The Law Foundation of Ontario is increasing our support for legal education with larger, longer-term grants to Ontario law schools.
Legal education is one of the Foundation’s statutory objects under the Law Society Act. A major way we fulfill this mandate is through grants to Ontario law schools, which we have made since 1975. The funding augments the faculties’ access to justice initiatives, particularly experiential education that provides valuable learning opportunities for students and legal assistance to community members. Funds also support initiatives that foster diversity and inclusion, Truth and Reconciliation, and a commitment to pro bono work, within both law schools and the legal profession.
In 2025, we conducted a review of our grantmaking to law schools, which we formally group under a program called Comprehensive. We gathered current data and held consultations with all law faculties. From this process, we made several program enhancements.
“Our meetings with the law deans were extremely valuable,” says Lisa Cirillo, the Foundation’s CEO. “They provided an opportunity to learn more about the opportunities and challenges facing law faculties and to explore how the Foundation can best support their important work. These program changes demonstrate our commitment to legal education and give faculties greater flexibility to pursue their own strategic priorities and vision.”
Rebalance and increase grant amounts
Comprehensive grant amounts have fluctuated considerably over the years due to the Foundation’s volatile revenues, including significant cuts made after the last financial crisis. In more recent years, we increased the amounts to help recalibrate this funding. Allocations are set in relation to student enrolment. Now, the Foundation is in a financial position to not just restore but expand our support, roughly tripling the amount to over $28M for the 9 law faculties.
Greater flexibility and clarity of program terms and conditions
Another enhancement is shifting to 3-year versus annual grants. This enables the law schools to make more strategic programming forecasts and longer financial commitments. It also reduces the administrative burden. Given the size of the funding increase, we are also consolidating all law faculty grants under the Comprehensive program, while keeping open the possibility of future, special granting opportunities.
2026-2029 Comprehensive (law schools) grants
Lakehead University, Bora Laskin Faculty of Law – $2.3M
Queen’s University, Faculty of Law – $2.8M
Toronto Metropolitan University, Lincoln Alexander School of Law – $2.3M
University of Ottawa, Civil Law Section – $3.4M
University of Ottawa, Common Law Section – $4.2M
University of Toronto, Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law – $2.8M
University of Windsor, Faculty of Law – $3.4M
Western University, Faculty of Law – $2.8M
York University, Osgoode Hall Law School- $4.2M
