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 Hi, my name is Irene Lai and I am a third-year JD/MBA student at Osgoode Hall Law School and Schulich School of Business. This year, I am a Caseworker for the Osgoode Venture Capital Clinical Project (OVC), which provides legal services to early-stage entrepreneurial ventures in the financing and equity structuring stages of growth. What do Caseworkers in the Osgoode Venture Capital Clinical Project (OVC) do? Students in the OVC work as Caseworkers directly with lawyers from Wildeboer Dellelce LLP in providing legal assistance to OVC clients from September until the end of March. Depending on the clients’ needs, some of the legal tasks may include:
Additionally, there is a class-based component which involves readings and reflections on law, policy, and ethical issues for technology start-ups, ventures, and social enterprises. Students also engage in several best practices training sessions conducted by Wildeboer Dellelce lawyers. Why Should You Join the OVC? The OVC is a great opportunity to support entrepreneurial ventures that need assistance working through the legal issues and growing pains of taking their business to the next level. Being an OVC Caseworker allows students to gain hands-on experience in client communication, client consultations, drafting legal agreements, corporate finance, employment matters, technology, and operational matters. Through this clinic, students develop an understanding of the venture capital, equity structuring, early-stage investment and entrepreneurial landscape, as well as the perspectives of stakeholders (i.e., entrepreneurs, investors, advisors etc.) who play an integral role in the formation and capital raising activities of start-up entities. As an experiential education program, the OVC is a 4-credit course which counts for OPIR hours and satisfies the Praxicum requirement. Application Tips When crafting your statement of interest, you may want to think about:
Note that there are pre-requisites/co-requisites: Business Associations; Securities Regulation. At least one pre-requisite/co-requisite course must be taken during the fall semester, with the other during the winter term. Contact Information If you have any questions about the OVC or law school in general, please feel free to reach out at [email protected]. In the fall, I had the opportunity to speak on Professor Haigh's podcast "What's Law Got to Do With It?" featuring my mentor, Felicity Radan. I shared my experience of knowing from the outset that I wanted to be a business lawyer, with a heightened interest in tax law. This interest sparked in undergrad through my fourth year Income Taxation course. However, in law school there are a lot of individuals who have no idea what they want to practice upon graduation, and that's totally fine. No one expects you to have it all figured out! I, myself, would like to explore the field of business law in more depth in my upper years. My biggest piece of advice for incoming students trying to navigate law school is to be open to new experiences. There may be a course or experiential learning experience that reshapes what you want to do with the rest of your life, and that's okay. A year ago, I was not in the JD/MBA program. It was not originally in my ten year plan. However, being a student in this program has really helped me grow intellectually through taking courses I was not able to during undergrad. It's been an enriching experience, and I can't wait to see what's in store next in my law school journey. By: Karen Randhawa My name is Monique Cheema, and I am a third-year student at Osgoode Hall Law School. This year, I had the opportunity to work as a legal intern at the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic through the Feminist Advocacy: Ending Violence Against Women Clinical Program. Students that are a part of this clinic have the amazing opportunity to assist womxn and womxn-identifying individuals with a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive approach to varying legal issues around gender-based violence like immigration, criminal, and family law matters. What kind of experiences are available to students at the clinic? The clinic is typically divided with different assignments each semester. In my first semester, I assisted with legal intake with clients which involved completing intake forms, providing referrals with lawyers at the clinic, and follow-up research for community referrals. This was an incredibly eye-opening experience with many of our clients in precarious circumstances exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This semester, I am working with a lawyer at the clinic and assisting with case files including client interviews, assisting with application and potentially assisting with broader legal advocacy pieces facilitated within the clinic. In addition to the clinic hours, we have an amazing co-curricular seminar led by Professor Janet Mosher, Deepa Mattoo (the Executive Director of the clinic) and other guest lecturers who facilitate theoretical and reflexive considerations of feminist advocacy like access to justice, client-centered lawyering and ethics. Why Should You Join the Feminist Advocacy Clinic? By far this was the best opportunity I have had the privilege of experiencing during law school. You will develop your substantive legal skills, including client management, research and drafting within the framework of doing significant work for and with survivors of gender-based violence. Beyond the practical benefits of this clinic, you will develop a more critical framework towards the practice of lawyering which will make you a better advocate for your future clients. Finally, you have the opportunity to work with amazing people at the clinic who will inspire and motivate you with their passion for this work. This clinic is an essential for individuals