Sanda Rodgers

Prof. Rodgers obtained both her LL.B. in 1974 and her B.C.L. in 1975 from McGill University. She earned her LL.M. from the Université de Montréal in 1978, and took a teaching position at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law that same year. She began her teaching career as an instructor in commercial law and consumer protection, with her primary research area being medical law. When Prof. Rodgers entered legal academia, women were generally not considered for leadership roles within the law school or University administration. Positions such as dean and assistant dean were considered male roles, a trend that was reflected across Canada. The 1980s marked a significant period for women in law in Canada. Women’s entry into law schools and the legal profession in growing numbers sparked a backlash against feminist scholars and teachers in many parts of the country. The resistance to the changing face of the practice of law persisted despite rallying calls for change from both those within and those outside of the profession.