Law in Action Within Schools (LAWS) is Canada’s leading law school youth access diversity pipeline program and is recognized as a leader across North America. LAWS operates as an education engagement and support program for high school students facing barriers to access due to personal and systemic factors, including low socioeconomic status, race, culture, newcomer status, living in low-income neighborhoods, and being the first in their families to consider postsecondary. From workshops, mentoring programs and more, LAWS increases legal knowledge, self-advocacy, leadership, and belonging. Housed at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, LAWS was established in 2005 as a partnership with the Toronto District School Board. LAWS’ overarching goal is to increase the diversity of the legal sector, as well as broaden perspectives and experiences shaping the justice system and community.
Focus
- Access and transition: promote successful academic and social transitions to post-secondary education
- Outreach and Engagement: increase awareness and understanding of post-secondary pathways
Features
- Academic credit: dual
- Career exploration
- Community engagement
- Experiential learning (e.g., co-op, internship, design challenges, field trips, etc.)
- Participant incentive(s) (e.g., expense reimbursement, bursaries, scholarships)
- Tutoring & mentorship
- Wrap-around services (e.g. provision of food, skills development workshops, writing centre and library access, etc.)
Timeframe
- Fall Term
- Summer
- Winter Term
Participants
Ages
- High school students
Groups
- First-generation students
- Low-income students
- Newcomers to Canada
- Racialized students
- Students from communities with limited access to post-secondary education (e.g. rural or remote communities)
- Students requiring outreach/transition support