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University of Saskatchewan, College of Law (Saskatoon) T he College of Law at the University of Saskatch- ewan has 359 students, with 29 faculty. Average class sizes in fi rst year stand at 63 students, with 45 students enrolled in most upper-year courses, and 15 students per seminar-style class. One student says Saskatchewan offers a very close and supportive student body. Dean Brent Cotter seconds that sentiment. "It is a very welcoming and collegial law school, partly because of its inclusive culture and partly because of the generally sup- portive environment for learning created by both profs and students; a signifi cant (and surprising) number are from other parts of the country," he says. Some of the most unique course offerings at the school include transna- tional commercial law, law and psychiatry, indigenous people in international and comparative law, and theo- rizing aboriginal rights. A fi rst-year student notes the school "works with the surrounding aboriginal community in a number of areas." For those considering an application, you'll fi nd an average entrance LSAT of 160 and an average GPA of 3.62. Also, the school is one of the less ex- pensive in Canada, says Cotter. "Due to generous support provided by the provincial government and university, the school is well resourced to deliv- er a top-quality education to law students at a frac- tion of the tuition charged at other law schools," he says. Cotter also says the law school has undergone a $16.5-million addition and renovation, allowing it to position itself as one of the more environmen- tally and technologically advanced schools in the country. Canadian Lawyer was unable to compile the best features of the school due to a lack of responses to the survey. University of Victoria, Faculty of Law E ngaging professors came in as the best feature of the University of Victoria's law school, which TOP FEATURES 1 Engaging professors 2 Range of course offerings 3 Small class sizes 3 has 35 professors and 390 students in its LLB pro- gram. A fi rst-year student describes it as an "open and comfortable learning environment where stu- dents feel free to express themselves and engage with professors, other students, and staff to get ex- actly what they want out of their law degree." Small class sizes also placed in the top three. Av- erage fi rst-year classes have 42 students, upper-year classes average 32, with seminar classes coming in at around 16 students. The average LSAT score upon entrance is 162, with an average GPA of 3.81. Our survey shows students appreciate the range of courses available. The faculty says it believes "teaching and understanding law in social con- text makes students better lawyers by appreciating the role of law in society and its application in the wider world." Students are able to participate in Canada's only common law co-op program, which integrates classroom study with a work experience term. The school also offers an environmental law clinic, a business law clinic, and the law centre where stu- dents work with real clients. There are over 30 clubs and stu- dent organizations in which students can become involved. $729,600 in aid was available for LLB students in 2008, with an in- house fi nancial aid offi ce available to provide ad- vice and assistance to students. "This faculty recognizes that law must be un- derstood within a wider context of social, political, historical, and economic perspective," says dean Donna Greschner. "The objective of the faculty is not only to teach the principles of law, but to help students understand the role of law in society and its application in the wider world." "I can't imagine going to school anywhere else," says a second-year student. "It offers a chance to matter. Small class sizes, engaging professors, vast opportunities to get involved, and socially pro- gressive and responsible viewpoints of fellow stu- dents are among the few things that UVic law has to offer." www. C ANADIAN Law ye rmag.com JANU AR Y 2009 49 TUITION: TUITION: $6,840 PLUS FEES $8,017 PHOTO: STOBBE PHOTOGRAPHY