Two pillars of the legal community in Manitoba have paired up to encourage would-be lawyers to work in smaller communities throughout the province.
The Law Society of Manitoba and the law school at the University of Manitoba (U of M) have launched a new pilot program entitled the Forgivable Loan Initiative.
The Law Society will provide up to $25,000 in annual living expenses for the duration of the students' three-year law degree while tuition will be covered through bursary programs overseen by the U of M. Once they graduate, their total costs will be forgiven at a rate of 20 per cent annually for five years if they practice in a rural area.
"Fifty years ago, every small community had at least one or two lawyers in town. Now a lot of them don't. [The towns] are having trouble attracting people out there to refresh the profession," said Allan Fineblit, CEO of the law society.
He said research shows that the most likely law school graduates to agree to work in rural areas are those that came from those very communities.
If they fail to stick it out for the minimum five-year period, the students will have to pay back whatever percentage of their costs is outstanding.
The program kicked-off with one law student this fall and is expected to grow to four students next year.
from Western Investor October 2011
