McGILL LAW JOURNAL
REVUE DE DROIT DE McGILL
Volume 25
Montreal
1979
No. 1
Preface to the Twenty-fifth Anniversary Volume
Although it was founded in 1952, the commemoration of the
twenty-fifth anniversary volume ofthe McGill Law Journal (known
as well since 1977 as the Revue de Droit de McGill) can be observed
in 1979. The first two volumes of the Journal covered in effect more
than two calendar years (1952-1957) –
such are, sometimes, the un-
certainties surrounding any new publication. There was no fanfare
or ringing preface when the first number of the first volume appear-
ed in the autumn of 1952,’ and editors in the years since have shown
similar restraint. They have wisely concentrated their efforts upon
producing one of the substantively more interesting and attractively
“a professional journal …
printed reviews published in Canada –
[whose] purpose is to promote the study of law in Canada and to
help in the understanding of the Civil Law and Common Law
systems which exist side by side in this country”.2
These purposes have been fulfilled ever since the early years of
the Journal. In addition to a host of distinguished Canadian authors
who have made significant contributions in these pages to the
study of law and legal scholarship, there has been a steady series
of contributions by eminent writers from France, the United King-
dom, Germany and the U.S.A. Subjects treated have ranged over
most aspects of local, national and international interest.
The Journal has not always been able to function under the best
conditions. After many years spent in a crowded attic room of Old
Chancellor Day Hall (which I remember well from my own time
IThe first editorial board was composed of Jacques-Yvan Morin (Editor
in Chief), James A. Robb, John Bishop, J. J. Pepper, Natalie Fochs-Isaacs
and Fred Kaufman.
2 From the McGill Law Journal prospectus, verso of masthead.
McGILL LAW JOURNAL
(Vol. 25
on the Board), it has migrated to the basement of the same building
in only slightly more spacious accommodation. Financial conditions,
too, have been modest; the Journal –
and this is not generally
known – has survived, indeed flourished, with no direct financial
support from McGill University or the Faculty of Law itself (save
for “special” projects such as the cumulative index to volumes 1-20)
and only occasional support from outside agencies. To their credit,
successive editorial boards have always wished to retain this finan-
cial independence as well as their managerial and editorial auto-
nomy. The Journal is, then, in my view, a source of real distinction
for the students who have served on it and it is a distinction which
inures to the Faculty and the University. In no sense is it an “in
house” publication.
In the years ahead-the McGill Law Journal will undoubtedly face
new difficulties. There will be mounting costs. A dean, one day, may
covet its office space. There may be pressure to merge with other
law journals on the reasoning that there are too many legal perio-
dioals in Canada or Quebec today. The law itself, increasing in
volume and in complexity, will put the editorial skills of future
editors to new challenges. I am confident that our students will
meet these challenges because I know how very profoundly they
believe in the value of their publication. Over the past twenty
years –
as a member of the junior and then senior Boards, as la
former faculty adviser, and now as Dean –
I have been involved in
the welfare of the Journal and I have seen this belief and pride in
the publication grow. This is good. It will be a strength for the
future.
And so to the students of the past who conceived and launched
the Journal, to present students who have the responsibility to
maintain it and to the future students who will be called upon to
continue its fine tradition, I extend all good wishes on behalf of
the Faculty of Law and McGill University, as well as on my own
behalf.
John E. C. Brierley*
* Macdonald Professor of Law and Dean, Faculty of Law, McGill University.
