The University of Toronto Faculty of Law (UofT Law) believes that legal education should be accessible to talented students from all segments of Canadian society.
Black Future Lawyers (BFL) is a groundbreaking collaboration between UofT Law, our Black Law Students Association, members of our Black alumni community, and the broader legal profession. BFL offers supports and engagement opportunities to Black undergraduate students who aspire to go to law school and become lawyers. BFL’s goal is to increase the number of Black students who attend law school and join the legal profession.
BFL’s programming for Black undergraduate students includes:
- Mentoring and job shadowing with Black lawyers, judges and articling students
- Invitations to attend special workshops, lectures and other events at UofT Law
- Admissions and financial aid info sessions for Black students
- Our annual Black Future Lawyers conference
- Access to our free LSAT prep course, where eligible
- A special application process to UofT Law for Black candidates
To sign up to participate as a BFL undergraduate student, or volunteer as a mentor or job shadowing host, please see below.
1,314
Black Undergraduate Students
Engaged Since Launch
12
BFL Chapters
Across 3 Provinces
150
Lawyers Matched
with Mentees
(All statistics and information as of April 30, 2025)
Partnership
Black Future Lawyers thanks our generous donors who have invested in the long-term stability of our program. Our Partners ensure that BFL will grow and expand in strategic and thoughtful ways. A 2021 partnership of 14 leading Canadian law firms — Blakes, BLG, Cassels, Davies, Dentons, Fasken, Goodmans, Gowling WLG, McCarthy Tétrault, McMillan, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada, Osler, Stikeman Elliott and Torys — through their combined $1.75 million commitment, will provide operational funding to BFL over 10 years. BFL also thanks Scotiabank, UofT Division of the Vice-President & Provost, UofT Faculty of Law and La Fondation Emmanuelle Gattuso.
- To donate to BFL please visit https://donate.utoronto.ca/give/show/617
Sign up for activities that will connect you to UofT Law and the legal profession.
Volunteering with
Black Future Lawyers
If you are a lawyer, judge or articling student who identifies as Black, please sign up to volunteer.
NEWS & EVENTS
What’s Happening
SPOTLIGHT: Our BFL Western Chapter is growing strong!
February 15th 2022
This BFL community is solidifying and creating opportunities
SPOTLIGHT: BFL UTSG, a new chapter for 2021-2022
november 1st 2021
Introducing BFL UTSG, a new chapter at the U of T
“Without my mentors, I would have struggled to navigate the complexities and unwritten rules of academic and law firm settings. I am grateful for the opportunity to offer this support to the next generation of legal professionals.”
Waleska Vernon, LLB (Osgoode) 2002, MEd (Western) 2013
Director, Professional Recruitment & Development, Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP
“Mentorship in various forms, either from University of Toronto professors and alumni or members of the profession in general, has contributed immensely to my transition from a foreign-trained lawyer to the Founder and Managing Lawyer of a firm in private practice.”
Dominic Alfred, GPLLM (UofT) 2019
Founder and Intellectual Property & Technology lawyer, Alfred Law
“Law school amazed me with its opportunities and people, who were absolutely first-rate, warm, supportive and driven to success. I had the pleasure of learning something new and exciting from a peer every day.”
Solomon McKenzie, JD (UofT) 2019
“I believe that quality mentoring greatly enhances students’ chances for success. A mentor can help to shorten the learning curve and open your mind to new ideas and opportunities for personal growth and development.”
Kandia Aird, LLB (UofT) 2003
Crown Counsel, LEAD Division, Dept. of Justice
“I am a strong advocate of quality mentoring because it has been crucial to my development and success. Students and young lawyers cannot achieve excellence unless they are provided with support, guidance and meaningful opportunities for learning and practice development.”
Paul Davis, LLB (UofT) 1986
Partner; National Chair, Capital Markets & M&A; Member of Board of Partners, McMillan LLP
Questions or Comments?
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