Saskatchewan government boosts practical learning at University of Saskatchewan College of Law

Saskatchewan has announced a $100,000 funding initiative to enhance practical learning opportunities for University of Saskatchewan College of Law students.

This investment is set to support students by enabling them to work in various communities throughout their placement terms, significantly broadening their practical experience in law.

Justice Minister and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with the College of Law to provide a range of practical work placements for credit. She highlighted the program's potential to attract top graduates to sectors such as Public Prosecutions, the Ministry of Justice, and Legal Aid. "This initiative will not only encourage legal careers within the public sector, especially in rural areas, but also aim to improve access to justice and foster professional capacity for the future," Eyre said in a statement.

Over the past year, the College of Law has been working to expand its experiential learning offerings. Dean Martin Phillipson emphasized the increasing need for law practice to be interdisciplinary. "Practical learning experiences, intertwined with knowledge-based learning, are crucial to the success of our graduates. These experiences will build and enhance their skills and capacity, preparing them for a career in a complex and ever-changing legal profession. The College of Law appreciates the support from the Government of Saskatchewan and its commitment to the future development of the legal profession in Saskatchewan,” Phillipson said.

The Federation of Law Societies of Canada advocates for practical learning opportunities across law schools nationwide, recognizing such experiences as crucial for competitive and comprehensive legal education. “In the lawyer formation process, the importance of ‘hands-on’ experience in developing lawyering skills cannot be overstated," said Tim Brown, executive director of the Law Society of Saskatchewan.

Furthermore, the Canadian Bar Association's (CBA) Saskatchewan Branch president Steven Dribnenki, said, “The Canadian Bar Association (CBA)/Saskatchewan Branch supports the expansion of the Experiential Learning Program, as it hones essential legal skills in law students while bolstering Saskatchewan’s legal marketplace, ensuring we can keep our province’s legal profession robust and growing.”