Reaching out – CBA National

A look at initiatives – old and new – to increase diversity in Canadian law schools.

Law school is a major life decision for most young people. Role models in one’s community can help to inform the process.

Formally launched in January, Black Future Lawyers is a shared initiative of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, the Black Law Students Association, members of the black alumni community, and the broader legal profession. Funded by UofT Law and the Office of the Provost, its objective is to bring more black students into the law school —through outreach to potential applicants, mentorship during the application process, and a dedicated admissions stream.

The initiative is modelled on a similar program at the university’s medical faculty. Since the program began in 2017, the number of black students entering medical school rose from one to more than a dozen annually.

Black Future Lawyers has held several activities since launch and garnered attention in both the trade and mainstream media. Its second conference in February drew between 140 and 160 people, with participants coming from around the province.

Read More: https://www.nationalmagazine.ca/en-ca/articles/the-practice/young-lawyers/2020/reaching-out