TWU law school gains approval amidst controversy

The controversial law school at Trinity Western University in BC has been granted approval by the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC) in a vote of 20-6. Several provinces launched reviews of the proposed law school after the Federation of Law Societies of Canada approved it in December. Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick are expected to rule on the matter in the coming months. TWU’s proposal received preliminary approval last year from BC’s Ministry of Advanced Education. TWU’s President, Bob Kuhn, noted, “this is also an important decision for all Canadians. It says that there is room in a democratic country like Canada for a law school at a Christian university. TWU’s School of Law will join other Canadian law schools, complementing existing legal education in this country.” A group of lawyers is launching a challenge in court to LSBC’s approval of the law school; the law firms behind the challenge will argue that BC’s “approval contravenes Charter rights regarding discrimination based on sexual orientation and freedom of religion.” National Post | TWU News Release | Toronto Star | Globe and Mail | Ruby & Shiller News Release