Empowering Francophone Legal Leaders: Laurentian Arts Students Headed to Law School

August 12, 2026 –  The Faculty of Arts at Laurentian University is demonstrating the strength of its bilingual pathways as four standout Droit et justice students prepare to enter law school this September. Through the Cursus intégré - Programme de common law en français, these high-achieving students have secured special admission to the French Common Law program at the University of Ottawa.

The competitive three-year pathway fast-tracks Laurentian students directly into professional legal studies, underscoring the university’s vital role in training bilingual professionals dedicated to championing access to justice in Northern Ontario and beyond.

Among this year’s cohort advancing to the University of Ottawa:

Myriam Cloutier (Hearst, Ontario)

Heading to the University of Ottawa after completing her third year, Cloutier served as a student ambassador and the Francophone Representative for the Law at Laurentian University (LawLu) student association, where she co-organized the 2026 Model Parliament. Her dedication to French-language justice was recently recognized with the prestigious Bourse « Carrières en justice » from the Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Ontario (AJEFO).

"It is important to me to continue my studies in French because we are a linguistic minority," Cloutier explains. "Coming from Northern Ontario, I know how important it is to ensure that French-speaking communities continue to have access to legal services in their own language."

Matteo Rocca (Sudbury, Ontario) 

Also heading to the University of Ottawa, Matteo balanced campus leadership as President of the Law at Laurentian Students’ Association and Co-President of the Model Parliament with national academic engagement. He represented Laurentian on the national stage by participating in the prestigious CAP-CF Mock Constitutional Negotiations in Kingston, Ontario.

"Having grown up in a Francophone school, I knew that my fluency in French would open doors for me," Rocca says. "Today, I am incredibly proud to say that I will have the opportunity to give back—doing for la Francophonie what la Francophonie did for me—by serving the Francophone community as a legal professional."

Justine Djedje (Côte d’Ivoire)

Completing her third year of Droit et justice, Djedje joins her peers at the University of Ottawa after choosing Laurentian specifically to pursue her post-secondary education in French. Guided by faculty mentors including Dr. Michel Giroux and Dr. Stéphanie B. Martens, her primary goal is to complete her legal education and enter the legal profession equipped with a strong bilingual foundation.

"It was important for me to pursue the integrated pathway because it allows me to study common law in French," Djedje shares. "I wanted to continue my studies in my language while having access to a strong legal education."

Maryse Jolicoeur (Orléans, Ontario) 

Also advancing after completing her third year in Droit et justice, Jolicoeur was drawn to Laurentian for its close-knit community and its unique French-language law and justice programming. During her time on campus, she actively championed inclusivity as the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Representative for LawLu, expanded French-language access through Model Parliament, as the Co-President organizer for the 2026 event, and volunteered with both the campus Women’s Centre and Equity, Diversity and Human Rights Laurentian (EDHRO). Guided by Dr. Michel Giroux, she looks forward to leveraging her legal education to advocate for marginalized communities and expand French-language legal services.

"Attending law school has been a long-standing goal of mine, and I am excited for this next chapter," Jolicoeur says. "In my future legal career, I hope to help as many people as possible obtain justice—supporting Francophone communities across the country in fields like human rights, family law, and child protection, and perhaps even on an international scale."

“It is an immense privilege to see our students turn their legal ambitions into reality. The pathway of the integrated curriculum in Droit et justice prepares our graduates well for the demands of law school, while responding to the essential need to train engaged Francophone legal professionals in our communities. We are extremely proud to see them take this next step at the University of Ottawa." — Dr. Michel Giroux, Full Professor in the Department of Law and Justice. 

Learn More

To explore the Droit et justice program options and learn more about the terms of the agreement with the University of Ottawa and the University of Moncton, visit the Droit et Justice Program Website or view the specific Agreement Details Page.