Law Times

Law times • OctOber 22, 2012 articling report BY GLENN KAUTH Law Times • NEWS articling report graduates in Ontario. In fact, the Law Society of Upper Canada's articling task force frequent issue that has arisen during discussions on the articling crisis is the increas- ing number of law school • articling report Where are the added articling candidates coming from? A fi nal report noted the number of fi rst-year students admitted to Ontario law schools increased to 1,376 in 2011 from 1,091 in 1997. Th e University of Ottawa has come under some criticism for its burgeoning numbers. Aſt er boosting its class by more than 100 students over two years, the fi rst of those candidates has graduated and is in the licensing process, according to the report. e U f O cording to the size of the circles, to the Montreal's new common law program. Graduates from other provinces could seek admission in Ontario, the report noted. Th e increasing numbers have prompted some to suggest the law society should be advising the law schools to limit enrolment. But as the report noted, the law society "has no authority over law school enrolment LT Below is a map showing each Ontario law school's relative contribution, ac- growing number of licensing candi- dates based on enrolment changes from 2001 to 2011. Every law school saw some increase, although the change was miniscule at places such as Queen Uni- versity. ONTARIO Th e report noted other universities will pump out even more law school graduates in Ontario and across the country. Th ey in- clude the planned faculty of law at Lakehead University in Th under Bay, Ont. It expects a fi rst-year class of 55 students in 2013, the report noted. Other factors include the new law school at Th ompson Rivers University in British Columbia and the University of Th e map also shows the contribution from the growing numbers of international candidates. numbers." PAGE 3 International Students 2011 applicants 272 2001 applicants 64 University of Ottawa 2011 enrolment 295 2001 enrolment 197 Osgoode Hall Law School 2011 enrolment 297 2001 enrolment 291 University of Western Ontario University of Windsor Source: Law Society of Upper Canada Practical legal training in Australia on the experience in Australia, where that has been an option for some time. It' M BY GLENN KAUTH Law Times uch of the discussion about practical le- gal training courses along the lines of the proposal in the Law Society of Upper Canada' s articling task force report centres work. In Australia, prospective lawyers can enter prac- tical legal training aſt er completing one of the follow- ing: a four-year law degree; a fi ve-year double degree in law and another discipline; a three-year graduate law degree aſt er completing a three-year degree in another discipline; or a three-year juris do ctor aſt er completing a three-year degree in another discipline. Th at' s worth taking a look, then, at how such courses to a June 2012 discussion paper on competency stan- dards for entry-level lawyers by the Australian Profes- sional Legal Education Council. Th e standards require competencies based on skills, offi ce accounting to emphasize fi duciary duties to the client given that "the skill of doing transactions may be less important now. values, and practice areas. Th e skills, according to the council' s according mends changing the requirements around trust and the council's discussion paper recom- www.lawtimesnews.com problem solving, work management and business skills, and trust and offi ce accounting. As for practice areas, students must receive training in civil litigation, commercial and corporate law, and property law. Th ey must then select one of administrative, criminal, and family law as well as one of consumer, employment and industrial relations, planning and environment, and wills and estates law. Th e values competencies in- clude ethics and professional responsibility. It' noting that s discussion paper, include lawyer's skills, s worth training in an institutional setting must also complete at least 90 hours of workplace experience. Th ose who do their training in a workplace traineeship must also complete at least 90 hours of programmed training. Of course, one of the key concerns about practical le- In addition, those who complete their practical legal " gal training courses is the cost. According to information provided in the LSUC fi nal report last week, the College of Law, the largest provider of practical legal training in Australia, is charging a total of $8,910 in 2012 for both the class component and the clinical experience mod- ule. Th e LSUC report, of course, recommends spreading the costs among both graduates who article and those who take the law practice program. LT 2011 enrolment 195 2001 enrolment 179 Compiled by Glenn Kauth University of Toronto 2011 enrolment 165 2001 enrolment 142 Queen's University 2011 enrolment 214 2001 enrolment 181 2011 enrolment 164 2001 enrolment 162

• Cover