Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Martha Shaffer

Professor Martha Shaffer (LLB 1987) has been recognized with the Alan Mewett Award for Excellence in Teaching for the third time in five years.

The annual award is given to a faculty member who exhibits excellence in teaching as selected by members of the graduating class. The awardee is recognized at a post-convocation reception. 

Shaffer, who previously received the honour in 2024 and 2021, was chosen by the JD Class of 2025. 

"Renowned for her ability to communicate legal concepts clearly and effectively, Professor Shaffer's evidence class is one of the most sought-after at the faculty," said graduate Isabel Brisson, president of the Students' Law Society in 2024/25. "Her approachability and unwavering dedication to student success in and out of the classroom have been a key part of many students’ law school experience."

Shaffer teaches criminal law, evidence law and legal methods and has taught family law as well as courses on cultural diversity and gender issues. She writes in the areas of family and criminal law, with a focus on gender, violence against women and the use of social science evidence to inform legal reasoning. She holds law degrees from Harvard University and U of T.

“Thank you, Class of 2025. It has been an honour to get to know you over the past three years both inside and outside of class. Alan Mewett was my mentor when I joined the Faculty and receiving the Mewett Award is especially meaningful,” says Shaffer.