The Principles and Practices of Aboriginal Equity Programs in Canadian Law Schools: A Comparative Study of the Saskatchewan College of Law

Canadian Legal Education Annual Review, No. 3, pp. 65-98, 2009

Posted: 28 Mar 2010

See all articles by Charis Kamphuis

Charis Kamphuis

Faculty of Law, Thompson Rivers University

Date Written: 2009

Abstract

This article responds to the clear need for an increased understanding of the principles and practices of equity for Aboriginal students at the Saskatchewan College of Law. To this end, it is fashioned to support efforts to educate law students on the rationale for equity in legal education and reduce the presence of anti-equity sentiments in law school culture. The concepts of substantive equality and anti-discrimination are applied to the equity policies in place in Canadian law schools, and in particular at the Saskatchewan College of Law. This paper’s objective is to initiate a principled analysis that can ground the formal and informal debates on equity underway in Saskatchewan. It engages with equity’s detractors by defining equity and fleshing out the basic moral and legal justification for equity initiatives for Aboriginal students in Canadian law schools. This reflection on the Saskatchewan experience with Aboriginal equity programming is of interest to law schools across the country, where similar issues are undoubtedly at play.

Keywords: Aborigonal people, law schools, equity programs, education

Suggested Citation

Kamphuis, Charis, The Principles and Practices of Aboriginal Equity Programs in Canadian Law Schools: A Comparative Study of the Saskatchewan College of Law (2009). Canadian Legal Education Annual Review, No. 3, pp. 65-98, 2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1577424

Charis Kamphuis (Contact Author)

Faculty of Law, Thompson Rivers University ( email )

805 TRU Way
Old Main Building Room 4743
Kamloops, British Columbia M3J 1P3
Canada

HOME PAGE: http://www.tru.ca/law/faculty-staff/faculty/charis-kamphuis.html

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