Akitsiraq Law School

Akitsiraq Law School offered a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LL.B) in Iqaluit, Nunavut.cite web |url= http://www.law.uvic.ca/akits.html |title= Akitsiraq Law School Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) Program Description |accessdate=2008-07-17 |publisher= University of Victoria Faculty of Law] to the residence in Nunavut and the surrounding Arctic region. The program was a partnership between the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria, Nunavut Arctic College and the Akitsiraq Law School Society. Developed over a period of ten years this program only accepted one intake of students in 2001. It was designed to help increase the number of lawyers in Nunavut and the Canadian Arctic by delivering a four year Bachelors degree this remote region.

Curriculum

The program was taught as modified law curriculum. The focus in the first year was to ensure academic success for the students. Faculty of Law developed a Legal Research and Writing Course, which included an enhanced study skills component. The first year also exposed students to contract, criminal law and Legal Processes courses.

In the remaining three years, the students were required to complete all the standard law courses. The Faculty of Law developed specialized elective courses for this program tailored to legal issues in the Canadian Arctic and the Inuit, including customary law, environmental law, northern resource land and management, the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. The expertise of local elders and educators incorporated Inuit Traditional Law and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit throughout the four year program. Students were encouraged to complete their final year at the University of Victoria or other major Canadian University. Some of the students completed their final year at the University of Ottawa.

Funding

As a unique funding model, the students were offered sponsorships through various agencies including the Government of Nunavut, the Department of Justice, and several not for profit Inuit organizations. The condition for this fund was that the student continue study through the entire program making a genuine effort by attending all classes and completing all assignments. Remain in their territory or province of origin (most were from Nunavut) and work for their sponsor during the summer and for a minimum of two years following graduation, or do their legal work in Nunavut for fours years following graduation. If the student breached this agreement, they were responsible for the cost incurred to the sponsor.

Outcome

Eleven people graduated from the program, bringing Nunavut's total number of Inuit lawyers up to twelve. [cite web |url= http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/06/21/nunavutlawyers050621.html |title= First Nunavut law class graduates on Aboriginal Day |accessdate=2008-07-17 |publisher= Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date= 2005-06-22]

ee also

*Higher education in Nunavut

References

External links

* [http://www.law.uvic.ca/akits.html Official website of Akitsiraq Law School]
* [http://www.law.uvic.ca/ University of Victoria Faculty of Law]