Osgoode Hall Law School launches professional skills micro-courses to prepare JD students for their future careers

TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2024 – In a first for legal education in Canada, Osgoode Hall Law School of 91ŃÇÉ« has launched a unique collection of one- and two-credit courses for students in the Juris Doctor (JD) program who want to gain more in-depth knowledge and skills in specific areas of legal practice.

Designed to complement the foundational knowledge provided by the core JD curriculum, professional skills micro-courses give students a head start on mastering the practical aspects and inevitable challenges — from managing finances to building relationships with clients — that are part of any legal career.

“As our JD students combine rigorous legal training with hands-on experience to prepare for their careers, it’s important that they also learn to navigate the day-to-day realities of practising law,” says Osgoode Dean Trevor Farrow. “In creating this innovative collection of micro-courses focused on specific professional skills, we’re reinforcing Osgoode’s long-time leadership in cutting-edge legal education.”

Exploring a diverse range of career-focused topics

Osgoode has announced its inaugural offering of professional skills micro-courses for the JD program’s 2024-25 academic year:

• AI and Technology in Legal Practice: An in-depth look at how artificial intelligence and other technological innovations are transforming the practice of law. Students will gain hands-on experience with applications from digital management tools to software enabling AI-assisted research, analysis, and decision-making support.
• Legal Practice Dynamics: Teaches the skills and strategies required to become a successful legal practitioner in any environment, whether at a firm, as part of a corporate team, or in the public sector.
• Mental Health, Wellness and the Legal Profession: Provides the analytical insights and practical tools needed to navigate mental health challenges in legal practice — and to intervene, when appropriate, in a spirit of empathy and trust.
• Financial Literacy for Lawyers: Designed to help future lawyers gain a basic understanding of financial reporting and accounts, along with the ways such information can be leveraged in legal practice.

More micro-courses coming soon

Additional subjects in development include: juridical French, Indigenous languages, and client relations and communications. The common thread is providing knowledge and skills that JD graduates can apply immediately as they embark on their careers.

"At Osgoode, we don’t draw a hard line between law school and the so-called 'real world,'" says Farrow. "Our JD program offers unrivaled opportunities to gain direct legal experience. And now these unique micro-courses enable students to start developing professional skills today that they'll use throughout their careers."

To learn more about professional skills micro-courses, visit .

About Osgoode Hall Law School

Around 900 students are enrolled in Osgoode's three-year Juris Doctor (JD) program, including its joint and combined programs. The school's highly selective graduate LLM and PhD programs are among the most highly regarded in North America, and finest in the country. Osgoode's professional development courses and certificates offer degree and non-degree programming for Canadian and international lawyers, non-law professionals, firms and organizations.

Founded in 1889, Osgoode is one of Canada's largest and most respected law schools and a centre of influential legal research and thinking. The school's students, teachers and scholars share a common goal: to advance positive change in a world where rights are often contested, and justice can be complex. Throughout Osgoode's long history, the practice of law has always been seen as more than a means to an end. It's a journey that takes one from identifying the issues that matter to creating meaningful impact.

About 91ŃÇÉ«

91ŃÇÉ« is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change, and prepare our students for success. 91ŃÇÉ«'s fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91ŃÇɫ’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

Media Contact:

Nichole Jankowski, 91ŃÇÉ« Media Relations and External Communications, 91ŃÇÉ«, 647-995-5013, jankown@yorku.ca

Anita Herrmann, Director, External Relations, Osgoode Hall Law School of 91ŃÇÉ«, 416-736-5364, aherrmann@osgoode.yorku.ca

The post Osgoode leading Canadian legal education with launch of innovative new micro-courses appeared first on News@91ŃÇÉ«.

91ŃÇɫ’s Osgoode Hall Law School receives transformative contribution to its No Barriers campaign from alumni working at leading Canadian law firm Davies

TORONTO, March 1, 2023 – 91ŃÇɫ’s Osgoode Hall Law School and Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, one of Canada’s leading law firms, jointly announced today a $1.2-million Davies Fellows Award that is designed to break down barriers to legal education.

The new bursary is created with donations from Osgoode alumni at Davies with matching funds from the law school.

Every year, the bursary will help support one first-year student in the law school’s juris doctor (JD) program, who has demonstrated financial need and exceptional promise.

The successful candidate’s personal and professional achievements will include overcoming obstacles related to financial means, racial, cultural, gender inequalities, mental health, and/or physical or learning challenges. The recipient will be known as a Davies Fellow.

The award is renewable for the student’s second and third years in the JD program, provided the student remains in good academic standing and continues to demonstrate financial need and exceptional promise.

“We count among our lawyers at Davies, individuals who have overcome obstacles to achieve excellence in the profession, and we recognize that we have an opportunity to expand access to a legal education to students from equity-deserving groups,” says Osgoode alumna and Davies senior partner Patricia Olasker.

She adds that the initiative reflects the firm’s commitment to creating a more inclusive legal profession by removing barriers that stand in the way of students of exceptional promise. “Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is a core value of our firm, and the creation of the Davies Fellows Award is an impactful way for us to turn our values into action.”

“I am so grateful for the amazing support our alumni working at Davies have given to this initiative, which will see generous alumni donations matched by Osgoode to help reduce systemic barriers to law school for students from equity-deserving groups who will, in turn, change the face of the legal profession,” says Mary Condon, dean of Osgoode. “The creation of the award is a transformative contribution to the law school’s No Barriers campaign, which aims to make Osgoode one of the most diverse and inclusive law schools in Canada.”

As the first Canadian law school to adopt a holistic admissions policy 15 years ago, Osgoode has been a leader in making legal education more open, inclusive and diverse, the dean adds.

Images from the cheque-presentation event available for download:

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About Osgoode Hall Law School

of 91ŃÇÉ«, founded in Toronto in 1889, is among the oldest, largest and most diverse law schools in Canada, with an accomplished alumni community of more than 18,000 worldwide.  

About 91ŃÇÉ«

91ŃÇÉ« is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, 91ŃÇÉ« brings a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare its students for success.

About Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP

is a leading Canadian business law firm focused on high-stakes matters. The firm is pre-eminent across each of its practice areas, including mergers and acquisitions, securities, tax, litigation, and competition law. Davies has made equity, diversity and inclusion a fundamental component of its corporate culture and is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion initiatives both within and beyond its doors.    

Media Contacts:

John Schofield, Communications and Media Relations Specialist, Osgoode Hall Law School, 416-736-5820, jschofield@osgoode.yorku.ca.

Gloria Suhasini, 91ŃÇÉ« Media Relations, 647-464-4354, suhasini@yorku.ca

The post Osgoode alumni give back by establishing $1.2-million Davies Fellows Award to create positive change in the legal profession appeared first on News@91ŃÇÉ«.