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LAWS (Law in Action Within Schools)

Spending time with lawyers and law students has changed the way I think about the law. As a future Crown Attorney, I am glad that I got a chance to spend time with my future colleagues.
- 15 year-old student, Central Technical School

Introduction

High school student in LAWS program being tutored by law studentLAWS is a partnership between the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and the Toronto District School Board to deliver a 3-year academic and extra-curricular program that teaches young people about the law and supports them to succeed in school. Each year, LAWS serves over 350 grade 10, 11, and 12 students attending inner-city high schools.

LAWS provides a range of interactive learning experiences that expose students to legal issues, the legal system, and the legal profession. By using legal education as a tool, the program assists students to gain entry to post-secondary studies and become informed and engaged citizens.

Begun in 2005, LAWS is currently implemented at three Toronto high schools with diverse populations: Central Technical School, Harbord Collegiate Institute, and Monarch Park Collegiate.

The LAWS website is: http://www.lawinaction.ca/

Program Description

LAWS is a multi-faceted program that provides participating high school students with:

  • An academic curriculum enriched with legal themes. LAWS assists teachers to identify and explore legal issues with their students in the classroom. U of T Faculty of Law students, professors, alumni and other legal professionals guest-facilitate interactive workshops on cutting-edge legal issues.
  • A weekly after-school tutoring program. U of T Faculty of Law students volunteer to provide high school students with academic support and mentorship.
  • Opportunities to interact with legal professionals. Students observe the law in action and spend time with positive role models through job shadowing experiences, mentoring programs, and paid summer placements with legal professionals. 
  • Exposure to post-secondary education.  Students attend events at the U of T Faculty of Law, visit other local college and university campuses, and learn about post-secondary programs and admissions policies.
  • Special learning opportunities. Students attend conferences, participate in mock trials and debating tournaments, and visit court houses.

Students benefit from unique learning opportunities that result from LAWS’ partnerships with the legal community, including the U of T Faculty of Law’s professors, students and alumni, as well as lawyers, judges, justices of the peace, paralegals, law enforcement officers, courts, law firms, legal aid clinics, and public interest organizations.

Law student tutoring high school student in the LAWS programHighlights of the LAWS program include:

  • Interactive, guest-facilitated classroom workshops in which students learn about:
    • the youth criminal justice system
    • Islamic law
    • music downloading and intellectual property
    • racial profiling
    • forensic science
    • environmental science
    • civil liberties
    • citizenship
    • gang violence
    • women and the law
    • debating skills
    • international human rights
    • religion and the law
  • Mock trials and debates in which students develop public speaking, critical thinking, literacy, and team-work skills.
  • LAWS career panels featuring lawyers, judges, justices of the peace, police officers, forensic scientists, parole officers, and paralegals.
  • Field trips to Old City Hall court house, Queen's Park and police headquarters. Students experience university life by touring the U of T Faculty of Law and other university and college campuses.
  • Job shadowing opportunities with judges, justices of the peace, Crown attorneys and Duty Counsel for a day at Old City Hall court house.
  • Work-place mentoring with lawyers at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP.
  • Paid summer jobs with law firms and legal aid clinics. 

Each year, over 300 grade 10, 11, and 12 students participate in LAWS. U of T Faculty of Law students, alumni, professors and other members of the legal community volunteer their time to the program. 

LAWS in the News

The LAWS program has been featured in a number of news stories. See the LAWS in the News page for links to the full news stories, including audio and video clips.

LAWS Newsletter

The LAWS Program electronic newsletter provides photos, quotes and program updates that bring to life the different aspects of this partnership.

Contact

For more information about the LAWS Program, please contact:

Sarah Pole
Director - LAWS Program
416-978-5841
directorlaws.law@utoronto.ca