Jean Leclair

Jean Leclair is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Montreal, specializing in constitutional law, federalism, and Indigenous rights. He holds an LL.B. (1984) and LL.M. (1990) from the same institution, where he began teaching in 1991.

• Education: LL.B. (1984), LL.M. (1990), both from University of Montreal.

His research explores the structural effects of law on Indigenous-state relations, epistemological intersections between law and social sciences, and federalism theories accommodating Indigenous autonomy without monolithic identity claims. Key projects include the Clean Arctic Shipping Initiative (2023-2030) and long-term collaborative studies on Indigenous governance (2006-2013).

Recent publications analyze legislative jurisdiction conflicts, Indigenous consultation protocols, and federalism's philosophical foundations. He has supervised over 15 graduate theses on topics ranging from Indigenous health inequalities to constitutional asymmetries.

• Scientific Awards: Trudeau Foundation Fellow (2013), Prix André-Morel for Teaching Excellence (2016-2017).

As principal investigator for grants from SSHRC and the Trudeau Foundation, he examines legal pluralism's role in resource management and environmental governance. His work appears in leading constitutional studies journals.