Osgoode leading Canadian legal education with launch of micro-courses

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Osgoode Hall Law School Launches Professional Skills Mini-Courses to Prepare Law Students for Their Future Careers

TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a first for legal education in Canada, York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School has launched a unique set 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.

It is designed to complement the core knowledge provided by the JD Core Curriculum, Mini-training courses in professional skills It provides students with a good start in mastering the practical aspects and inevitable challenges – from managing finances to building client relationships – that form part of any legal career.

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“As our JD students combine rigorous legal training with practical experience to prepare for their careers, it is also important that they learn how to deal with the realities of everyday law practice,” said Trevor Farrow, dean of Osgoode College. “By creating this innovative set of small courses focused on specific professional skills, we are enhancing Osgoode College’s longstanding leadership in cutting-edge legal education.”

Explore a variety of career-focused topics.

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

• Artificial Intelligence and Technology in Legal Practice: An in-depth look at how AI and other technological innovations are transforming the practice of law. Students will gain hands-on experience with applications ranging from digital management tools to software that enables AI-powered research, analysis, and decision-making.
• Dynamics of Legal Practice: Learn the skills and strategies required to become a successful legal practitioner in any environment, whether in 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 overcome mental health challenges in legal practice – and to intervene, when appropriate, with compassion and trust.
• Financial Education for Lawyers: Designed to help future lawyers gain a basic understanding of financial reporting and accounting, along with the ways in which this information can be used in legal practice.

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More mini courses coming soon!

Additional subjects under development include: Legal French, Native Languages, Client Relations and Communications. The common thread is to provide knowledge and skills that JD graduates can immediately apply as they embark on their careers.

“At Osgood, we don’t draw a line between law school and the so-called ‘real world,’” says Farrow. “Our J.D. program provides unparalleled opportunities to gain direct legal experience. Now, these unique micro-courses enable students to begin developing professional skills today that they will use throughout their careers.”

To learn more about our vocational skills mini-courses, visit: Osgood website.

About Osgoode Hall Law School

Osgoode’s three-year Juris Doctor (JD) program enrolls approximately 900 students, including its joint and combined programs. The school’s highly selective LLM and JD graduate programs are among the most respected in North America, and the best in the country. Osgoode’s professional development courses and certificates offer degree and non-degree programs for Canadian and international lawyers, non-legal professionals, businesses and organizations.

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Founded in 1889, Osgoode College is one of Canada’s largest and most respected law schools and a center for influential legal thought and research. The College’s students, faculty, and scholars share a common goal: to promote positive change in a world where rights are often contested and justice can be complex. Throughout Osgoode College’s long history, the practice of law has always been viewed as more than a means to an end. It is a journey that takes one from identifying important issues to creating meaningful impact.

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University of York York University is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Supported by a diverse community of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners, we offer a unique global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change, and prepare our students for success. York’s fully bilingual campus in Glendon is home to the Centre of Excellence for French and Bilingual Post-Secondary Education in Southern Ontario. York’s campuses in Costa Rica and India provide students with exceptional international educational opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

Media Contact:

Nicole Jankowski, York University Media Relations and External Communications, York University, 647-995-5013, jancoon@yorku.ca

Anita Herman, Director of External Relations, York University Osgoode Hall Law School, 416-736-5364, aherman@osgoode.yorku.ca

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