ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Canada, and within it the Province of Ontario, has not had a new law school
in over 30 years. A combination of factors discussed in this paper has caused access to the
profession to be quite limited. At the same time, the cost of legal services has increased,
putting legal representation outside the reach of the lower and middle classes. In addition,
diversity within the legal profession has not improved, leading to the perception of a
profession dominated by ‘old white males’. The paper discusses whether in light of these
factors, greater access to the legal profession, in terms of absolute numbers coupled with the
removal of societal barriers, would lead to improved access to justice for Canadians.
