Joel Bakan's early life was marked by a significant relocation, as he moved from Lansing, Michigan to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1970 with his parents. This move would ultimately shape his future, as he would go on to graduate from Eric Hamber Secondary high school in Vancouver.
Following his high school graduation, Bakan pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University in 1981. This academic achievement would serve as a stepping stone for his future academic endeavors.
Bakan's academic trajectory continued to ascend as he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, allowing him to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Law degree from Oxford University in 1983. This prestigious academic opportunity would undoubtedly have a profound impact on his future professional pursuits.
After completing his law degree at Oxford, Bakan returned to Canada to earn a Canadian law degree from Dalhousie University in 1984. His academic credentials continued to grow as he served as Law Clerk to the Supreme Court of Canada for Chief Justice Brian Dickson in 1985.
Bakan's academic pursuits would take him to Harvard University, where he completed a master's degree in law in 1987. Following his time at Harvard, Bakan returned to academia, serving as an assistant professor at Toronto's Osgoode Hall Law School for two years before joining the Faculty of Law at the University of British Columbia as an Associate Professor.
Today, Bakan is a renowned professor, teaching Constitutional Law and theory at the University of British Columbia. His academic achievements and professional experience have solidified his position as a respected expert in his field.
