U of T Law launching new history joint program and growing ITLP
By Kent Kuran (2L)
The Faculty of Law is in the process of launching yet another joint program. The JD/MA (History) will add to the current tally of twelve joint degree programs and four other certificate programs. The multitude of joint programs makes the law school, by far, the largest hub for joint degree options at the University of Toronto. The three-year joint program would follow the template of the school’s other small JD/MA programs. The Faculty does not expect more than ten students to be in it at any time, as only about one-tenth of the entering class has an undergraduate background in the field. Expected to be up and running next year, the program was approved for submission to University Council at the Faculty Council meeting. Following approval, the Faculty and Department of History would have to work out a memorandum of agreement.
The law school is also expecting to see the initial results from its Internationally Trained Lawyers Program (ITLP). Launched in 2010, it is designed for lawyers who have immigrated to Canada. So far the program has enrolled students from over 40 countries who want to make Canada their home. For students from abroad wishing to undertake the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) Challenge Exams, there was previously no academic support. As such, U of T Law applied for and received four million dollars from the provincial government in 2009 for a one-year full-time intensive bridging training program, starting the following year. Since then, five cohorts have passed through the program, which received an addition four million dollars in 2012 to continue its training. The school expects to learn whether graduates were successful in their journey to become lawyers in Ontario over the coming year.
The Financial Aid Committee is also continuing to look into ways to improve the application process for students. Developments under consideration include advancing the assessment date for upper year students. Last year, the committee made the decision to evenly distribute aid over all three years of study. Previously, financial aid was weighted towards first-year students, given they would have had fewer internship opportunities and financial resources.
The Faculty Council meeting was the last chaired by Interim Dean Jutta Brunnée whose term ended following the appointment of Edward Iacobucci as dean.
