented by various speakers.
Dr. Janny HC Leung, Javier Moreno-Rivero, Dr. Juliette Scott, Karine McLaren
Professor Yaëll Emerich, director of the Crépeau Centre, delivered words of welcome to open the event. The first plenary, moderated by Karine McLaren, was devoted to exploring links between jurilinguistics and identity. Dr. Janny HC Leung from the University of Hong Kong gave the first presentation, The Nomos of Multilingual Law, on the consequences of official State multilingualism. To follow, Javier Moreno-Rivero, in Giving a Voice to the Unheard: Translation as a Mechanism of Shaping Linguistic Identity in Multilingual Legal Settings, discussed challenges posed by the lack of knowledge of lesser-known languages in courts. Then Dr. Juliette Scott, director of the Legal Translation Hub (Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and the Institute of Modern Languages Research, School of Advanced Study, University of London, U.K.), elucidated the challenges of legal translation outside of official institutions.
Mtre Michaël Lessard, Suzanne Zaccour, Florence Ashley Paré, Prof. Alexandra Popovici
Two morning workshops were devoted to jurilinguistics and diversity. In one, Professor Alexandra Popovici moderated two presentations. First, Mtre Michaël Lessard and Suzanne Zaccour (LL.M. candidate, University of Toronto) explored the feminisation of legal vocabulary and syntax toward more inclusive redaction. Next, Florence Ashley Paré (LL.M. candidate, McGill University), discussed the position of trans persons in Quebec legislation. At the same time, Professor Lorena Sekwan Fontaine (University of Winnipeg) discussed the protection of Indigenous language rights in a session moderated by Professor Kirsten Anker.
Jeff Staflund
Two workshops about jurilinguistics and accessibility took place during the afternoon. Mtre Stéphanie Roy, lawyer and co-founder of En Clair Service-Conseil Inc., presented on the vulgarization of legal documents, moderated by Laurence Endale. In the other, Jeff Staflund, Chief Interpreter with the New Brunswick Translation Bureau in Fredericton, conducted a workshop on the challenges facing interpreters when translating in court. That workshop was moderated by Aileen Clark.
Mtre Laurence Bich-Carrière, Karine McLaren, Mtre Érik Labelle Eastaugh, Dr. Sandy Lamalle
Jurilinguistics and equality were the subject of the last plenary, presided by Mtre Laurence Bich-Carrière. Mtre Érik Labelle Eastaugh, lawyer at CazaSaikelay, discussed Supreme Court of Canada jurisprudence related to equality vis-à-vis language rights. Then Karine McLaren, director of the Centre de traduction et de terminologie juridiques of the University of Moncton, explored the importance of drafting methods in countries where legislative bilinguism is required. Dr. Sandy Lamalle, international consultant and research associate at Concordia University, reflected on the practical importance of jurilinguistics in international human rights.
Dean Robert Leckey, Honourable Clément Gascon
The Honourable Clément Gascon concluded the eleventh edition of the Summer Institute by celebrating the important role of jurilinguistics within the law and highlighting the essential work of those who devote to it their time and effort. Dean Robert Leckey thanked the participants and invited all to end the day with a celebratory cocktail. The organizers, the administrative officers from the Network of Jurilinguistics Centres, and the participants all expressed their appreciation for this annual gathering.
Click 
here to view the program of the 11th Summer Institute of Jurilinguistics.
This conference was recognized by the Barreau du Québec and the Chambre des notaires as fulfilling 5 hours of Continuing Legal Education.
The Crépeau Centre would like to thank Justice Canada for its financial support from the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund through the Roadmap for Canada's Official Languages (2013-2018).