In an effort to address the shortage of legal professionals in northern Manitoba, post-secondary institutions in the province are collaborating on a new initiative. The University College of the North (UCN) announced on Wednesday the introduction of a pre-law program, set to commence this fall.
Developed in partnership with the University of Manitoba’s law faculty, the Northern Bar Association, the Law Society of Manitoba, and Legal Aid Manitoba, the program is a response to the scarcity of legal professionals in remote northern communities, affecting various roles from lawyers to clerks and paralegals.
The pre-law program will be initially offered at UCN’s main northern Manitoba campuses in Thompson and The Pas, with plans for future expansion through distance learning and other methods, according to the post-secondary institution. Doug Lauvstad, UCN’s president and vice-chancellor, emphasized the anticipated demand for the program and its relevance in addressing the current shortage of legal professionals.
The program aims to prepare students for the challenges of law school, providing guidance on aspects such as the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Manitoba provincial court Judge Todd Rambow, involved in designing the program, highlighted its primary focus on mature and Indigenous students.
Rambow emphasized the significance of the initiative in addressing the impending challenge of finding proper legal counsel and representation in rural Manitoba due to upcoming retirements. The goal is to attract learners from northern Manitoba who, after completing their legal training, will return to work in the region, contributing to reconciliation efforts as Indigenous lawyers.
While the curriculum is still under development, it is expected to cover various disciplines, including sociology, psychology, criminology, and philosophy. Although students will need to attend law school elsewhere to complete their studies, Rambow expressed hope that the pre-law program serves as a foundational step toward establishing partnerships that could eventually enable individuals to obtain a law degree in the region.
The Law Society of Manitoba expressed optimism about the program’s potential to increase the number of practicing lawyers in the region, with the added hope of encouraging members of Indigenous communities to consider law as a career. UCN’s Lauvstad underscored the value of the foundational skills acquired in the pre-law program, emphasizing their applicability across various professions.