MLT Aikins gift expands scholarships, supports Indigenous access to USask Law

A generous $500,000 donation from MLT Aikins to the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) College of Law will ease financial barriers for students entering law and help to develop the next generation of legal professionals. This donation to USask’s Be What the World Needs campaign will directly benefit students pursuing their legal education in the College of Law through scholarships that recognize academic excellence, leadership potential and a commitment to public service. The gift will also support access to education for Indigenous students and will be designated for Indigenous law entrance scholarships and awards.

“We are grateful to MLT Aikins for this generous investment in student success and Indigenous achievement in the College of Law,” said USask President and Vice-Chancellor Peter Stoicheff. “This gift reflects the strong and enduring collaboration that exists between MLT Aikins and our law school, and reinforces our university’s commitment to reconciliation and educating legal professionals the world needs.”

"We are proud to support the University of Saskatchewan College of Law and its students,” said Aaron Runge, managing partner at MLT Aikins. “We have a long history with the USask College of Law, with one-third of our partners being graduates of the law school. By investing in the education of law students, we are not only helping them succeed, but we are also contributing to the continued growth and vitality of the legal community in Saskatchewan and Western Canada more broadly.”

In recognition of this gift, the college will extend the naming of the MLT Aikins LLP Lecture Theatre for an additional 10 years. Room 150 was first named in recognition of MacPherson, Leslie and Tyerman (MLT) LLP when the Saskatchewan Law Foundation Wing of the law building opened in 2008.

“For more than 40 years, MLT Aikins has been a valued and long-standing partner of the College of Law,” said Martin Phillipson, dean of the college. “The firm’s continued support will help ensure that our future legal professionals—including incoming Indigenous students—have the financial resources they need to excel in their studies and make meaningful contributions to the profession and their communities.”

Janice Dutchak, a second-year law student from Brandon, Man., received the MLT Aikins LLP Scholarship in Law in 2023 upon entering the college. She said the award made it possible for her to attend university and continue her passion for learning.

"Receiving the MLT Aikins scholarship has encouraged me to strive to reach my full potential in my studies and do everything I can to make a meaningful difference in other people’s lives, both now as a student and in the future," she said in her remarks at the event.

Dutchak says that without having to worry about finances during school she has been able to pursue her interestes beyond the classroom. She was a member of the college's team that competed at the Davies Corporate Securities Moot, a national competition and also volunteered with the Pro Bono Student Canada's Wills Project, where she helped individuals who could not afford legal services in drafting their Wills, power of attorney documents, and health-care directives.

"MLT Aikins' commitment to students’ success shows they value giving back and contributing to student’s lives in the most meaningful way," she said. "In the future, I hope to follow this example and support other students."