Welcome to the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law (2022)

THE

LASKIN FACULTY OF LAW

WELCOME TO THE BORA LASKIN FACULTY OF LAW

It is our pleasure to welcome you to another exciting year at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law.

Here you will find students with a passion for the law, and a commitment to innovation and excellence.

This law school is unlike any other, with its progressive mandates of Aboriginal and Indigenous Law, Natural Resources and Environmental Law, and Small-Town Practice with the Integrated Practice Curriculum. Not only is this law school unique in Canada, it is located in Northwestern Ontario among some of the most compelling boreal forests and largest fresh water lake in the world. The practice of law in the north is rewarding, challenging and demands innovation. These are themes you will hear throughout your studies and will experience when you engage

with your professors and the community in your practice placement.

The journey from law student to lawyer requires a new way of thinking, analyzing and problem solving. Our distinguished faculty members and invested local practitioners are committed to guiding you along that journey.

As you face the challenges of our program, you will find our small community supportive and encouraging.

We look forward to meeting you!

OUR LAW PROGRAM

The Juris Doctor (JD) program at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law is based on the principle that the best learning comes from a merger of theory and practice. From the start of 1L (first year), our students are given opportunities to apply the law they are learning in the classroom, to practical skills exercises and experiences. Students are encouraged to reflect on the exercises and experiences to further their understanding of legal concepts and practices. Students continue to build their knowledge and skill set during 2L and 3L.

Our JD degree is a three year second-entry, undergraduate program of study. A total of 18 full course equivalents (18 FCEs) are required for graduation.

“Although it’s one of the smallest law schools in Canada, Bora Laskin offers an educational experience unlike any other. The small class sizes, hands-on curriculum, and strong sense of community benefited me greatly as a law student. My legal education was immersive and interactive, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Danika Goshulak, Class of 2022

WHY CHOOSE THE BORA LASKIN FACULTY OF LAW?

1. Graduate with advanced practical skills from our Integrated Practice Curriculum (IPC) that will help prepare you for all types of legal roles

With a focus on small firm practice, we support our students to become thoughtful and effective lawyers in all legal environments. Skill development exercises are incorporated into all three years of the program and is capped by a 4-month Practice Placement in third year. Our students are experiencing success on Bay St., clerking for all levels of court, and working in smaller firms, government offices, legal aid clinics and not-for-profit organizations across Ontario.

2. Learn from outstanding and committed professors while attending class in a welcoming environment

Our law school is located in a beautiful, historic building overlooking Lake Superior. With less than 200 students in the building, it fosters a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Our class sizes are small; professors and staff know you by name and genuinely care about your success.

3. Gain knowledge and experience in our three mandate areas: Aboriginal and Indigenous Law, Natural Resources and Environmental Law, and Sole/Small Town Practice

Our mandates focus on the realities of living and working in the North and rural Canada. Students will learn the foundations of these areas of law in both mandatory and elective course offerings.

INTEGRATED PRACTICE CURRICULUM

In November, 2013, the Law Society of Ontario approved our Integrated Practice Curriculum (IPC). The innovative IPC model of legal education fuses the theory of law with the practice of law. By integrating skills throughout the three-year JD program, we are ensuring our graduates are strong in both the academic and practical sides of law. Skills training begins in 1L (first year). In the very first semester of law school, students are given opportunities to apply the law they are learning in the classroom, to practical skills exercises and experiences. For example, in 1L, skills exercises include mock bail hearings in Criminal Law, factum writing in Constitutional law, contract negotiation and drafting in Contract Law, fact-finding and opinion letter writing in Tort Law, and talking circle dispute resolution exercise in Indigenous Law. Subsequent mandatory and elective courses in 2L and 3L build upon these

skills, culminating in a four- month Practice Placement (internship) in a law office during one semester of 3L.

Upon the completion of the JD program (including the IPC and Practice Placement), our graduates can sit for the bar exams and get called to the bar without the need to article (though you can article if you wish). In other words, through our JD program you can be licensed as a practicing lawyer a year earlier than if you studied law elsewhere.

As you can see, the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law is a unique and exciting place for your legal studies! Our JD program has been built around experiential learning. We believe, and the Law Society confirms, that skill development exercises are integral to legal education. Hands-on learning will deepen your understanding of substantive law and open your eyes to the professional roles and responsibilities of a lawyer.

