Legal field 'deeply disappointed' by proposed Algonquin College cuts

Legal professionals in Ottawa say Algonquin College’s recommendation to axe its paralegal and law clerk program could harm Ontario’s justice system. 

The college announced last week that more than 30 programs are on the chopping block, with the board of governors to decide their fate Feb. 23.

The decision comes as post-secondary institutions face financial pressures from changes in federal policy, provincial funding and shifts in learner demand.

Sue Kavanagh, manager of corporate services at Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP, was surprised by the college’s announcement.

“I'm concerned about where we're going to get employees,” Kavanagh said. “[Algonquin’s] always been a place where we knew we were getting qualified, trained people.”

Having worked over 40 years as a law clerk, Kavanagh explained that the job requires extensive knowledge of the legal process in order to help clients navigate the system.

Kavanagh also knows the college's program well, having worked as an instructor and served on the advisory board. She lauded it for prioritizing the "practical day-to-day operations" of being a law clerk.

"That's not what the universities are teaching. That's what Algonquin taught," she said.

High demand for paralegals

Paralegals and law clerks are "indispensable" to Ontario's legal system, said Katie Black, president of the County of Carleton Law Association.

“These programs at Algonquin College directly support access to justice by training professionals who assist lawyers, self-represented litigants [and] the courts’ tribunals,” Black said.

“We are deeply disappointed that this is being considered at a time when access to justice remains a critical provincial concern.”

Black, who has worked with legal professionals throughout her career, said paralegals often draft affidavits and other court materials at cheaper hourly rates than lawyers, thus reducing clients' litigation costs.

There's a high demand for trained law clerks and licensed paralegals in eastern Ontario, she said, adding that Algonquin has a reputation for developing “job-ready graduates.”

Colleges under financial pressure

In a memo to the college community, senior vice-president academic Julie Beauchamp said the proposed cuts are "not a reflection of the quality of the work being done in our departments, nor the professionalism, commitment, or contributions of our teams.”

“They are a necessary response to rapid and significant shifts in the post-secondary landscape, including enrolment volatility and changing labour market and student demand,” Beauchamp said.

Like many Ontario post-secondary institutions, Algonquin College has been facing a major budget shortfall.

The Ford government froze domestic tuition in 2019, leading many colleges and universities to increase international student tuition instead. But financial pressures began when the federal government imposed a cap on international students.

Even Black understands the college’s plight.

“All of the concern or blame or risk or burden of this story doesn't lie solely on the shoulders of Algonquin College. It also lies at the feet of our provincial government,” Black said.

With colleges unable to find other streams of revenue, programs predominantly enrolled with domestic students are now the most endangered, she said.

“That goal of seeking to reduce your costs cannot come at the expense of the rule of law,” Black said. “They are fundamental to the public interest.”