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
Enrollment	25
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

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 is important because it helps train legal experts who understand the unique needs of the North.

Unlike many schools, Akitsiraq Law School doesn't have its own buildings or a lot of staff. It also has a very unique way of choosing students. They don't require formal education. Instead, they look at a person's life experiences and work history. This program gets a lot of support from legal experts and judges in Nunavut. They volunteer their time to teach and help bring in legal resources from all over Canada.

The Akitsiraq Law School Society is a non-profit group. Its leaders include judges, lawyers, and community members from Nunavut. The school's special way of teaching, where students learn together in groups and stay in Nunavut, has been suggested as a good model for training people in other jobs too, like accounting or school management.

History of Akitsiraq Law School

Why Akitsiraq Was Needed

When Nunavut was created, there was an agreement to have more local people working in different fields. However, there were very few lawyers of Inuit descent. In the 1990s, some Inuit law students tried studying in southern Canada. But they often found it hard because they were far from home and faced money problems.

This showed a clear need for a law program in the North. A student working in Iqaluit helped convince the University of Victoria to partner with Akitsiraq. Some people worried about the cost of the program. They also wondered if southern legal ideas would fit well with northern culture. There were also questions about whether graduates would stay and work in the North.

How Students Were Chosen

The school advertised for students in newspapers and on the radio. They received many applications. Unlike most law schools, Akitsiraq did not require students to take the Law School Admission Test. This test was not seen as suitable for the people applying. Instead, the admissions team tested each person's skills and looked at their work history.

Each student who was accepted received money from sponsors. In return, students agreed to work for that sponsor for two years. Or they could work for another Nunavut-based employer for four years after graduating.

The Akitsiraq Programs

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

The first full program, Akitsiraq I, started in 2001. Akitsiraq II began in 2011. These four-year programs teach the same amount of law as a three-year degree in Canada. But they do it in an isolated region and with a strong focus on Inuit culture.

Akitsiraq I was a partnership between the University of Victoria Faculty of Law, Nunavut Arctic College, and the Akitsiraq Law School Society. Students in this program graduated in 2004-2005.

A second program, Akitsiraq II, was planned with the University of Ottawa Law Faculty. It would use support from Nunavut Arctic College. Recruiting for this program started in 2010. However, the program was put on hold because the Government of Nunavut did not provide the needed funding.

In 2015, Nellie Kusugak, the Commissioner of Nunavut, said the Akitsiraq program would return. In September 2017, a new program started. It is working with the University of Saskatchewan College of Law.

What Students Learn

Learning Together

Akitsiraq uses a "cohort model." This means students are admitted in groups. These groups become strong, supportive units. They learn and live together for the four years of the program. Only one group is studying at a time. Students move through their studies together.

Professors from Canadian universities, judges, and other legal professionals come to teach them. This way, the school can get the best teachers for each group.

Special Courses

The Akitsiraq I program had a special law curriculum. The first year focused on helping students succeed academically. The University of Victoria Faculty of Law created a course on legal research and writing. It also taught study skills. Students also learned about contract, criminal law, and legal processes.

In the next three years, students took all the usual law courses. The Faculty of Law also created special courses for this program. These courses focused on legal issues in the Canadian Arctic and for the Inuit. This included Inuit law, environmental law, and land management in the North. The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement was also a key topic.

Local elders and educators shared their knowledge of Inuit Traditional Law and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit. This was included throughout the four-year program. Students could also take courses at the University of Victoria in their final year.

The Akitsiraq II program continues this approach. It plans for two study terms and one work term each year. Akitsiraq II students can also join their classmates at the University of Ottawa for a special three-week session in January. The first part of the program helps students get ready for law studies. It also helps identify areas where students might need extra help. It introduces them to basic law topics and how Inuit Law connects with Canadian law.

Becoming a Lawyer

After graduating from the program, students need to do more to become a lawyer. They must "article," which means working for a practicing lawyer. They also need to pass a "Bar Admission Test." This test is given by a Canadian law society.

How Akitsiraq Is Funded

Funding for Akitsiraq I

The Akitsiraq I program received most of its money from the Government of Nunavut. This came from departments like Education, Human Resources, and Justice. Students also received financial support through sponsorships. These came from different groups, including the Government of Nunavut, the Department of Justice, and several non-profit Inuit groups.

To get this funding, students had to attend classes. After graduating, they also had to commit to staying in their home territory or province. Most were from Nunavut. They had to work for at least two or four years after graduation. By 2010, all Akitsiraq I graduates were working or studying for advanced degrees in Nunavut.

Funding for Akitsiraq II

The Akitsiraq II program has received funding from the Department of Justice Canada. It also gets support from Justice Nunavut, Nunavut Arctic College, and the University of Ottawa. The Akitsiraq Society has also given many hours of volunteer help.

The funding for Akitsiraq II students is set up differently. It is based on individual needs. It includes paid work terms and various ways to support students financially.

The Society also has important unpublished materials on Inuit Law. It continues to look for ways to share these materials more widely.

What Akitsiraq Achieved

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. They received an LLB degree from the University of Victoria. By June 2009, nine of these eleven graduates had become practicing lawyers. This success rate is as good as, or even better than, law programs in southern Canada.

Madeleine Redfern, one of the graduates, became the first Inuk to work as a clerk at the Supreme Court of Canada. She worked for Justice Louise Charron. Other graduates are studying for advanced law degrees. Some practice family and civil law. Others work as prosecutors or as lawyers for Indigenous groups and government agencies. Some work with the RCMP or on projects related to the Inuktitut language.

The Akitsiraq II program is still working on admitting new students. Many students have attended information sessions across Nunavut. The Society reports that over eighty potential students are on its waiting lists. There is also a chance for students from Nunatsiavik and Nunavik to join.

See Also

• Higher education in Nunavut