“When working as a law student or newly graduated lawyer I already knew how to complete practical legal tasks assigned to me such as factum writing due to our school’s Integrated Practice Curriculum assignments. This has given me a competitive edge over students from other programs who were not taught these same practical skills while in law school and had to learn them on the job.”

Emily Graham, Class of 2022

FIRST YEAR AND BEYOND

The first year of our JD program is entirely mandatory and provides a foundation in the law and an introduction to fundamental legal skills such as legal research, legal analysis, preparing and presenting written and oral submissions, drafting documents, negotiation and fact finding.

The second and third year curriculum build upon the foundation of law and legal skills taught in first year. Both years will have a number of required courses including: Civil Practice, Aboriginal Law, Evidence, Administrative Law, Business Organizations, Family Law, Real Estate Law, and Wills and Estates.

In addition to the required courses, you will take electives available to both second and third year students. Law electives will be selected from a variety of courses such as Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Environmental Law, Labour and Employment Law, Tax Law, Intellectual Property and Indigenous Knowledge, French Law, Critical Race Theory and Mental Health Law. In third year, the focus will be on deepening your knowledge and sharpening your skills by applying them in a practice setting. For one semester in third year, you will participate in a full-time Practice Placement at a law organization/firm in Ontario. Here you will further develop your legal knowledge and skills as you work under the direct supervision of a practicing lawyer.

“What stands out to me about the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law is the Integrated Practice Curriculum. In particular, my experience in the Placement Program allowed me to have tangible experiences drafting pleadings, attending and speaking in court, as well as observing senior lawyers in motions, trials, and appeals. These tangible experiences have been instrumental in me feeling prepared during my articling in Toronto.”

Monika Steger, Class of 2022

INDIGENOUS RELATIONS/ABORIGINAL COURSES

It is taught from an Indigenous perspective, focusing on Indigenous peoples’ own laws, worldviews, and understanding of treaties.

At the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law, Aboriginal/ Indigenous Law is a key focus of our program and supported by our Director of Indigenous Relations, our Indigenous Law and Justice Institute, and the Indigenous Law Students Association. The Director provides mentorship, support and advice to our Indigenous students and allies. The Director also has a role in admissions, recruitment and the implementation of Bora Laskin’s commitment to answering the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

First year students take a mandatory course on Indigenous Law. Given our presence within the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe nation (and within the traditional homeland of the Métis nation), this half-year course examines the laws and legal traditions of the Anishinabe and of the Métis.

Throughout their first year, students hear from guest speakers – such as Indigenous leaders and Elders, members of the Indigenous legal community, and residential school survivors – as part of the mandatory Indigenous Perspectives course. This course also gives students the opportunity to engage with Indigenous communities, for example by participating in pow wows, medicine walks, sweat lodges, and other ceremonies.

In second year, all our students take Aboriginal Law. It focuses on the jurisprudence pertaining to constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights and engages in a critical evaluation of that jurisprudence and its underlying tenets, such as the assumption of Crown sovereignty.

We also offer a variety of upper year electives, with an opportunity for our students to graduate with a Specialization in Aboriginal and Indigenous Law. Students also have the opportunity to work on Aboriginal law matters during their third year Practice Placement.

LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES (LUCLS)

LUCLS works in conjunction with Bora Laskin Faculty of Law to offer free legal services to low income residents within the District of Thunder Bay including Fort William First Nation and the Municipality of Greenstone. Located in Lakehead University’s Faculty of Law building (PACI), student caseworkers work under the direct supervision of staff lawyers.

LUCLS offers services in the following practice areas:

• Minor Criminal Offences

• Serious Provincial Offences

• Tenant Rights

• Small Claims Court and Civil disputes under $35,000

• Employment Law

One of the main goals at LUCLS is to provide a practical clinical education program for law students. Second and third year law students have the opportunity to work in the clinic, under the direct supervision of our experienced staff lawyers (Review Counsel), for academic credit. Students have full carriage of their files. Their work in the clinic allows them to gain valuable experience interviewing clients, drafting legal documents, negotiating with opposing parties, and attending court and tribunals to conduct motions, hearings and trials. LUCLS also offers paid summer positions and is a Practice Placement option in a law student’s third year.

Additionally, our free legal services help provide access to justice for low-income individuals who would not otherwise be able to afford the assistance of a lawyer including people living with physical and mental disabilities as well as Indigenous persons and other diverse groups.

