Tradition and innovation come together at Ryerson law

September is always an exciting time at Ryerson as the school year begins and our campus comes alive with the energy of returning students and faculty. This year, it’s particularly special as our university has good news to share – in addition to the application window opening for our new Faculty of Law, I’m delighted to report that the Ontario government has also decided to make our law school OSAP eligible.

I’d like to thank the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and the provincial government for this recent decision. We believe passionately in our approach to legal education and couldn’t be more pleased that our incoming law students will have access to financial assistance. They challenged us to find an innovative way to approach legal education and you cannot innovate without challenging the status quo.

The history of our institution speaks to exploring new ways of thinking, learning and creating. From our leading experiential learning programs to our trailblazing entrepreneurial ecosystem, our story is one of making and responding to change. You could say that at Ryerson, innovation is our tradition.

Opening the first new law school in Toronto since 1889 is both a tremendous opportunity and a big responsibility. It requires a clear, bold vision which is precisely what Ryerson has when it comes to transforming legal education in Canada.

This opportunity to build a law school from the ground up gave us the chance to address the sweeping changes that have taken place both within the Canadian legal profession and society at large. The core idea behind Ryerson Law is that a new kind of legal education is required to equip the lawyers of the 21st century. Our innovative program includes a focus on hands-on learning, financial literacy, equity and access to justice and mentorships.

We’ve created a new law school because the legal system requires a new kind of lawyer, one who’s trained to respond to the increasingly complex and interconnected challenges that face contemporary society.

Almost a decade ago, the Digital Media Zone (now the DMZ) opened at Ryerson. It took shape as a bold idea that a university could foster a culture of entrepreneurship that capitalized on emerging trends in technology. Fast forward to today and our Zone Learning network has become world-renowned for its approach to experiential education. Ryerson Law is building on this tradition of innovation, and I believe it has the potential to be just as groundbreaking.

It’s a tremendously exciting time for Ryerson and for legal education in Canada.

Mohamed Lachemi
President