seeking a meaningful and enriching experiential learning opportunity. Application Tips I think the most important aspect of the application process is to demonstrate a genuine interest in the work of the clinic and the broader notion of feminist advocacy. For instance, be sure to highlight any past experiences working with vulnerable populations or within the sphere of advocacy. Finally, discuss any transferable skills or extracurriculars that may be relevant to this position. Contact Information If you have any questions about the Feminist Advocacy clinic or law school in general, please feel free to reach out at [email protected]. Hi there, my name is Raman Gill and I am a third-year student at Osgoode Hall Law School. During 2L, I had the opportunity to be a caseworker with the Innocence Project at Osgoode. Students that enroll in the Innocence Project have the ability to create meaningful change within the criminal justice system and assist in advocating for those who have been wrongfully convicted. What do students at Innocence Project do? Students enrolled in the Innocence Project engage in a wide variety of tasks and different types of files. The file work varies year to year, and students have the opportunity to work both individually and in teams depending on the nature of the work. Some examples of the work includes file review, which consists of examining key pieces of evidence and assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the file. Students also have the ability to assist in drafting and researching key components of their file. Other aspects of file work can include constitutional challenges, advocacy projects and special legal reform work. Students also assist with project administration and dealing with the day-to-day operation of the Innocence Project. This includes client correspondence and intake from potential clients, amongst many other tasks. Why Should You Join the Innocence Project? I highly encourage all Osgoode students to apply to the Innocence Project! Not only will you be able to gain valuable skills and experiences, but you’ll be able to engage in important legal work. The work that students do with the Innocence Project makes a direct impact in the lives of Canadians and the legal system. Students have the chance to develop an understanding of the causes of wrongful convictions, and learn about criminal procedure and systemic factors within the criminal justice system that may contribute to a miscarriage of justice. The Innocence Project is an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience within the realm of criminal law. You also get the chance to further enhance your legal writing, researching and critical-thinking abilities, all essential skills that are foundational to your future career. Application Tips I believe the most important aspect to demonstrate in your application is your genuine interest in either criminal law or the work that the Innocence Project does. Show your passion and your desire to learn. Make sure to include any work experiences you may have in the field of criminal law and any personal interests that will make you stand out. The Innocence Project engages with a great deal of difficult and complex cases. It would be great to include anything that relates to this type of work. This can include your background in community involvement and extracurriculars to demonstrate any potential transferable skills. Contact Information If you have any questions about the Innocence Project or law school in general, please feel free to reach out at [email protected]. Starting a new job in a field in which you had little practical experience is difficult. Add a pandemic to it and it’s absolute chaos. Luckily for me, CLASP’s management had a solid plan in place to ensure that we have a smooth transition into our roles as Division Leaders. In May 2020, two months into the pandemic, I stepped into my role as an Administrative Law Division Leader at CLASP. My role involves managing 8-12 active client files, conducting application intakes and community work. A Division Leader is responsible for all file work related to their clients such as applications, submissions and communications with boards/tribunals. All work is performed under the supervision and with the approval of Review Counsel. In my role, I get the opportunity to apply my legal education. I believe many law students/lawyers can relate when I say that law school does an excellent job of developing legal minds but there is work to be done when it comes to churning out students ready for legal practice. Clinical education is an amazing way of gaining hands-on legal experience before leaving the safe bubble of law school. With the guidance of my Review Counsel, I was able to work on files at various stages, develop my legal skills and consolidate my interest in litigation. Changing the service model Due to the pandemic, CLASP, like other workplaces, had to completely transform its service model. Given the nature and preferences of clients at CLASP, CLASP has almost exclusively operated through an in-person service model. Quick items are discussed over the phone but the heavy lifting is done in person. During my first few weeks, I came to the realization that some of the resources that I take for granted are not available for all. I assumed that everyone has access to a printer/scanner but this is definitely not the norm. Getting documents reviewed and signed by clients was difficult, particularly considering that public libraries were closed. Additionally, many of our clients are not comfortable with technology. A large share of my clients were middle aged or seniors who did not grow up with technology. As such, directing clients on how to access their emails or print documents became an essential part of the job. Aside from the lack of resources and technical difficulties, there was one major