The Northwest Territories Law Foundation was established pursuant to Part VII of the Legal Profession Act for the purpose of receiving the interest which banks must pay on client's funds held by lawyers in mixed trust accounts. It is similar in form to Law Foundations established in most provinces.
Objectives
The objects of the Law Foundation are to use the funds collected in this manner to provide funding in the following areas:
- Conducting research into and recommending reform of law and the administration of justice;
- establishing, maintaining and operating law libraries;
- contributing to the legal education and knowledge of members and the people of the Territories and providing programs and facilities for that purpose;
- providing assistance to legal aid programs and programs of a similar nature;
- contributing to the Assurance Fund; and
- doing all other things that are, in the opinion of the board, incidental or conducive to the attainment of these objects.
Grant Information and Application Forms
The NWT Law Foundation has funds available to assist groups who have projects that fall within the objectives listed above.
Groups are encouraged to apply for funding using the attached application form. The deadline date is March 31st of each year. Grants are usually considerd once per year but if you have a project that does not fall within these guidelines you are still encouraged to apply throughout the year.
Applications may be submitted by e-mail or by delivering the information to the Executive Manager.
Please contact the Executive Manager to discuss your project prior to submitting an application.
Wendy Carter, Executive Manager
NWT Law Foundation
P.O. Box 2594
5212 – 55th Street
Yellowknife, NT X1A 2P9
Tel: (867) 873-8275
Fax: (867) 873-6383
action@theedge.ca
Administration
The Foundation is administered by a Board of Directors consisting of five members; four being members of the Law Society and appointed by the Executive of the Law Society and one who is not a member of the Law Society and who is appointed by the Commissioner. The Directors serve for a term of two years.
The Directors meet as required to decide on policy matters and to deal with the general administration of the Foundation including policy as to the collection and investment of funds. A "grant meeting" is held once per year to consider all requests for funding for that fiscal year.
Administration and management services are provided through an Executive Manager who is engaged on a contract basis.
John U. Bayly, Q.C. Memorial Fund
A fund in the memory of the late John U. Bayly, Q.C., a prominent member of the NWT Bar for 30 years, has been established in conjunction with the NWT Law Foundation. The fund is to encourage and facilitate the development of mediation skills. An award of $1,000 will be given out annually to an applicant chosen by the Bayly family and the Board of Directions of the NWT Law Foundation. The recipient must meet the following criteria:
- Be a resident member in good standing of the NWT Bar;
- Be desirous of improving their skills in the area of mediation and have demonstrated an interest in matters relating to the advancement of mediation;
- Commit to use the funds to complete training in mediation skills within one (1) year of being awarded;
Applicants are invited to submit an application which should include details of the applicant's interest in mediation and why they should be chosen, along with details of the course they which to attend. The application, together with a resume, can be submitted to the NWT Law Foundation.
The application deadline is December 31st of the current year. Funds will be disbursed upon completion of the mediation course.
Scholarships for Law Students From the Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories Law Foundation/Graeme Garson Bursary Fund has funds available to assist law students in pursuing legal studies at either the graduate or undergraduate levels. The application deadline is April 15th.
For information about the Northwest Territories Law Foundation and to request financial assistance forms, write or telephone the Foundation at the address listed above.