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TOP FEATURES 1 Availability of fi nancial aid 3 2 Small class sizes 3 Library holdings University of British Columbia, Faculty of Law A bout 630 students make the Faculty of Law at the University of British Columbia one of the country's larger law schools, but students rank its still-small class sizes as an enticing feature. "It's just the right size," a fi rst-year student tells us. "Enough to provide breadth in terms of courses, but not too large so that you become a number." The top-notch library holdings also came in among the top three features. UBC law was the only school to have the availability of fi nancial aid come in as the top draw in the survey. That refl ects the school's commitment-to-access policy, which says "no eligible student will be prevented from commenc- ing or continuing his or her stud- ies at the university for fi nancial reasons alone." Over $300,000 in scholarships and $700,000 in bursaries and work-study wages are distributed to law students annually. A third-year student at the school says the school's commitment to clinical programs and community support services adds to the learn- ing experience. "Law Students' Legal Advice Pro- gram gives free legal advice and representation to thousands of low-income people every year. Criminal clinic, Innocence Project, etc. Almost every law student at UBC is involved with at least one program or clinic offering service in the community." Students also comment on the diverse range of students who fi ll the halls. "It certainly appears that the admissions committee made it a priority to select applicants with a range of backgrounds, in- terests, undergrad majors, etc.," says another fi rst-year student. "I was quite surprised by the breadth of backgrounds during orientation." Then there's the location. "The beach is fi ve minutes away." University of Calgary, Faculty of Law R ecent renovations at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law have allowed it to increase ad- TOP FEATURES 1 Quality of facilities 3 2 Engaging professors 3 Opportunities to get involved mission numbers from 75 to 100 students per year, as well as putting the quality of facilities as the school's number one feature according to the Ca- nadian Lawyer law school survey. A spokesperson for the school says the upgrades "provide state-of- the-art technology in classrooms, skills and study rooms, and in our moot court." Despite the increase to enrolment in recent years, students still say small class sizes make for a welcoming environment. "The law school is quick- ly growing in recognition and importance," says a second-year student. "As the school is still small, it provides anybody the chance to be part of the change." Engaging professors add to the mix, ac- cording to our survey. Opportunities to get involved also ranked highly among students. "The Student Legal Assistance program is very well run, and highly regarded," says one student. The SLA is a clinical program that provides free legal services to residents of the Cal- gary area. Students get involved in interviewing, case research, and court appearances. The school is also home to the Alberta Law Reform Institute and the Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre. The same student says the school also offers "a lot of great environ- mental research, especially concerning energy and water law." For those interested in graduate stud- ies in the area, the school takes advantage of the strengths of the city by offering an LLM in natural resources, energy, and environmental law. "The class is extremely well-rounded," says a fi rst-year student. "Calgary is known as a holistic school and they live up to it — everyone has very interesting life experiences, allowing us to learn from each other." In terms of fi nancial aid, the school offers 126 awards annually, with many of their incoming stu- dents eligible for awards ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. www. C ANADIAN Law ye rmag.com JANU AR Y 2009 47 TUITION: $9,742 TUITION: APPX. $11,500