Diverse Representation and Engagement
We are committed to applying an EDIDA lens to our admissions process, reducing barriers for students from equity-deserving groups and fostering an environment where equity-deserving groups are fully valued and engaged.
Recent or ongoing initiatives include:
Admissions and Financial Aid
- Financial aid opportunities for students from equity-deserving groups, including awards, scholarships and bursaries
- A complimentary LSAT preparation course for Black, Indigenous, and low-income students
- Financial support to assist with law school applications of prospective Black law students
- Subsidies to help cover the cost of the University of Saskatchewan’s Indigenous Law Centre Summer Program. The program offers a first-year Property Law course from May through July for incoming Indigenous 1L students. Western Law provides credit for successful completion of the program.
- Clarified discretionary admissions categories and the new Black applicant admissions category
- Implicit bias training and increased diversity on the Admissions Committee
- Analysis of OLSAS data and the Western Law Diversity Survey to identify under-represented groups and engage in targeted outreach
Events, Outreach, and Engagement
- Ongoing engagement of stakeholders including students from equity deserving groups, the Student Legal Society, student affinity groups, community and advocacy groups, alumni and law firms
- Recent Black History Month celebrations, organized in collaboration with the Black Law Students’ Association: "Black Resistance Against the Status Quo” (February 24, 2025), "The Importance of Building Public Trust and Confidence in Policing” with Chief Justice of Ontario, Michael Tulloch and “Journeys through the Justice System” with Yola Grant, former Associate Chair of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (March 4, 2024)
Recent targeted outreach events
- “Your Future at a Glance” an outreach event for prospective law students from Western University’s Muslim Students’ Association, Lebanese Student Association, Arab Students’ Association, Pakistani Students’ Association, Sudanese Students’ Association, Egyptian Students’ Association and the Palestinian Cultural Club (January 26, 2025)
- A tour and panel for Indigenous youth from the Chippewas of the Thames who participated in Level Justice’s Indigenous Youth Outreach Program (April 1, 2025)
- “Queer Resilience and Resistance: A 2SLGBTQIA+ Rights Panel” a panel on 2SLGBTQIA+ rights featuring inspiring human rights lawyers and leaders in collaboration with the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Outlaws (November 3, 2025)
