The Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary was officially opened in 1976 with a first-year class of sixty students and nine faculty members. Currently, there are 21 faculty and approximately 300 students in total, giving the school one of the smallest class sizes of the Canadian law schools. Calgary has a large legal community, and boasts a diverse legal profession. The Faculty of Law has a strong connection with the Calgary legal community. The Faculty offers a JD program (formerly LL.B.) as well as thesis and course based LL.M. programs in the areas of natural resources, energy and environmental law and policy. The faculty is in the midst of expanding the size of the school by adding a larger incoming class to both the LLB and LLM programs and increasing the number of faculty members. The expansion also includes the addition a new PhD program and a complete renovation of the law building. Even with the expansion the school will still be able to maintain a great faculty to student ratio and maintain its status as a small school environment, but will gain the advantage of having more courses and a greater presence.