Ryerson, uOttawa, Lakehead to offer new options in law

Ryerson University and the University of Ottawa have partnered with the Law Society of Upper Canada to offer a new Law Practice Program (LPP), which is an alternative to the traditional Ontario articling program and a first-of-its-kind in Canada, according to a Ryerson news release. Ryerson will deliver the English version of the LPP program, while uOttawa will offer the French version. As part of the Law Society’s new “Pathways Pilot Project,” which aims to fill the gaps created by a shortage of articling jobs, students can now choose between the articling program, the LPP program, or a third option: the “integrated practice curriculum” offered by Lakehead University’s law degree program. “[Lakehead’s] integrated practice curriculum is the first of its kind in Canada to integrate legal professional training into its JD degree,” says Lakehead’s Dean of the Faculty of Law Lee Stuesser. “Students will not only learn law, but also the necessary practice skills to apply that law effectively.” Ryerson News Release | uOttawa News Release | Lakehead News Release | Financial Post