Funds earmarked for law faculties over 2026-2029 will now exceed $28 million
The Law Foundation of Ontario has announced that it is tripling its financial support for law schools and shifting from an annual grant model to a three-year model.
Funds earmarked for nine law faculties over 2026-2029 will now exceed $28 million. They have been allocated as follows:
Last year, the foundation assessed its law school grantmaking under its Comprehensive program. The organization consulted with all law faculties to identify points of improvement for the program.
“Our meetings with the law deans were extremely valuable. 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,” said Lisa Cirillo, Law Foundation of Ontario CEO, in a statement.
The foundation noted that grant amounts had been inconsistent throughout the years due to fluctuating revenues, with the most recent financial crisis driving major cuts. It increased the grant amounts of late to rebalance the funding, with allocations based on student enrolment. The Law Foundation of Ontario added that it was consolidating law faculty grants under the Comprehensive program while remaining open to special grant opportunities in the future.
Moreover, the foundation explained that it shifted from annual grants to a three-year model to facilitate strategic programming forecasts by law schools, extend financial commitments, and limit the administrative burden.
The foundation’s focus on legal education is among its statutory objects under the Law Society Act. It began allocating grants to Ontario law schools in 1975.
