Law Times

Law Times • November 25, 2013 NEWS Page 5 Ryerson, U of O selected to deliver law practice program BY HEATHER GARDINER Law Times T he Law Society of Upper Canada has selected Ryerson University and the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law as the providers of the law practice program. The program is a three-year pilot project that will provide law graduates with an alternative to articling. At Convocation on Nov. 21, the law society announced the providers and also unanimously approved Lakehead University's integrated practice curriculum that incorporates experiential training into all three years of law school. This way, students can get licensed once they pass the bar exam without completing articling or the law practice program. "Lakehead has developed a curriculum ideally suited to integrate skills training with the teaching of substantive law," said Bencher Janet Minor, chairwoman of the professional development and competence committee. Ryerson, which Minor called a leader in experiential learning, will provide the English-language program and the University of Ottawa will provide the French-language version with both starting in September 2014. The Ryerson program will include dividing students WHY Lakehead won't charge its students into groups in which they'll be part of viradded fees to get their licence in three tual law firms with exposure to a variety years. "We can do all the intensive training, of practice areas. It will also incorporate which is necessary, because we're small," practice management, professionalism, says Lakehead law dean Lee Stuesser. and ethics and include a four-month To make up for the difference, stuplacement. "It's a natural fit for our acadents will complete more hours during demic culture of innovation, entreprelaw school. According to Stuesser, it's neurship, collaboration, and meeting equivalent to one extra semester, which society's needs," said Ryerson president works out to three additional hours per Sheldon Levy last week. week. "In first year, almost all the law All three schools have obtained placeschools have more hours and then they ments as required by the law society's rereduce them in second and third year," quest for proposals. he says. Bencher Judith Potter expressed some "We've looked at it and said, 'Look, if concern about whether the programs will you can survive first year and do well and involve paid placements. 'It's a natural fit for our academic culture Minor said the professional develop- of innovation, entrepreneurship, collabo- have a heavy load, we're going to continment and competence committee expects ration, and meeting society's needs,' says ue that load in second and third year.' Sheldon Levy. "Our students, over the three years, a vast majority of paid placements. are essentially going one more semester The LSUC estimates that the total licensing fee for those who choose to do the law practice and that's where all the skills can be incorporated." Law professors and practitioners will teach skills-based program will be $5,887 per student. There are concerns about the cost, which is why the law society also passed tutorials and classes in each year of law school and in third a motion on Nov. 21 for a $1-million contribution by year, students will complete a four-month work placement in northern Ontario. LT lawyers to reduce the fee to $5,311 per student. When I was two months old I was placed into a foster home. I was raised by a widowed retired woman. She raised five children of her own and I was her sixth. She raised me to believe I could be whatever I wanted to be. Growing up on Kettle and Stony Point First Nation reservation, I noticed from a young age that something didn't feel quite right in the community. As I grew up I learned first hand what racism and inequality meant and how hurtful it could be. I was fourteen when Dudley George, a native protester, was shot and killed at Camp Ipperwash. The fallout of that tragedy resulted in increased racism and a sharp divide between native people and non-native people. But the bigger lesson I learned was that the people who chose to pursue the practice of law, not only recognized inequality and unfairness, they could do something about it. I wanted to be a part of that. My mom passed away in 2006 just after I was accepted to Law School. Who she was as a person inspired me to be anything and do what I could to improve our community. For me, that means I aspire to be a leader, to promote equality and fairness, and to improve access to justice. For me, this is who I want to be and what I want to achieve as a lawyer. WENT TO LAW SCHOOL To know a lawyer is to know someone passionate about solving the problems of the day. Joyce Thomas, Polishuk, Camman & Steele, is one of the 18,000 member lawyers of the Ontario Bar Association. Learn how the OBA advocates for this unique profession, and share your story at www.whyIwenttolawschool.ca. Untitled-2 1 www.lawtimesnews.com 13-11-20 8:42 AM

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