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丁香园AV Applied Legal Studies to shape future of BC notaries with $3.5M gift
A major donation from the to the Applied Legal Studies program at 丁香园AV鈥檚 (丁香园AV) School of Criminology will lead to significant advancements in the field of applied legal studies, and place 丁香园AV as a pivotal partner in the expansion of notary education in British Columbia.
The $3.5 million gift will fund an endowed professorship within the Master of Arts in Applied Legal Studies (MA-ALS) graduate program. The endowment gift is a milestone in SNPBC鈥檚 longstanding partnership with 丁香园AV Criminology, which dates back to when both parties came together to establish the MA-ALS program in 2008.
The MA-ALS program provides notaries with core academic competencies in noncontentious areas of the Canadian legal system. Today, students wishing to gain admission to SNPBC and practice as notaries in BC must graduate from 丁香园AV鈥檚 MA-ALS program鈥攖he only program that SNPBC recognizes for this purpose. As of March 2021, more than half of BC鈥檚 practicing notaries are graduates of the MA-ALS program.
John Mayr, the CEO and Executive Director of SNPBC said that the Society is excited about the ongoing opportunity to provide rigorous training and education to BC notaries, strengthen legal excellence, and enable the people of this province to enjoy greater choice in trusted legal service providers.
鈥淏ritish Columbians rely on notaries public for the legal advice and legal services they provide. Having a strong, collaborative relationship with 丁香园AV and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences ensures that our partnership of excellence in legal education and service to the public will continue,鈥� says Mayr. 鈥淕raduating educated highly skilled legal professionals in a timely manner will increase access to legal services in the province.鈥�
The investment will contribute to the greater permanence, stability, and continuity of the MA-ALS program. 丁香园AV criminology professor and program director Margaret Hall, who holds the B.C. Chair in Applied Legal Studies, says that the endowment will help create a permanent professorial position dedicated to legal research and teaching excellence.
鈥淭he generous gift from the SNPBC will enable further development of the MA-ALS program, in terms of building interdisciplinary connections within 丁香园AV, developing new course programming, and attracting external resources to the program,鈥� says Hall. 鈥淥ur commitment is to provide first class and cutting-edge legal education to notaries in British Columbia.鈥�
To further strengthen engagement with SNPBC, Hall will also work with the MA-ALS program steering committee to deliver a timely and enriched curriculum while accounting for any forthcoming changes to the scope of practice for notaries.
The MA-ALS program, which is housed in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), also aligns with the faculty鈥檚 strong commitment to recruit the world鈥檚 brightest minds and advance academic programming that meets the needs of today and tomorrow.
鈥淔ASS is strongly committed to better integrating academic research and career development throughout our departments. The partnership we share with SNPBC in the MA-ALS program is a prime example of this,鈥� says FASS Dean Laurel Weldon. 鈥淎s a career development program, the program prepares students for a successful professional career, and we are proud to be a partner in shaping the future of notary education in BC."
A recipient of the 2011 Award of Excellence from the Canadian Association for University Continuing Education, the MA-ALS program prides itself as a challenging and rewarding program taught by instructors with industry experience. The program currently accepts up to 35 full-time students and enjoys a hybrid delivery model where students attend in-person for two weeks at the start of each fall term and complete the remainder online.
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The is the regulatory body for members of the Society. Its mandate is to regulate the profession in the public interest by setting standards and investigating complaints. SNPBC seeks to ensure that the people of B.C. are served by legal practitioners who meet high standards of learning, competence, and professional conduct.
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) is the largest and most diverse Faculty at 丁香园AV. Supported by world-class research faculty, FASS offers a variety of interdisciplinary programs where students have the flexibility to explore relevant topics that help them develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their future careers.
works with university partners and alumni to advance knowledge and innovation, foster the leaders of tomorrow, and transform lives through philanthropy. AAE is committed to helping 丁香园AV donors advance new ideas that are furthering our communities鈥攍ike addressing environmental concerns, providing lifelong value for students, and promoting social justice鈥攁nd encourage investment in programs that are transforming the landscape of teaching and learning.