Dr. René Provost

Professor

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Biography

René Provost is a James McGill Professor at McGill University's Faculty of Law, specializing in public international law, international human rights law, and legal anthropology. He has a deep interest in Indigenous legal traditions and has conducted significant research on topics including international criminal law and the law of armed conflict. Provost's work notably involves the intersection of law and culture, focusing on how legal systems adapt to the complexities of diverse socio-legal landscapes. He was awarded the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Fellowship as part of a research initiative aimed at encouraging armed non-state groups to adhere to minimal standards of international humanitarian law within conflict zones, leading to his monograph "Rebel Courts: Administration of Justice by Armed Insurgents" published by Oxford University Press in 2021. Provost has held numerous academic positions, including Founding Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Law at McGill. His contributions have been recognized with the ASIL Certificate of Merit and the 2022 ICON-S Book Prize. He serves as the Principal Investigator on the Unreserved Justice Project, which collaborates with Indigenous leaders across Canada to establish their governance structures.

Research Interests

Experience

James McGill Professor

2023-01-01 — Present

McGill University, Faculty of Law • Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Professorship specializing in international law and Indigenous legal frameworks.

Fernand Braudel Senior Fellow

2024-01-01 — 2024-12-31

European University Institute • Florence, Italy

Engagement in postdoctoral research in international studies.

Lady Davis Visiting Professor

2018-01-01 — 2018-12-31

Hebrew University of Jerusalem • Jerusalem, Israel

Teaching and research in international human rights.

Founding Director

2005-01-01 — 2010-01-01

Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism, McGill University • Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Established and directed a center focusing on human rights within a legal pluralism framework.

Full Professor

2015-01-01 — Present

McGill University, Faculty of Law • Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Leading courses and research initiatives in international law.

Associate Professor

2001-01-01 — 2015-01-01

McGill University, Faculty of Law • Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Taught various legal disciplines with a focus on international law.

Assistant Professor

1995-01-01 — 2001-01-01

McGill University, Faculty of Law • Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Early career position focusing on legal education and research.

Adjunct Lecturer

1991-01-01 — 1991-12-31

Lehigh University, Department of International Relations • Pennsylvania, USA

Taught international law courses.

Research Attorney

1991-01-01 — 1991-12-31

Human Rights Watch • New York, USA

Conducted research on human rights violations.

Law Clerk

1989-01-01 — 1990-01-01

Supreme Court of Canada • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Clerked for Justice Claire L'Heureux-Dubé.

Awards

#

Advocatus Emeritus (Ad. E.)

2017-01-01
#

Fellow Royal Society Canada

2019-09-01

Requirements for McGill University

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.2
TOEFL
Listening
Required:20
Reading
Required:20
Writing
Required:20
Speaking
Required:20
Total
Required:86
IELTS
Overall
Required:6.5
Prerequisites
B.Sc. degree or equivalent M.D. degree
Application Checklist
  • Transcripts
  • 2 Letters of Reference
  • CV
  • Personal Statement
  • Confirmation of Supervision
  • Research Project Proposal
Specialization Notes

Department: Department of Medicine. Program: Experimental Medicine.