Terms & Conditions

1. Definitions

In these Terms and Conditions, the following terms have the meanings set out below:

• "Institute", "we", "us", "our" — Canadian Institute for International Law Expertise, incorporated in Ontario and located at 2 Bloor Street West, Unit 700, Toronto, ON M4W 3E2.
• "User", "you", "your" — any individual who accesses this website or participates in a program offered by the Institute.
• "Programs" — the Open Research Seminar Series, the Academic Writing and Citation Program, and the Institutional Publication Workflow Advisory, as described on this website.
• "Website" — the Institute's website accessible at cznadianzins.click and all associated pages.
• "Content" — all text, reading materials, session summaries, templates, checklists, documentation, and other materials produced or distributed by the Institute in connection with its Programs.
• "Agreement" — these Terms and Conditions together with any supplementary terms provided at the time of registration for a Program.

2. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing this Website or registering for a Program, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Agreement. If you do not agree, please do not use the Website or register for any Program.

You must be at least 18 years of age and have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement to register for a Program. If you are registering on behalf of an organisation, you represent that you have authority to bind that organisation to this Agreement.

3. Program Descriptions

The Institute offers the following educational and advisory programs:

• Open Research Seminar Series (CAD 160): Six monthly 90-minute seminars on comparative research methodology, source evaluation, and international institution documentation. Open to graduate students, researchers, and informed members of the public. No individual guidance is provided.
• Academic Writing and Citation Program (CAD 450): An eight-week program delivered over four workshops, providing written feedback on two drafts per participant. Group size is capped at 15 participants. Covers argument structure, citation systems, reference management, and journal submission preparation.
• Institutional Publication Workflow Advisory (CAD 970): A ten-week advisory engagement for research centres and university departments that publish regularly. Covers editorial calendar design, peer-review coordination, version control, archiving, and staff training. Delivered to organisational clients.

Program descriptions on the Website are provided for general informational purposes. The Institute reserves the right to adjust program content, session dates, or delivery format with reasonable notice to registered participants.

4. Registration and Enrollment

To participate in a Program, you must complete an enquiry or registration through the Website's contact form. The Institute will confirm your place by email. A place in a Program is confirmed only upon receipt of payment or a written payment arrangement with the Institute.

For the Academic Writing and Citation Program, group size is limited to 15 participants. The Institute will not confirm registrations beyond this capacity within a single program cycle.

You are responsible for maintaining the accuracy of the contact information you provide to the Institute.

5. User Responsibilities and Acceptable Use

When using the Website or participating in a Program, you agree to:

• Provide accurate and complete information during registration and in any communications with the Institute.
• Participate in seminars and workshops in a respectful and professional manner.
• Not record, reproduce, or redistribute session content without the Institute's written permission.
• Not share access credentials or session materials with persons who have not registered for the relevant Program.
• Not use Website or Program content for commercial purposes without the Institute's prior written consent.

The Institute may suspend or terminate your access to a Program if you breach these obligations.

6. Intellectual Property

All Content produced and distributed by the Institute — including reading lists, session summaries, citation style sheets, submission checklists, editorial templates, and process documentation — remains the intellectual property of the Canadian Institute for International Law Expertise unless otherwise stated.

You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use Content for your own personal or institutional research and administrative purposes. You may not republish, sell, sublicence, or otherwise distribute Content to third parties.

Feedback, drafts, and written work you submit as part of a Program remain your own. By participating, you grant the Institute a limited licence to review and annotate your submitted work for the purpose of delivering feedback.

7. Fees and Payment

Program fees are stated in Canadian dollars (CAD) and are as follows:

• Open Research Seminar Series: CAD 160
• Academic Writing and Citation Program: CAD 450
• Institutional Publication Workflow Advisory: CAD 970

Fees are due prior to the start of a Program unless a written payment arrangement has been made with the Institute. Applicable taxes will be confirmed at the time of invoicing.

Refund Policy

If you withdraw from a Program more than 14 calendar days before its start date, you are entitled to a full refund of the fee paid. Withdrawals received 7 to 14 days before the start date are eligible for a 50% refund. No refund is available for withdrawals received less than 7 days before the start date or after a Program has begun, except where the Institute cancels a Program, in which case a full refund will be provided.

Refund requests should be submitted by email to [email protected].

8. Disclaimers

The Website and all Programs are provided for general educational and advisory purposes only. Nothing on the Website or in any Program constitutes legal advice, and participation does not create a solicitor-client relationship between you and the Institute or any of its facilitators.

The Institute does not provide individual guidance on specific legal matters, cases, or disputes. If you require legal advice relevant to your specific circumstances, you should consult a qualified lawyer.

The Institute makes reasonable efforts to ensure that Content is accurate and up to date but does not represent or warrant that it is complete, free from error, or appropriate for any particular purpose.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law in Ontario, the Institute's total liability to you for any claim arising out of or in connection with these Terms or the Programs shall not exceed the fees paid by you for the relevant Program in the 12 months preceding the claim.

The Institute is not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential loss or damage arising from your use of the Website or participation in a Program, including but not limited to loss of data, loss of revenue, or reputational harm.

Nothing in this Agreement limits liability for fraud, gross negligence, or any other matter that cannot be excluded under applicable law.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Institute, its directors, staff, and facilitators from and against any claims, damages, costs, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your breach of this Agreement, your use of the Website, or your conduct in connection with a Program.

11. Termination

The Institute may suspend or terminate your access to a Program or the Website at any time if you breach this Agreement or conduct yourself in a manner that is disruptive, disrespectful, or contrary to the academic and professional standards expected of participants.

You may discontinue your participation in a Program at any time, subject to the refund terms in Section 7. Sections 6, 8, 9, 10, 13, and 14 survive termination of this Agreement.

12. Force Majeure

The Institute is not liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations where such failure or delay results from circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of government, public health emergencies, natural disasters, or telecommunications outages. In such cases, the Institute will make reasonable efforts to reschedule affected sessions and will notify registered participants promptly.

13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

This Agreement is governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the applicable federal laws of Canada, without regard to conflict of law principles.

If a dispute arises, both parties agree to attempt to resolve it through good-faith discussion before initiating formal proceedings. Disputes that cannot be resolved informally shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of Ontario, sitting in the City of Toronto.

14. General Provisions

• Entire agreement: This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and the Institute in respect of its subject matter and supersedes any prior representations or understandings.
• Severability: If any provision of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force.
• Waiver: Failure by either party to enforce any right under this Agreement does not constitute a waiver of that right.
• Assignment: You may not assign any rights or obligations under this Agreement without the Institute's written consent.
• Notices: Formal notices under this Agreement should be sent to the Institute by post or to [email protected].

15. Changes to These Terms

The Institute may update these Terms from time to time. When material changes are made, we will update the Effective Date at the top of this document. Continued use of the Website or participation in a Program after an update constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. We recommend reviewing this page periodically.

16. Contact

For questions or concerns about these Terms and Conditions, please contact:

• Email: [email protected]
• Post: Canadian Institute for International Law Expertise, 2 Bloor Street West, Unit 700, Toronto, ON M4W 3E2, Canada
• Phone: +1 416-849-6990 (Mon–Fri, 9:00 AM–5:30 PM ET)