TRU vs. USask

[LawGoblin]

Hi everyone,

I currently have acceptances from TRU and USask, and am trying to decide between them. I'm from BC and intend to practice here once I'm finished law school, so I think I'm slightly leaning toward TRU at this point. However, I also have lots of family in Regina, and Saskatoon does have the perks of being a bigger city and having an older more established law school, so I'm not opposed to the idea of attending USask either.

As an aside, I also applied to UBC/UVic as my top 2 choices (as well as UAlberta and some schools in Ontario), but haven't heard back yet from either school so I'm just being proactive in the event I don't receive any more acceptances.

Any input would be much appreciated.

[lawyersarecool]

Hi, 

I also received acceptances from TRU and USASK but declined because I received an offer from my top choice. Additionally, I attended TRU for my undergraduate degree and had the opportunity to speak to some of their law faculty and tour the program. 

TRU is a newer law school but has built a decent reputation for itself during that time. Many of its graduates work in either BC or Alberta. If you want to work in Vancouver, your primary competition will be UBC and UVIC, so you will need to stand out academically. TRU's law faculty is wonderful, and there seems to be a close-knit, collegial attitude among the students. I have also heard great things from lawyers who have worked with TRU grads. The only downside is that TRU charges higher tuition compared to most law programs. 

Kamloops itself certainly isn't for everyone (I wouldn't say I liked it). It's a small town with approximately 90k people and there isn't much to do unless you're a big outdoors person (I am not). Housing is scarce and rent is quite expensive. 

I have read several posts that recommend studying within the province you want to work in, so TRU fits better for that. In terms of reputation, USASK is older and has a bigger Alumni network, but I have also read that TRU and USASK are often viewed quite similarly overall (meaning they would fit into the same "tier"). I wouldn't put too much stock into the purported ranking of Canadian law schools though. 

Good luck with your decision and congratulations on your acceptances!