The inaugural class of UM Faculty of Law's Internationally Trained Lawyer program with Laurelle A. Harris, K.C., Director of the ITL Program, Equity & Transformation (4th from left). Photo by Christine Mazur.
Launching the New ITL Program at Robson Hall
Inaugural cohort of Internationally Trained Lawyer Program brings wealth of skills, experience
This year’s Faculty of Law orientation week was different for the latest crop of bright-eyed first year law students embarking on careers in the legal profession: among them for the first time were a group of seven individuals who have already been to law school, practiced, and even taught law. This curious and wise septet comprise the UM Faculty of Law’s inaugural cohort of the Internationally Trained Lawyer Program as they work to meet the necessary requirements to practice law in Canada.
When development of the program was first announced in November of 2023, Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of Law, explained the growing need to offer this program in Manitoba, where it had not previously been available. “This new program is a reflection of our commitment to the principles of justice, inclusivity, and diversity,” he said. “Having this program available at Robson Hall represents a critical step towards making the legal profession more accessible, not only for Internationally Trained Lawyers but also for the diverse immigrant communities they will serve upon graduation. It aligns with the province’s commitment to fair registration practices and creates a clear pathway for these lawyers, fostering connections within the legal profession, and ultimately, strengthening our pursuit of justice in Manitoba.”
Applications for the inaugural class of Internationally Trained Lawyers were accepted from last fall until March 31, 2025, a deadline that will remain the same for the next cohort in 2026.
The students accepted into the inaugural cohort started their school year early, by taking Preparation for the Study of Law in Canada, a two-week intensive course intended to prepare students for their studies and, eventually, their transition into the profession.
“The ITL Program has the potential to make a significant impact on the careers of internationally-trained lawyers, the clients they will serve, and our ability to impact access to justice in Manitoba,” said Harris.
Harris (she/her) is the inaugural Director of the Internationally Trained Lawyer Program, Equity and Transformation at Robson Hall. Harris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (Women’s Studies, History) and has undertaken graduate studies in Women’s Studies and Black Studies at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Harris earned her law degree in 2001 from Robson Hall and is an experienced litigator with formal training in mediation, arbitration and conflict resolution undertaken locally and at York University in Toronto, Ontario.
In addition to being a practicing litigator for her entire career, Harris has wide-ranging expertise in areas of equitable organizational assessment and design, policy development and implementation, workplace investigations, system reviews, leadership development, and anti-racism education. She has been called upon to act as a subject matter expert in antiracism and equity, including with the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, and led the Review into Systemic Racism and Oppression at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. In addition to teaching Preparation for the Study of Law in Canada, Harris was previously named a “Jurist of Robson Hall”, for her contributions teaching Family Law, Gender and the Law, and anti-racism education.
In the coming weeks, the Faculty of Law will publish interviews with each of the members of this unique group of law students.
Applications for the 2026 cohort of the Internationally Trained Lawyer program at UM’s Faculty of Law are now being accepted until March 31, 2026. Learn more.