Law for the Future Fund seeks applications for legal research

  • March 10, 2020

Since 1984, the Law for the Future Fund has provided financial support for legal research that shapes a better future for lawyers and the law. In recent years, between $150,000 and $200,000 annually has been distributed to fund innovative research projects.

The deadline for 2020-21 applications is May 1, 2020. Projects eligible for consideration must be of national interest and/or benefit to the general public, and they must be in at least one of the following fields:

•     legal research

•     legal education

•     legislation and law reform

•     administration of justice

The fund was established by donations from individual lawyers, law firms, legal organizations and foundations, as well as corporations.

Examples of recent funding projects include:

  • Funding legal life skills and literacy research;
  • Supporting leading edge research into Alternative Dispute Resolution;
  • Researching the rights and needs of incarcerated individuals in the Canadian prison system;
  • Developing tools and knowledge to assist refugees and immigrants with precarious status;
  • Publishing useful booklets for clients and for lawyers, which serve as a guide to foster mutually beneficial client-lawyer relationships;
  • Assessing aspects of women’s, family and childrens’ law;
  • Analyzing Indigenous legal issues, often in the context of environmental concerns; and
  • Researching workplace sexual harassment trends.

For more information, contact Rachelle Watson.