Dr. Michael Law Smith

Biography

Michael Law-Smith is an Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law (Common Law Section). His primary research interests lie in criminal law and procedure, with a particular focus on the intersection of criminal law, political, and legal philosophy. He has strong interests in law of evidence and tort law. His work explores topics such as mass incarceration, criminal trials, algorithmic sentencing, and prosecutorial misconduct. His writing has appeared or is forthcoming in the McGill Law Journal and the Journal of Legal Philosophy. Before joining the University of Ottawa, Professor Law-Smith held a visiting position at Harvard Law School and participated in the Law Commission of Canada’s Emerging Scholars program. Most recently, he served as a judicial law clerk to Chief Justice Richard Wagner of the Supreme Court of Canada. He holds a JD from the University of Toronto, where he graduated as a silver medallist, and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Toronto. He has also obtained an MA in Political Science from the University of Toronto, an MA in Philosophy from Western University, and a BA in Philosophy from the University of British Columbia, demonstrating a strong academic background in law and philosophy.

Research Interests

Experience