“The Legal Clinic course at Lakehead was a great way to get a head-start to my legal education. I received tons of mentorship from experienced lawyers in a variety of fields such as housing, criminal and civil law. The Clinic course provided me with skills and knowledge that were invaluable for my Practice Placement at the Crown Attorney’s Office and beyond”.

Petri Bailey, Class of 2022

FINANCING YOUR EDUCATION

SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS & BURSARIES

Lakehead offers over $11 million annually to students in the form of scholarships, bursaries and awards. Entrance scholarships are awarded to top academic achievers, without the need to separately apply.

Further awards and bursary information will be sent to students early in the Fall semester.

ONTARIO STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (OSAP)

The Ontario Student Assistance Program is the provincially and federally funded student financial assistance program in Ontario. OSAP administers loans, grants, bursary and scholarship programs. Apply for OSAP online: osap.gov.on.ca

If you are from another province or territory, contact the Student Assistance Office located in your province or territory for further information.

PROFESSIONAL STUDENT LINE OF CREDIT (PSLOC)

Many financial institutions offer Lines of Credits for students studying in professional programs such as law. Please contact your bank for more information and how to apply. Proof of enrolment letters will be needed by your financial institution if applying for a PSLOC. These will be available to students once you have registered for classes.

TUITION PAYMENTS

The tuition for Law in 2023-24 will be set in May 2023. The cost in 2022-23 was $16,734.43 + $1319.89 in ancillary fees. Tuition payments are made in the same method as deposit payments (bank transfer, cheque, etc.)

OTHER EXPENSES

Textbooks are approximately $1000 during the school year. We also highly recommend all students have a laptop with a long-life battery for use during class or for legal research.

STUDENT LIFE

The Lakehead University Law Students’ Society (LSS) serves as the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law student government at Lakehead University. The LSS are elected representatives responsible for students’ academic, social, and professional best interests. In addition, they provide various services for students, including LSS-funded social events throughout the school year and the Peer Mentorship program for incoming 1L students. They also oversee the funding of all clubs and student organizations affiliated with the law school. The LSS is proud to work alongside our diverse student associations like the Indigenous Law Students’ Association, the Black Law Students’ Association and the Asian Law Students’ Association.

GET INVOLVED

For further information on ways to get involved with our student government, visit lakeheadlss.com

“What makes Bora Laskin stand out is its sense of community. The Faculty, the campus at-large, and the City of Thunder Bay all facilitated a welcoming and community driven environment that supported me in reaching my career potential.”

Niloufar Sadroddini, Class of 2022

THUNDER BAY

Located on the northwest shore of Lake Superior under the watchful gaze of Nanabijou, or the Sleeping Giant, the city of Thunder Bay is built around the harbour of the largest inland port in Canada.

➢ Population of 110,000

➢ 1.5 hour flight from Toronto, served by WestJet, Porter Airlines, Air Canada, and regional airlines

➢ 5 minute walk from campus to the historic Finnish district, waterfront, and downtown north core with cafes, pubs & boutiques

➢ Vibrant local farmer’s market open twice weekly

➢ 2 alpine ski, snowboarding and Nordic ski centres a 30 minute drive from campus; 7 area golf courses; over 34 km of paved recreational trails throughout the City

➢ Home to a professional symphony orchestra, theatre, art galleries, and many live music venues, including the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium

➢ A four-season outdoor paradise, a city rich in wide open green space, parks and wilderness, Thunder Bay is the gateway to outdoor adventure in Northwestern Ontario.

➢ Growing scene of talented young people representing diverse professions and backgrounds. Small businesses and new innovations are constantly emerging with enthusiastic support from the community

Connect with Us - Visit, contact us or ask questions!

Our building is stunning, the city is friendly and we would love to meet you! We are happy to chat with you about any questions you have about out program, the school or the city.

Follow us on Twitter @LawLakehead for regular updates about what’s happening.

Friend us on Facebook www.facebook.com/lakeheadlaw/

CONTACT INFORMATION

Ms. Anya Scheibmayr

Bora Laskin Faculty of Law Admissions

Student Services Advisor

Phone: (807) 346-7862

Email: law@lakeheadu.ca

Web: law.lakeheadu.ca

Twitter: @LawLakehead