University of Saskatchewan College of Law: Difference between revisions

The College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan is the university's law school. Located in Saskatoon in the|Canadian province of Saskatchewan, the College of Law was established in 1912 and is the oldest law school in Western Canada, a distinction it shares with the University of Alberta.

Approximately 126 students are admitted to the College of Law each year.^[1] In the fall term of 2011/2012, the college had 375 students. Previously, it has 373 students (2010/2011); 362 students (2009/2010); and 370 students (2008/2009).^[2] The current dean is Martin Phillipson.^[3]

History[edit | edit source]

At the beginning of the 20th century, there was no structured course of legal training in Saskatchewan. Completion of high school was the only prerequisite for admission to a five-year apprenticeship (3 years for those with a university degree).

In the spring of 1913, the University of Saskatchewan appointed its first law professor, Arthur Moxon, previously a professor of classics in the University's College of Arts and Sciences. At around the same time, the Law Society of Saskatchewan began offering lectures to articling students in Regina at a school of its own making, later called Wetmore Hall. The following decade would be marked by conflict between the Law Society and the fledgling University law faculty regarding responsibility for legal training in the Province.

Ultimately, Wetmore Hall was closed by resolution of the Law Society in 1922 and the University of Saskatchewan inherited full responsibility for the training of aspiring lawyers in Saskatchewan.^[4]

The College celebrated its centenary in 2012.

Academics[edit | edit source]

The College offers both the Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Master of Laws degrees. Of the 16 common law schools in Canada, the College placed 10th in the 2011 Maclean's Magazine law school rankings [1].

Facilities[edit | edit source]

The college's Law Building reopened in March 2008 following renovations and expansions.^[5] The new building is 3,300 m²; and took just over two years and $16.5 million to complete.^[6] The Law Foundation of Saskatchewan contributed $1 million to the project.^[7]

The new building has additional classrooms with multimedia capability, additional administrative offices, a new student lounge, student organization offices, and space for the college's Native Law Centre.^[8] The new building has a "living roof" which is the largest of its kind in Saskatchewan,^[9] and the building is LEED Gold-certified.^[10][11]

The law building is connected to the Edwards School of Business and, indirectly, the Arts Building. The law building is located opposite Campus Drive from the Saskatoon Cancer Centre and Royal University Hospital.^[12]

The law library contains numerous artifacts, including one of the most unusual holographic wills ever written – the tractor fender of Cecil George Harris, who was trapped when his tractor overturned. On the fender he wrote, "In case I die in this mess I leave all to the wife. Cecil Geo. Harris." Harris died of his injuries in hospital, the fender was probated and accepted as his valid last will.^[13]

Admissions[edit | edit source]

Tuition for September 2015 was $12,255.00 and mandatory student fees will be $805.89, for a total of $13,060.89. The cost of books and supplies is estimated at $2500.00. The 2015 entering class averaged a 3.34 GPA and 159 LSAT.^[14]

Challenge Cup[edit | edit source]

The Law Students' Association hosts an annual hockey tournament in March or April, known as The Challenge Cup. The format of the one-day tournament sees first, second, and third year students form respective teams to battle with one another as well as with teams composed of Junior and Senior Alumni. The Challenge Cup was most recently won by the Class of 2014, in a victory that finally saw the end of the Class of 2013's three year championship reign.^[15]

Notable alumni[edit | edit source]

• Edward Bayda - Chief Justice of Saskatchewan.
• Ted Culliton - Chief Justice of Saskatchewan.
• John Diefenbaker - Prime Minister of Canada.
• Willard Zebedee Estey - Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
• Ralph Goodale - Current Minister of Public Safety and former Minister of Finance for Canada.
• John Gormley - Talk radio host and former Member of Parliament.
• Emmett Matthew Hall - Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
• Jeremy Harrison - Former Member of Parliament, current Saskatchewan MLA
• Ray Hnatyshyn - Governor General of Canada.
• Constance Hunt - Justice of the Alberta Court of Appeal.
• John Klebuc - Chief Justice of Saskatchewan.
• Otto Lang - Dean of the College, Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister.
• Peter MacKinnon - President of the University of Saskatchewan.
• William McIntyre - Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
• Alison Redford - Premier of Alberta.
• Roy Romanow - Premier of Saskatchewan.
• Nicole Sarauer - member of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly.

See also[edit | edit source]

• List of law schools in Canada

References[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

• College website
• University of Saskatchewan website

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