UVic Law School Benefits From $1 Million National Awards Program

One of Canada's largest law firms, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, has established a $1 million National Scholarship and Awards Program to help finance the costs of legal education for exceptional and deserving students. UVic's law school is one of 13 law schools across Canada to benefit from the program.

Believed to be the only national scholarship program of its kind funded by a single law firm, it will provide an annual $5,000 scholarship to a UVic law student. More than 19 law students nationally will benefit from the program each year.

Most scholarships will be awarded after a student has completed his or her first year of law school and will be renewable after the second year if a high academic standing is maintained, making the total value of financial assistance for each student worth up to $10,000.

Award recipients will be known as "Blake's Scholars," a distinction earned by outstanding academic achievement, community involvement, extra-curricular activities, and personal accomplishments. The award criteria also consider financial need and membership in a historically disadvantaged group.

"Our hope is that the Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP Awards will become known as a mark of excellence recognizing top students who have made great achievements, often in the face of economic or other hardship," says Jim Christie, Blakes' Managing Partner.

"Financial aid is a priority for the faculty. This program will assist us in continuing to recruit and retain top students, and helps to ensure that talented individuals have equal educational opportunity," says UVic law dean Jamie Cassels.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is one of Canada's leading corporate law firms with over 400 lawyers in six offices in Canada, Europe and China.

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