As someone who has spent almost a fourth of their academic experience (5 years of 20 years of schooling) at Schulich, I have had the opportunity to take courses in different realms (believe me, in business school, taking a course outside of your specialization is akin to entering an unknown universe).
I have just finished up my 1st full year of the MBA program, where 9 of my 10 courses were electives. To some this may seem like a breeze - spoiler alert it was not. Elective courses at the graduate level will require you to put in the effort (and lots of it). Top 5 Electives You Should Take as a JD/MBA My career aspirations have always been geared towards a career in corporate work, so take these recommendations with a grain of salt. I am also an individual who enjoys quantitative courses (feel free to message me about very technical Finance and Accounting courses if that’s something you’re interested in). For Finance specific courses, I would highly recommend Financial Management (FINE 6100) and Investments (FINE 6200) - but that’s a post for another time. These recommendations are more aligned with an overlap and utility as a career in corporate law based on the things we learned. Personal Finance (FINE 6050) This course is highly recommended for any student. Personal Finance literacy is absolutely crucial, we covered topics from credit cards to mortgages, from tax planning to wills. With respect to why I think it’s good for lawyers, Professor Jamie Golombek does a phenomenal job with bringing guest speakers to share their experience in the industry. Two topics that I found particularly relevant for future lawyers, whether you’d like to practice tax or family law, was the Wills & Estate lecture and tax planning. During these two lectures, I felt as if I was back at Osgoode - the lectures made many references to cases to drill in the importance of having a will and the tax implications of these decisions. Law school courses that would likely complement this course: Estates, Family Law, Taxation and Trusts Mergers and Acquisitions (SGMT 6050) Getting into this course was a challenge, the waitlist filled up within hours of the course being announced because it was being taught by Professor Graeme Deans. A seasoned expert in the consulting industry, being able to learn from him is a gift for a lack of better words. The course was structured based on the phases of an M&A deal (Structuring the Deal, Negotiating and Valuation, Day One, and Integration). For aspiring corporate lawyers, it is important to understand current deals and the role of all professionals and stakeholders involved in the process. In every class, course material was contextualized through case studies, providing us the opportunity to apply and critically analyze. Class engagement and discussion were also promoted through break out sessions which helped students bounce ideas off of each other. Provided that M&A is a large corporate group on Bay Street, this course is greatly recommended for anyone interested in this practice area as they will be equipped with knowledge about the work that goes into these deals and important considerations of thinking as a business professional to augment your legal skills in the future. Law school courses that would likely complement this course: Bankruptcy & Insolvency, Business Associations, Commercial Law, Contracts II, Intellectual Property Law, Labour and Employment Law, Legal Drafting, Securities Law, Taxation Law Venture Capital and Private Equity (ENTR 6910) Admittedly, I was hesitant to take a course in the Entrepreneurship department due to my lack of experience in the field and how daunting the course name seemed. However, looking back I am grateful that I took this course as it truly has opened a new door of possibilities with respect to the field of Venture Capital and Private Equity. My Instructor, Stuart Browne, and Course Administrator Amelia Dookhee are actively involved in the Venture Capital world in Canada through Pycap Venture Partners. This course emphasized the role of lawyers in practice through Term Sheets and provided me with a solid foundation of Venture Capital & Private Equity funds - from their structure, strategy and trends in the industry. Learning about different exit strategies, new methods of equity crowdfunding and beta testing a product ensured the relevance and updated nature of the industry. A class that was my particular favorite was hearing Dragon Vincenzo Guzzo share his experience as an Angel investor. Law school courses that would likely complement this course: Business Associations, Contracts II, Legal Drafting, Securities Law, and Taxation Law Power and Politics in Organizations (ORGS 6400) The title is what attracted me to take this course, I wanted to know more about how organizations function. My professor was the Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Ena Chadha. Learning from a lawyer in business school has its own perks as they are aptly placed to analyze issues from business and legal lenses simultaneously. This course was very attuned to social issues and how to address them as a future business leader. From role playing exercises to class discussions, it was always interesting to hear everyone’s experience in various organizations. The readings were very relevant and with the times. This course taught conflict resolution strategies, equity sensitivity and developing oneself as a leader in today’s diverse work environments. I would highly encourage any student to take this course to challenge the status quo and learn more about your political skills to augment your career trajectory. Law school courses that would likely complement this course: Civil Liberties, Indigenous Peoples and Canadian Law, Indigenous Perspectives and Realities, Individual Employment Relationship, International Human Rights Law, Labour Arbitration, Labour & Employment Law, Legal Ethics, Meditation Clinic, and Transnational Corporations & Human Rights Negotiations (ORGS 6560) Prior to taking this course, from what I could recall from the Moot I took part in last year, I thought negotiations were adversarial. Negotiations was a challenging course because it necessitates self reflection in order to change our natural inclination to turn adversarial and instead adopt a new way of approaching problems. Dr. Cheryl Rivers was always happy to share her experience, assisting students if they had any questions on dealing with specific behaviours