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Lakehead University took another step toward making its dream of a Northern Ontario law school a reality with the approval its law degree curriculum by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada on Monday night.

A committee with the Approval of New Canadian Law Degree Programs recommended the Federation of the Law Societies of Canada approve Lakehead’s proposed program on Jan 31. Council members had until Feb. 27 to vote on the recommendation, but approved the curriculum Monday night.

Lakehead University President Brian Stevenson said he was pleased with the decision by the federation and the addition of a law degree program would benefit Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario. Following the approval, LU needs to complete an internal process before it prepares an application for the Ontario’s Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, he said.

LU requires the approval of Ontario’s Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities before its law degree program can be implemented. It was the first approval of a new law degree program in Ontario in 42 years.

"The critical issues for us is that we need to have better access to justice in the north," Stevenson said. "It’s for Thunder Bay, it’s for Northwestern Ontario. The support for the law school will be a support for the economic development of Northwestern Ontario because we’re going to be needing to expand and develop out legal base. We have a lot of support from the community for this."

Upon approval, Stevenson said he expected it would take three to four years to prepare the program and would cost about $1 million from the province per year in addition to tuition fees and other funds. He added the school could be open as early as September 2013 if approved by the ministry.

Ontario’s Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities John Milloy visited Thunder Bay for a news conference at Confederation College Tuesday. He said he planned to meet with Stevenson sometime Monday.

"I’m very aware of Lakehead University’s interest in the law school," Milloy said.

"We’re right now in the process of looking at a multi-year, post-secondary plan. We’re looking at the university and college system and how we want to move it forward. We have looked at the need for all professional schools including law schools."

The ministry has to determine if a law school in the region is necessary and that means more discussions with the university, he said.