Ryerson aims to open own law school

The school’s senate will vote on formal proposal come spring

“(Ryerson) has the potential, if the school does it right, to be the premier law school in Canada.” MITCHELL KOWALSKI LAWYER AND PROFESSOR AT UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY

At a time when law graduates face a fiercely competitive job market in a sluggish economy, Ryerson University is applying to open a law school of its own.

In a letter of intent published in October, the university said its program will be a departure from traditional law schools found in Canada and focus on innovation in legal education that addresses changes in the profession. The letter is the first formal step aimed at getting internal approval in order to establish a law school at the university.

Mitchell Kowalski, a lawyer and professor at the University of Calgary, said the Ryerson program “has the potential, if the school does it right, to be the premier law school in Canada.”

“The last thing that this province needs, even this city needs, is another traditional law school,” Kowalski said. “But something as unique, innovative and dynamic as what this . . . proposal outlines is very exciting.”

Ryerson’s law school aims to be a transformative program, shifting away from traditional schools by providing more opportunities for hands-on learning and focusing on “new competencies,” such as entrepreneurial spirit, financial literacy and technological proficiency.

The first intake of students could potentially start in September 2018.