BA, JD, M.Ed.
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Instructor
Faculty of Business and Professional Studies
School of Legal Studies
604.986.1911 ext. 2131
Fir Building, room FR512
melissapanjer@capilanou.ca
Education
M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, George Mason University, 2017.
JD, University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, 2002.
BA, (Honours) History, Western University, 1999.
Bio
Melissa Panjer is a legal educator who is focused on helping students actively engage in the classroom.
After receiving her law degree from the University of Toronto, Panjer practised civil litigation in Toronto at a large national firm, appearing on and assisting with cases at all levels of courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada.
In the years that followed, she worked as in-house counsel for the sixth largest municipality in Canada and as a consultant for the World Bank, researching and co-authoring legal and policy publications relating to international money laundering.
Panjer later obtained a M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from George Mason University and spent several years teaching in a variety of contexts in the United States and Canada. She also completed her Professional Teaching Certificate in 2020.
Panjer teaches courses in both the paralegal and legal administrative assistant programs and is currently serving as the Curriculum & New Program Initiatives Convenor for the School of Legal Studies.
As an educator, I am dedicated to fostering student-centered learning environments that facilitate skill development and student participation. My teaching approach incorporates experiential and active learning opportunities designed to provide students with practical, relevant experience. These include activities and assessments such as simulated cases, scenarios for applying legal principles, and negotiation exercises.
To empower students to take ownership of their learning, I integrate metacognitive activities like reflective exercises and targeted feedback. These strategies help students identify their most effective learning practices and cultivate lifetime learning habits that will pay dividends in the years to come.
Pereira Goncalves, Marilyne; Greenberg, Theodore; Magrath, William; Panjer, Melissa. Justice for forests: Improving criminal justice efforts to combat illegal logging (English). A World Bank study Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group.
Brun, Jean Pierre; Dunker, Gabriele; Gray, Larissa Alanna; Panjer, Melissa; Power, Richard John; Stephenson, Kevin. Barriers to asset recovery: An analysis of the key barriers and recommendations for action. Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) initiative Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group.
Gold Medal in History, Western University, 1999.
Entertainment Law Prize, University of Toronto, 2002.