College of Law partners with provincial government to support Indigenous students
The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) has committed to reserve two seats in the College of Law's Juris Doctor (JD) program annually for Indigenous students from Newfoundland and Labrador.
“The College of Law has a long-standing commitment to Indigenous legal education and the participation of Canada’s Indigenous peoples in the legal profession," said Martin Phillipson, the college's dean. "Today’s announcement of our partnership with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Indigenous groups in the province is further evidence of our commitment to Indigenous legal education and Indigenous student success, and we look forward to working with our partners to achieve this goal.”
The partnership was announced on June 8 in Corner Brook, NL by the Honourable Andrew Parsons, QC (LLB 04), Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
It will see the provincial government and the U of S work with Indigenous governments and organizations to help send Indigenous students from the province to law school. The trilateral partnership will improve access to legal education and create new employment opportunities for members of Indigenous governments and organizations. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will also allocate and fund two articling positions with the Department of Justice and Public Safety for students after they graduate.
“The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to improving access to justice for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians," said Parsons. "Members of Indigenous groups are currently underrepresented in the legal profession. We aim to change that here in this province by breaking down some of the social and economic barriers some members of Indigenous groups face in pursuing legal education. This partnership will improve Indigenous representation in the legal system in Newfoundland and Labrador and ensure better access to justice for everyone.”
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is the second provincial or territorial government to enter into a partnership with the College of Law. The college recently partnered with the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Arctic College to create the Nunavut Law Program, which delivers the College of Law's JD program to 25 students in their home community of Iqaluit. The program began in September 2017, and students will graduate with a U of S JD degree in 2021.
Read the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador press release here