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.