News

As the countdown to 2025 begins, more than 300 law students will soon be preparing to celebrate their shared passion for law, sports, and collaboration when the Law Games make their highly anticipated return to Weldon next month.

On January 2, students from 14 Canadian law faculties are expected to unite in Halifax for four days of camaraderie, competition, and community; it will be the first time that the Schulich School of Law has hosted the Law Games since 2015.

Schulich Law students Ailin Chant, Alexandra Doane, Lucas Paniak, Andrew Weir, and Wendy Yang are co-chairs of the 2025 Law Games and were all part of the team that travelled to the 2024 event in Saskatoon last January. That experience had such a lasting impact on them that they were inspired to organize a bid to host the upcoming Games.

“As third-year students, we wanted to capitalize on our remaining time at law school and attempt to make it as memorable as possible,” Weir explains. “We had so much fun visiting Saskatoon and wanted to give students the chance to have that same kind of experience here in Halifax.”

The Law Games began in 1983 as a single-day hockey tournament and has since evolved into a multifaceted, multi-day event featuring a variety of sports, law, and social competitions. This year’s LAWST AT SEA theme promises to introduce a nautical twist, from the Cast Off Opening Ceremony to the All Hands On Deck Talent Show to the Yacht It Like It’s Hot Closing Ceremony, setting the stage for an action-packed, high-energy celebration on the East Coast.

“Halifax is such a welcoming and vibrant city,” Weir shares. “When we first moved here for law school, we didn’t know anyone or anything about this place, but we all felt embraced by the collegial spirit ingrained in the fabric of Schulich Law and the good old Maritime hospitality offered by the city and its residents. We hope the Law Games’ participants get a taste of that spirit, have an amazing time, and want to return to visit in the future.”

Weir also encourages Schulich Law students to come to events to cheer on their 30 classmates on the Dal Legal Eagles team (plus five others who are members of a combination team with students from Western University and Thompson Rivers University) and to take advantage of the unique opportunity to meet, network, and socialize with fellow law students from across the country.

In addition to vying to be the 2025 Law Games Champions, participating students are competing for a variety of trophies, including the Spirit Cup, which is awarded to the team that has distinguished itself the most by its team spirit, positivity, and sociability with other teams. Schulich Law is the two-time defending Spirit Cup winner and this year’s team hopes to pull off a three-peat.

“Ultimately, we hope this experience inspires someone in the same way we were and motivates them to bid to host the 2026 Law Games,” says Weir. “While it’s a lot of work, it’s also a fantastic opportunity to bring a great group of people together while showing the best your law school and city have to offer.”

Follow the 2025 Law Games Instagram account to see a full schedule of events and activities.