1L Online Intensive

We are pleased to announce an exciting development for the upcoming 2024 academic year at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law. As part of our ongoing commitment to innovative education, we are introducing the 1L Online Intensive program. The 1L Online Intensive will offer spots to an additional cohort of 25 students to join our full-time JD program. This new cohort will pursue their first year through a combination of online learning and four weeks of intensive, in-person, land-based learning.

At the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law, we take great pride in our innovative approach to legal education. This includes our Integrated Practice Curriculum (IPC) and our emphasis on Indigenous/Aboriginal Law, and Environmental Law. The 1L Online Intensive cohort will have the unique opportunity to actively engage with these pivotal elements through this new program. The 1L Online Intensive cohort will commence their first week of law school alongside their in-person peers, engaging in a blend of orientation and immersive land-based experiences while learning the foundations of Canadian Law. Subsequently, the 1L Online Intensive students will partake in a second week of exclusive land-based learning in the Thunder Bay area. Following these two weeks of land-based learning, the 1L Online Intensive cohort will continue the semester online. The course curriculum for the 1L Online Intensive program aligns with the in-person cohort, encompassing the same mandatory 1L courses. During the Winter semester, the 1L Online Intensive cohort will return to the Thunder Bay area for two weeks, to participate in IPC assignments and further land-based learning, fostering meaningful interactions with Indigenous communities and partners.

Upon completion of the 1L Online Intensive year, students will transition to join their in-person classmates in second year, and complete the remainder of the JD program in-person. For their first year, the 1L Online Intensive students will be required to pay an additional $6,000 in tuition and fees to support the field school(land-based learning) component. Regular tuition and fee rates will apply for the following two years of the JD program.

We believe this exceptional opportunity offers an unparalleled legal education experience, by embracing both tradition and innovation. The Bora Laskin Faculty of Law welcomes applicants who are enthusiastic about exploring an alternate path to legal education. For further details on the admissions process for the 1L Online Intensive program, please see our Admissions page.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the new 1L Online Intensive program? The 1L Online Intensive program is a new option for applicants entering into the JD program at Bora Laskin Faculty of Law in 2024. It offers students the opportunity to complete their first year (1L) through a combination of online learning and four weeks (2 weeks per semester) of intensive, in-person, land-based learning. 

2. How does the 1L Online Intensive program differ from the in-person JD program? The main difference between the 1L Online Intensive program and the in-person JD program is the format of the first year. Students enrolled in the 1L Online Intensive will complete all the same mandatory 1L courses, including IPC assignments, as the in-person cohort. The 1L Online Intensive cohort will complete their second and third year of the JD program in Thunder Bay, alongside their classmates who completed their first year in-person. 

3. What does the land-based learning component entail? The land-based learning component of the 1L Online Intensive program involves immersive educational experiences that take place on the land, while engaging with Indigenous communities and partners. Land-based learning helps students gain a deeper understanding of Indigenous and Aboriginal Law within the context of their legal studies. The land-based learning component will take place in Thunder Bay and the surrounding area. Group accommodations and logistics are arranged by program organizers.

6. Are there any additional costs associated with the 1L Online Intensive program? Yes. During their first year, 1L Online Intensive students will pay an extra $6,000 in tuition to support the field school component, which includes the four weeks of intensive, in-person, land-based learning. Students are responsible for transportation to and from Thunder Bay for the Land-based learning, but all accommodation and food costs are covered. For the remaining two years of the JD program, students will pay regular tuition rates.

7. What are the technical requirements for completing my first year online? Students require consistent and reliable access to the Internet and a webcam. Courses will be run synchronously over Zoom or a similar platform. For more information and preparation, please see Lakehead’s Online Learning resource page.

8. Can I take the 1L Online Intensive from anywhere or do I need to be in a specific location? For the first year, students can be based out of any home location, understanding that they are required to physically be in Thunder Bay for two weeks during each semester of the academic year and that the synchronous online courses will be run on Eastern Standard Time (ET). All students must join the full-time JD program in-person in second and third year. As with all students at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law, students enrolled in the 1L Online Intensive cohort must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

9. Is it possible to continue my JD degree online in second and third year? No. 1L Online Intensive students must complete the second and third year of the JD program in-person at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

10. Will the 1L Online Intensive still meet the criteria for the Integrated Practice Curriculum (IPC)? Yes. In your first year, you will participate in IPC assignments in all your mandatory courses. Some of these IPC assignments will be conducted online, while others will take place in-person during the field school (in either the Fall or Winter semester).

11. How will I write my exams? Exams will be supervised, in-person exams either in Thunder Bay or, where possible, at a location closer to your residence. 

12. Does the 1L Online Intensive affect my ability to become a licensed lawyer? As a student in the 1L Online Intensive program, you will meet the same program outcomes as in-person students and your degree will be recognized by the Federation of Law Societies and the Law Society of Ontario in the same way as all other graduates of the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law. 

13. Is there a limit to the number of students admitted to the 1L Online Intensive program? Yes, the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law is accepting an additional cohort of 25 students for the 1L Online Intensive program. Admission to the program is competitive and based on the applicant's qualifications and available spots.

For more information, please contact Admissions at law@lakeheadu.ca