Akitsiraq Law School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Akitsiraq Law School
Motto	Sui Generis
Established	Akitsiraq I 2001; Akitsiraq II May, 2013
School type	four-year Akitsiraq II Law Program leads to a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law
Dean	Anne Crawford (north) Daphne Gilbert (south)
Location	Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
Faculty	University of Ottawa faculty along with law professors from across Canada and Nunavut Arctic College with Nunatta Campus infrastructure
Bar pass rate	The first Akitsiraq cohort graduated a class of 11 students from an initial 15 entrants. Of these 87% have passed the Bar.
Website	www.akitsiraq.ca

The Akitsiraq Law School is a special program that helps more people become lawyers in Nunavut and the Canadian Arctic. It offers a way to earn a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree right in Iqaluit, Nunavut.

This law school is unique because it doesn't have its own classrooms or full-time staff. It focuses on what students can do based on their life experiences and work history, not just formal education. Many legal experts and judges in Nunavut support the program. They volunteer their time and bring in law professors from all over Canada to teach.

The Akitsiraq Law School Society is a non-profit group. Its leaders include judges, lawyers, and community members from Nunavut. They work to provide legal training to people in the Arctic. This training helps them become lawyers or work in other legal jobs. The program is often seen as a great example for training people in other fields, like accounting or education.

Why Akitsiraq Law School Started

When Nunavut was created, the plan was for people of Inuit descent to have jobs in all areas, including law. However, there weren't many Inuit lawyers. In the 1990s, some Inuit law students tried studying in southern Canada. But they often felt alone and had money problems, so they dropped out.

People realized there was a need for a law program in the North. A student working in Iqaluit helped get the University of Victoria involved as a partner. Some people worried about the cost of the program. They also wondered if southern legal ideas would fit well with northern culture.

How Students Were Chosen

The school advertised for students using newspapers and radio. They received many applications. Unlike most law schools, applicants did not have to take the Law School Admission Test. Instead, the admissions team tested each person to see their skills and work experience.

Students who were accepted received money from sponsors. In return, they agreed to work for that sponsor for two years. Or they could work for another Nunavut employer for four years after graduating. This helped ensure graduates stayed and worked in the North.

Akitsiraq Programs Over Time

The first program was called the Akitsiraq Jump-Start Program. It worked with Nunavut Arctic College to give 16 students a strong start in law. This helped the Akitsiraq Society create the full law school model.

The first full program, Akitsiraq I, started in 2001. It was a partnership with the University of Victoria Faculty of Law and Nunavut Arctic College. This program offered a Bachelor of Laws degree in Iqaluit. It accepted students in 2001-2002, and they graduated in 2004-2005.

A second program, Akitsiraq II, was planned to start in 2011. It was going to partner with the University of Ottawa Law Faculty. However, the Nunavut government decided not to provide the main funding at that time.

In June 2015, Nellie Kusugak, the Commissioner of Nunavut, announced that the Akitsiraq program would return. A new program finally launched in September 2017. This time, it was in cooperation with the University of Saskatchewan College of Law.

How Students Learn

Akitsiraq uses a "cohort model." This means students are admitted in groups. These groups learn and live together for four years, forming strong support systems. Only one group is studying at a time.

Professors from Canadian universities, judges, and other legal professionals come to Nunavut to teach. This way, the program can bring in the best teachers for each group of students. It also fits well with the smaller population of the North.

The Akitsiraq I program had a special law curriculum. The first year focused on helping students succeed academically. It included courses on legal research and writing, and basic law topics like contracts and criminal law.

In the next three years, students took all the usual law courses. They also had special courses about legal issues in the Canadian Arctic and for the Inuit. These included Inuit law, environmental law, and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. Local elders and teachers shared Inuit Traditional Law and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit throughout the program.

The Akitsiraq II program continues this approach. It plans for two study terms and one work term each year. Students also get to join their classmates at the University of Ottawa for a special three-week session.

After graduating, students need to work with a practicing lawyer. They also must pass a Bar Admission Test to become a licensed lawyer in Canada.

How the Program Is Funded

The Akitsiraq I program received most of its money from the Government of Nunavut. Students also got financial help from different groups, including the Department of Justice. This funding often required students to stay and work in Nunavut for a few years after graduating. By 2010, almost all Akitsiraq I graduates were working in Nunavut or in jobs related to Nunavut.

The Akitsiraq II program has received funding from the Department of Justice Canada. The Nunavut Justice department and Nunavut Arctic College also provide support. Many volunteers from the Akitsiraq Society also give their time. The plan for Akitsiraq II student funding includes paid work terms and other financial help.

The Society also has important information about Inuit Law that hasn't been published. They are looking for ways to share these materials more widely.

What Students Achieve

People who took part in the Akitsiraq Jump-Start Program have continued to work in legal fields.

Eleven students graduated from the Akitsiraq I program with their law degrees. By June 2009, nine of these graduates were licensed to practice law. This success rate is as good as, or even better than, law programs in southern Canada.

One graduate, Madeleine Redfern, became the first Inuk to work as a clerk at the Supreme Court of Canada. Other graduates are now studying for advanced degrees, practicing family law, or working for government agencies. Some work with Indigenous organizations or help with Inuktitut language projects.

The Akitsiraq II program has seen a lot of interest. Many potential students have attended information sessions. The Society has a long list of people waiting to join. There is also a chance for students from other Inuit regions to join the program.

See also

• Higher education in Nunavut