that stopped them from negotiating the optimal solution. The applications of this course have already paid dividends with respect to Negotiating competitions early this year, which without this course I would not have frankly considered participating in. Law school courses that would likely complement this course: Lawyer as a Negotiator, and Trial Advocacy Differences between Law School and Business School Law school is generally more exam focused, with higher stake exams (anywhere from 50% to 100% weighted finals). Not many group or partner projects during my 1L year (I think I may have had two partner projects), although this was before Zoom Law School and accordingly, this may have changed in upper years. In business school, course work and mark allocation can differ greatly, whether it be specialization specific or dependent on the professor teaching the course. There is a lot more emphasis on group work, so be ready to have Zoom meetings before and after class to delegate tasks, perform check-ins and collaborate for the final product. Most of my courses had a participation component to the grade distribution. This meant more than turning on your camera, it meant using the raise hands function to share your thoughts, demonstrate knowledge and speak about the topics at hand. I liked this component, not because I participate avidly in terms of speaking, but I learned how to actively listen to my classmates. Being on the less experienced side of the class, I liked hearing about how my peers have seen these theories in practice, what worked, what didn’t and where they felt further research should be allocated to improve the function of organizations. It was also a way of expanding my network, meeting people virtually through these open format discussions and various breakout rooms. I found that my colleagues in the MBA came from very diverse backgrounds, from geographic regions to career trajectories and identity - which truly made it seem like we were in a global classroom in a way. If you’re enrolled in the MBA program and you would like to ask questions about course selection, feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected] or send me a message on LinkedIn. I’m happy to help! By: Karen Randhawa Coming into law school, I had big dreams to pursue a career in international law. A year into my law school journey, I quickly realized that I had no idea what international law really means or what a career in that field would look like. So, when I saw that I could take a semester off school to gain practical experience in this area of law, I was more than excited. Osgoode’s International Transnational Law Intensive Program (or ITLIP) places students with a variety of partner organizations, anywhere from the UN in Geneva to Canadian law firms specializing in international law matters. The beauty of the program is that everyone in your cohort will be working with different organizations, and everyone has a chance to share their experience during the weekly seminars. What does a semester of ITLIP look like? Everyone’s placement will differ greatly, depending on where your interests lie. Months before the winter semester, you will be asked to rank a list of partners and potential placements by preference. The process can be a little daunting at first because the organizations that partner with Osgoode offer such amazing experiences and in diverse areas of areas of international law. For myself, I was fortunate to have taken courses in Trade Regulation and International Investment Law and knew that I wanted practical experience in those respective areas. This past semester I was placed at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), where most of my work revolved around their trade and investment project. Throughout the term, I was able to write articles for their website on a range of topics, from international regulation of intellectual property to COVID-19’s impact on international investment. I was able to assist on some very exciting publications and research projects, such the CCPA’s NAFTA Chapter 11 Review. Although I was working remotely, I truly felt like I was part of a team. Why apply to ITLIP? If you’re interested in anything related to international law, I highly encourage you to apply to ITLIP. As Veena mentioned in her post, there is only so much you can learn in the classroom. Practical, hands-on, and concrete experiences are the best way to prepare for legal practice. Through my placement, I have been able to further my skills in written advocacy, which is necessary for any career in law. I was surprised with how trusting my supervisors were and how much autonomy I had over my work, which allowed me to learn how to manage my time and keep myself accountable. I was able to content pitch ideas and work on issues that sparked my interest. The experience was incredibly rewarding, and I am grateful for the connections I was able to foster at the Centre. Depending on your placement, ITLIP offers great opportunities to hone in on some of the essential qualities that all lawyers need for a successful career. As an added bonus, everyone in your class will share a little bit about their experience, so you learn from one another and get a sense of what international law means across different organizations. Application Tips Your application should, first and foremost, highlight why you are interested in international law. This can be difficult because who really knows what international law is in their first few years of law school, but as long as you show genuine interest in learning more about it, you will have a solid foundation for your application. Before your interview with the program director, make sure you know your resume as they will likely ask you about your past experiences and how the skills you’ve developed therefrom could contribute to your future placement. You may also be required to interview with your placement before you start, but again, there you should just prepare as you would with any other interview—that is, understand what the organization does and thoroughly review your resume prior. As always, if you want to know more about ITLIP, feel free to send me an email at [email protected] or message on our LinkedIn/Instagram pages. Lucinda Chitapain |
Legally BrownThree Osgoode Hall Law students sharing their lived experiences and providing *unsolicited* advice. Archives
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