Program of Legal Studies for Native People

Many Aboriginal students take the Program of Legal Studies for Native People (PLSNP) as a condition of their admission to law school under a special admissions category for Aboriginal applicants. It's an eight-week, pre-law orientation and screening program. Aboriginal students not required to take the program as a condition of entering the JD degree program at our college, may take it if space is available.

The PLSNP, which accepts students from across Canada, is administered by the Native Law Centre of Canada, located here at the College of Law at the U of S. The program starts immediately after the May long weekend each year - the third Tuesday of May - and runs for eight weeks.

 

Pre-law program leads to success

When the Program of Legal Studies for Native People (PLSNP) was first offered at the University of Saskatchewan in 1973, there were just four lawyers and five law students of Aboriginal ancestry in Canada. Over the years, the program has... more 

 

PLSNP Content
The program is designed to introduce students to the process, substance and demands of first-year law, with particular emphasis on the skills needed to succeed in law school. Skills are taught in the context of Property Law curriculum. Successful students receive credit for first-year Property Law at our college, and may also receive credit at other law schools depending on their policies.

PLSNP Admission
In order to be considered for admission to the program, a student must have successfully completed two years of academic work at a recognized university or the equivalent. This requirement is flexible. An applicant who lacks this requirement but who, by reason of maturity and experience, possesses the potential and ability to successfully complete a law program may be considered for admission.

Financial Assistance
Registered Indian students may be eligible to receive financial assistance to attend the program and law school through the Department of Indian Affairs or band education authorities. Metis and non-status students may receive student loans in some provinces, and are encouraged to apply for any scholarships and bursaries for which they qualify, including the Federal Department of Justice's LSAP funding.

For further information on the PLSNP and funding, contact:


Native Law Centre of Canada 
Program of Legal Studies for Native People
Room 160, Law Building
15 Campus Drive
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK  S7N 5A6
 
Tel:  (306) 966-6189
Fax: (306) 966-6207
 

About the Native Law Centre of Canada

The Native Law Centre, established in September 1975, is Canada's principal training and research program for Aboriginal law and lawyers. The centre was established at the University of Saskatchewan to promote the development of the law and legal system in ways that would better serve the advancement of Aboriginal communities in Canada. The centre undertakes many activities in fulfilling its objective, including a pre-law orientation and screening program, the Program of Legal Studies for Native People (PLSNP). The program prepares Aboriginal students for first-year law through teaching property law and emphasizing legal writing and study skills.

The Native Law Centre also has an active research and publication program, a legal pleadings collection and a seminar series. It acts as a community resource centre and facilitates a youth international internship program. Research activities focus on issues in Aboriginal, human and treaty rights both in the national and international contexts.  National policy organizers often call upon staff members to attend conferences. The centre publishes the Canadian Native Law Reporter, Justice as Healing, and many technical monographs, and organizes interventions in major cases on Aboriginal and treaty rights in the courts.