Scholarship Program

CELF Scholarship Program

The Canadian Energy Law Foundation is proud to contribute to advancing energy law through our scholarship program. The CELF currently has two (2) scholarship programs available to applicable candidates, outlined as follows.

Graduate Scholarship in Law

Amount of Program: Up to $20,000 for each Academic Year.

Annual Review: The Board will make an assessment each year to determine if the Scholarship Program will be offered for the next Academic Year.

One Candidate Per University: Universities across Canada will be invited to designate one candidate from their LLM or PHD Program (the Designated Candidate). The invitation will be made by letter from the Chair of the Subcommittee to the faculties directly.

Criteria for Selection: The Scholarship Program is available to Canadian and foreign students enrolled in a Canadian University LLM or PHD program who are confirmed as the Designated Candidate by the Law School. Only one Designated Candidate per law school is eligible. The CELF’s Scholarship Subcommittee will make its recommendation for award(s) on the basis of:

  • Thesis topic(s) that are of interest to Canadian energy lawyers; or
  • Recipient(s) intending to make a significant contribution to the Canadian energy legal practice.

Application Deadline: To be established by the CELF’s Scholarship Subcommittee.

Application Process: Each Designated Candidate must submit a statement describing their thesis topic and why it would be of interest to Canadian energy lawyers and/or a description of the activities undertaken by the applicant that are intended to make a significant contribution to the Canadian energy legal practice. This application must be accompanied by a letter from the Law School confirming that the candidate is the Designated Candidate for the Law School for the Scholarship Program.

Award of Scholarship: The recipient(s) will be determined by the Board upon recommendation of the CELF Scholarship Subcommittee. The Board has the discretion to award all or part of the $20,000 to one or more graduate students or to award no scholarship in respect of any year. The recipient(s) may be asked to attend and present on their topic at the CELF’s Annual Research Seminar in Jasper, Alberta or other CELF event on a reasonable expenses paid basis.

Undergraduate Scholarships/Prizes in Law

Amount of Program: $2,500 per Scholarship/Prize.

Annual Review: The Board will make an assessment each year to determine if Scholarships/Prizes will be offered for the next Academic Year.

One Candidate Per University: Universities across Canada that offer an energy law course will be invited to recommend one candidate from their undergraduate program for a Scholarship/Prize for academic excellence in an energy law course. The invitation will be made by letter from the Chair of the Subcommittee directly to the faculties.

Award of Scholarship: The recipient(s) will be determined by the Board upon recommendation from the CELF’s Scholarship Subcommittee. The Board has the discretion to award no Scholarships/Prizes in the respect of any year.

Our 2018/2019 CELF Scholarship Program Recipients

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the two following recipients under this year’s CELF Scholarship Program:

University of OttawaZoe Boirin, is currently a second year PhD candidate, with a thesis entitled “Mining projects and corporations’ contribution to sustainable development: the internal corporate perspective on consultation with Indigenous peoples.” Ms. Boirin’s research program intends to evaluate the impact of various legal instruments on the consultation of indigenous peoples during the development of mining projects, with a specific focus on how the law effects managerial decisions and how conflicting deadlines on mining exploration projects can be reconciled with the need to appropriately consult with stakeholders such as indigenous communities.

Queen’s UniversityAlicia Elias-Roberts, is also currently a second year PhD candidate, with a thesis entitled “Petroleum activities in disputed maritime areas and a positive approach to international law.” Ms. Elias-Roberts research program intends to rationalize and explain the law related to petroleum exploration and production in disputed maritime regions, making reference to international law, law of the sea, international environmental law as well as national laws related to the permitting and operation of resource extraction. In examining this area of law, Ms. Elias-Roberts intends to address such questions as: (i) when can unilateral action be legitimately undertaken in disputed maritime zones?; (ii) are there any theories on state responsibility which preclude wrongfulness in this area?; and (iii) what remedies might be available to States in this area.