University of Manitoba students explore rural law careers during Steinbach visit

Eleven of the 12 University of Manitoba law students who visited a Steinbach law firm Friday are committed to working in rural Manitoba, program organizer Dr. Laura Reimer said.

The students attended the second Rural and Regional Law Day at Smith Neufeld Jodoin LLP, part of the faculty of law’s Justice Grows Here program.

Reimer, executive director of program development and strategic initiatives at the faculty, said she started the program after meeting Dr. Dan Wilson of the University of Calgary’s faculty of law three years ago and discussed their concern that young lawyers want to stay in cities, while people outside the big urban centres lack adequate legal services.

“What we really wanted was students to have an opportunity to drive across our beautiful prairie and see it in the fall, when the fields are harvested and the weather’s beautiful,” Reimer said.

Smith Neufeld Jodoin lawyers and faculty members spoke to the students about the economic realities and legal needs of rural Manitoba and the advantages of working outside Winnipeg.

Reimer said Wendy Whitecloud, a retired law professor and the first Indigenous woman hired by the University of Manitoba, took part for the first time. Reimer said she asked Whitecloud to bring an Indigenous perspective.

Jill Giesbrecht of Meighan Haddad in Brandon and Arthur Mauro of Austring, Fairman and Fekete in Whitehorse, Yukon, joined remotely and shared stories of legal service in their communities.

Reimer said the first Law Day, held in Steinbach on Feb. 27, drew strong results.

“The feedback was tremendous,” she said. “Everybody that went found either jobs or articling jobs in rural firms, which is what they were looking for.”

“The feedback this year was equally outstanding,” she said.

Reimer said misconceptions keep young lawyers in cities.

“There is a misconception that rural lawyers don’t make enough money. They make tons of money. There’s also a misconception that the work is boring. There’s tons of work,” she said.

She said first-year lawyers in rural areas are exposed to all areas of law quickly, while city lawyers may work in one narrow area.

Reimer said the faculty will probably hold another Law Day in March and again in the fall.

The faculty is working with the University of Calgary and the University of Saskatchewan’s school of law through the Prairie Business Law Collaboration.

Reimer said a prairie business law summit for rural and regional lawyers is planned for Moose Jaw in October 2027.