problem - poverty law is deeply incompatible with an online service model. At CLASP, we strive to not only resolve our clients’ legal problems but also help them find resources to make them more resilient to future legal problems. Poor people’s problems are not one-off issues. Each problem is situated within a myriad of other inter-connected legal problems. For example, someone who may be seeking compensation as a victim of crime at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board may need social assistance. Problem identification and resolution become more difficult over the phone as it is harder to build rapport. During these difficult times, clients’ existing issues are exacerbated. The poorest Canadians were the hardest hit by the pandemic. The systemic barriers that are faced by our clients only became increasingly more oppressive. We endeavoured to overcome this problem with more frequent phone calls and referral training for Division Leaders. It is amazing how much you can pick up from phone calls if you’ve trained yourself to look out for verbal cues and signs. Not being able to see someone’s facial reactions when you’re conversing with them Docket, docket, DOCKET! One of the habits that I picked up on quickly is docketing. With 18+ Division Leaders, 3 Review Counsels, handful of student volunteers and a million moving pieces, docketing is essential. I have developed an almost religious attachment to docketing. My personal mantra would be live, laugh, docket. Dramatics aside (and there’s always a lot with me), docketing was incredibly useful over these months. Without the convenience of popping into Review Counsel’s office to run developments or informative water cooler conversation, docketing became one of the significant ways that we communicated with each other. Plus, docketing is amazing when it comes to calling people’s bluffs. At times, some clients or external stakeholders allege that they were never contacted when we follow up. The docket however is surefire proof - the rush that I get when I pull up my beautifully detailed docket to prove my assertions is like no other. Application Tips In your cover letter, you are asked to address the following items:
TL;DR If you have the opportunity to participate in a clinic, do it! You may worry about the constraints on future course selection but it is definitely a worthwhile experience. Feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected] or message on our LinkedIn/Instagram pages if you would like more information about CLASP. Disclaimer The views expressed in the following post represent my personal views and do not necessarily represent the views of the Osgoode Investor Protection Clinic or staff. This information is provided for educational purposes only, and it has in no way been solicited by the Osgoode Investor Protection Clinic. Introduction Hi, my name is Amrit Toor, and I’m a 2L at Osgoode Hall Law School. Since August of this year, I have been volunteering as a caseworker at the Osgoode Investor Protection Clinic (IPC). The IPC is the first pro-bono clinic in Canada to assist individuals across the country who have been harmed by negligent or fraudulent investment advice. What Do We Do?
Students at the IPC work with supervising lawyers to assist harmed investors, who have suffered an investment loss but are unable to afford a lawyer. Here are some examples of the kinds of work engaged in by student caseworkers:
Besides assisting individual investors, the IPC also engages in a number of community outreach initiatives. As the first pro-bono clinic of its kind, the IPC is in a unique position to collect anonymized research data about some of the most serious issues affecting retail investors. By using this information, the IPC has successfully been able to educate investors about common risks, such as the impact of COVID-19 on retail investing, and inform public policy debates. Why Should You Join the IPC? The IPC is one of the best ways for students to obtain hands-on experience in the areas of corporate and securities law. Through collaboration with supervising lawyers and the rest of the clinic, students are able to obtain both the exposure and support needed to assist harmed investors. Moreover, the clinic provides students with the opportunity to support marginalized groups in a unique way. Previous clients have included new immigrants, elderly persons, and those with limited to no investment knowledge. Therefore, caseworkers have the opportunity to provide comprehensive assistance to individuals who are particularly vulnerable to harmful or negligent investment advice. Application Tips Applications for the IPC are due on January 22nd at 4:00 PM, and I would highly encourage all Osgoode students to apply. While there are a variety of approaches you can take, here are some things you may want to think about before you apply.
Ultimately, you should focus on choosing a clinic where you have a genuine interest in the work that they do and the areas of law that they focus on. I wish all of you the best of luck in your applications and feel free to reach out if you have any questions or wish to speak further! Contact Information If you have any questions about the IPC or law school more generally, feel free to send me an email at [email protected]. A question that comes up from time to time is how well does law school prepare students for a legal career? Where most courses have a 100% final exam structure, to others that are focused on writing 7000 word papers, one may tend to get lost about what legal practice is like.
This series entails information with regards to clinics, intensives, and other experiential education opportunities that go beyond the textbook. |
Legally BrownThree Osgoode Hall Law students sharing their lived experiences and providing *unsolicited* advice. Archives
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