Switching from medicine to law or law to medicine - JD/MD programs

I have had a few colleagues who were lawyers and then went to medical school and a few that were doctors and then decided to go to law school.  It seems far out maybe but they always had good reasons.  I just came across this interesting article in Canadian Lawyer Magazine on that very topic.  I learned that there are some JD/MD programs in the US.  That is pretty cool I think.  I wonder if any Canadian law schools or Canadian Medical schools have explored that option.  Thoughts? Comments?

Read the article.

https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/author/sara-tatelman/a-look-at-doctors-in-law-school-and-lawyers-in-med-school-16672/

High schools should teach family law basics

I read the above headline today in Canadian Lawyer magazine.  The author, Sara Tatelman, puts forward the premise that high school students should receive some basic family law decision curriculum in grade 10, arguing that since Ontario has determined to include some basic financial education curriculum, "making informed romantic decisions that carry enormous legal and financial repercussions is just as important." 

I have often thought about this idea - that high school students should all receive basic financial and life-skill education, but I hadn't thought about covering the basics of family law.  Some good topics might include:

1. What are the implications of marriage as opposed to a common-law relationship?
2. Will you be able to survive upon separation from a spouse?  Spousal support and child support.
3. How do you protect your property upon entering a cohabitation relationship?
4. Are pre-nuptial agreements a good idea?
5. What happens with my children if I split up from their father?
6. Do I have to pay child support for all children that I help to conceive?

What are your thoughts? 

Read the full story here. 

Kawaskimhon Moot for Canadian Law School Students

I was happy to see Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie hosted the Kawaskimhon Moot for the first time this year.  I participated in that aboriginal law moot during law school, and it was a highlight for me.  This year 18 Canadian law schools participated.  That's just great!

"The Kawaskimhon (Cree for “speaking with knowledge”) is unique among moot court competitions in that it’s a consensus-based, non-adversarial moot incorporating Indigenous legal orders alongside federal, provincial, and international law. This year’s moot problem is focused on the reform of Canada’s First Nations Child and Family Services Program."

“The students are excited about the theme, which is very current,” says Schulich School of Law Professor Naiomi Metallic, Dalhousie’s Chancellor’s Chair in Aboriginal Law and Policy. “It’s an opportunity for them to dive into this issue.”

https://www.dal.ca/faculty/law/current-students/kawaskimhon-moot-2019.html

Gifted 16-year-old student will use new license -- to drive herself to law school

This is an interesting story about a 16 year old who has been accepted into 9 law schools already. Haley Taylor Schlitz  has accepted "a nice scholarship" and will attend Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.  Neat.

More at https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Living/gifted-16-year-student-license-drive-law-school/story?id=61805537

New Law School at Memorial University? Tuition of $30,000!!! What?

I cannot imagine having to pay $30,000 per year for tuition at a Canadian Law School, but it appears that may be where we are headed for given this article about the proposed new law school at Memorial University.

https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/legalfeeds/tuition-at-new-law-school-could-hit-30k-16983/

It is hard to contemplate taking on that much student debt unless there are good jobs waiting at the other end of law school.  I hope that is the case on the east coast.  Tuition has grown so much over the last decade at a number of Canadian law schools and American law schools.  I suppose $30,000 is still a bargain compared to some of the top ranked American law schools where you are now paying over $60,000 US for tuition.

I am also wondering about the need for a new 300 student law school at this point.  I might have to do some more research into this initiative.

Free summer LSAT prep course at University of Calgary Faculty of Law

University of Calgary Faculty of Law announced that they are now offering a free summer LSAT prep course for low-income, high-potential students interested in pursuing a law degree.  You can find more information at the link below, along with the application form.  Very cool!



https://law.ucalgary.ca/future-students/our-programs/lsat-summer-prep-course

Law School Rankings - Canadian Law Schools

I am always curious about law school rankings and whether they mean very much.  Macleans has not put out law school rankings for many years regarding Canadian Law Schools.  Thoughts? Are they valid?  Worthwhile?

Here's a story from yesterday about US law school rankings:

https://www.law.com/therecorder/2019/03/12/latest-u-s-news-law-school-ranking-offers-few-surprises-403-31111/?slreturn=20190213182342

So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh? Law School in Canada, Third Edition, has been released.  It should be available on Amazon.ca, Chapters.ca and in mainstream bookstores across Canada shortly.  It takes a little while for it to be distributed upon publication.  So, watch for it.  It is now 408 pages, with a number of new chapters.  The previous edition was 278 pages.