Black Student Life
Welcome to Black life at the University of Alberta Faculty of Law!
The faculty is committed to attracting top Black talent to the Law School. We have launched a number of initiatives to support Black applicants through the admissions process and to welcome and nurture students once they arrive. Whether you’re a prospective UAlberta law student or a currently enrolled student, you will find valuable information about our programs here.
Scholarships and Awards
The University of Alberta Faculty of Law has a number of scholarships and awards for Black and visible minority students.
View a full list of these awards here
For more information about available awards, please email lawaward@ualberta.ca.
Lionel Jones Memorial Endowment in Law
The Lionel Jones Memorial Endowment in Law supports the U of A Black Law Students’ Association (BLSA) and other activities for Black students. The endowment was established in honour of Lionel Jones, ‘63 LLB, who was the second Black person to graduate from the U of A’s Faculty of Law and the first Black person to be appointed as a judge to the Provincial Court of Alberta and subsequently as a justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta.
In recent years, the Lionel Jones Memorial Endowment has been used to support BLSA events, student attendance at the BLSA’s annual conference, the ELITE Pathway for Law conference for Black youth interested in attending law school, and the Black Future Lawyers University of Alberta Chapter.
Read more about the endowment here.
ELITE Pathway for Law Symposium
Are you a Black undergraduate, graduate, or high school student who is interested in applying to law school and pursuing a career in law? If yes, you are invited to the 2025 ELITE Pathway for Law Symposium!
In collaboration with ELITE Pathway for Law, Black Future Lawyers and the Canadian Bar Association, the Faculty of Law regularly hosts a symposium for high school and university students who are interested in attending law school. A two-day event, the symposium provides information about how to apply to law school, a panel with currently practising lawyers from the Black legal community, and multiple networking opportunities.
Register here
Black Law Students' Association (BLSA)
The Black Law Students' Association (BLSA), and its sponsors, are dedicated to empowering the next generation of Black legal professionals. BLSA provides opportunities for key mentorship for Black law students, Black pre-law students and beyond. A BLSA chapter operates out of the University of Alberta Faculty of Law and holds social and networking events for Black students in the faculty.
Black Future Lawyers
Launched in 2024, the Black Future Lawyers University of Alberta Chapter supports undergraduate students aspiring to enter the legal profession. BFL’s mission is to create a nurturing community that offers mentorship, networking, job shadowing, workshops, lectures, and events with Black lawyers, judges, and law students. BFL also provides admissions and financial aid information sessions and LSAT prep courses.
The Faculty of Law has a strong collaborative relationship with the BFL UAlberta chapter, providing financial assistance to the chapter, as well as support for events such as Law School Admissions Information Sessions. In 2025, the faculty, BFL and ELITE Pathway for Law collaborated to co-host a two day symposium for Black undergraduate and high school students interested in applying to law school.
Black Youth for Social Innovation
BYSI is a University of Alberta program for undergraduate students seeking internship opportunities in fields of interest, including law. The program seeks to equips participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their future careers, while also contributing to a more diverse and inclusive academic community. Participants will have the opportunity to work alongside respected faculty members and engage with leading organizations across various sectors, including public, private and non-profit organizations.