LAURA HOWELLS
<The Muse>
ST. JOHN’S (CUP) — Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) has announced that it will be reviewing the feasibility of opening a law school.
The review will look at the demographics of current law schools, the need for more lawyers, and what benefits a law school could bring to MUN.
There are currently no law schools in Newfoundland.
“It’s an appropriate time to again examine the feasibility of establishing a law school at Memorial,” said MUN president Gary Kachanoski in a press release. “It’s been 25 years since the university last reviewed this avenue, and the local legal community is supportive of another review.”
The university has not explored this possibility since 1987 when the Bruce Report endorsed a law school, however felt it was not right for MUN at the time. Prior to the Bruce Report, the 1976 Harris Report stated that MUN had no need for a law school.
This decision was made with the help of the Newfoundland and Labrador branch of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA-Newfoundland and Labrador), and the Law Foundation of Newfoundland, who debated the concept of a faculty of law last year.
The announcement has sparked much discussion, with many students excited by the idea.
Kate White is an undergraduate student with aspirations of becoming a lawyer. She thinks that having a law school at MUN would be great for students already in debt after their undergrad.
“It is nice to go away for university, but law school is expensive, plus the cost of living.”
White also hopes that such a school in Newfoundland might mean more opportunities for Newfoundland students to be accepted into law programs.
However, not everyone’s reaction is so enthusiastic.
Dennis Browne is a graduate of Dalhousie Law School, and has been practicing law in St. John’s for nearly 30 years.
Browne is surprised at MUN’s decision to look into this matter, as he believes that there is no need for a law school in the province at this time.
“The population is well served by the system we have right now,” said Browne.
“Everything’s declining here, we can barely hold on to what we have. I’m rather surprised this would be an issue at this particular time, when the province is projecting a four billion dollar deficit and the future does not look so bright from a financial perspective.”
The committee is expected to present a report later this year.