On June 28, 2023, the University of New Brunswick, in collaboration with the Government of Canada and the Government of New Brunswick, announced plans to revitalize the Fredericton Justice Building and make it the new home of UNB’s Faculty of Law.
This project is made possible through the largest public investment ever in a Canadian law school— Ottawa pledged $24.9 million to the project; the province will contribute $20.7 million. Combined with UNB’s $16.6-million contribution, the total projected investment will be $62 million.
The acquisition of this unique facility will have an immense impact on social innovation, economic development and the heritage of our University and the city. Most importantly, it will provide a unique opportunity to enhance the classroom experience for UNB Law students.
Research shows that learning environments play a crucial role in the student experience and in students’ success. A positive learning environment supports students’ motivation, engagement and their ability to meet the demands of a 21st-century legal education.
In the new location, students and faculty will be immersed in the legal community of the provincial capital, just a block or two from the courts, law offices and practitioners, the Provincial Legislature, non-profits and businesses.
They will be interacting every day with the people they serve and benefiting from the informal learning that provides.
Providing 30,000 additional square feet of space for programming and growth, the building will become the permanent home for the UNB Legal Clinic. The expanded location will include a legal observatory tribunal room and house the largest law library in the province downtown, making it accessible to the public. This move will also allow the faculty to develop an innovative graduate law program.
“You're taking an old, historic building and making it a state-of-the-art, modern facility, reducing its climate change footprint and making it resilient and adaptable to changing weather circumstances. I think it will be an example for the rest of the country.”
— Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., K.C., M.P. (LLB’92)
