Osgoode Hall Law School facts for kids
Coat of arms of the school
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| Motto |
Per Jus Ad Justitiam
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Motto in English
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Through law to justice | ||
| Type | Faculty (law school) | ||
| Established | 1889 | ||
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Parent institution
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York University (1965–present) |
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| Dean | Trevor C.W. Farrow | ||
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Academic staff
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182 | ||
| Students | 905 | ||
| Location |
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Canada
43°46′15″N 79°30′16″W / 43.7707°N 79.5044°W |
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| Colours |
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Osgoode Hall Law School, often called Osgoode, is a special school at York University in Toronto, Canada. It's where students go to learn about law and become lawyers.
This school is home to important groups like the Law Commission of Ontario. It also publishes legal journals, which are like magazines for law topics. You can study for advanced law degrees here, like a Master's or a Ph.D.
Many famous people have studied at Osgoode. These include three Canadian prime ministers and many top judges. Some have even been Chief Justices, the highest judge in Canada. The current leader of the school is Dean Trevor C.W. Farrow.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Osgoode Hall was named after William Osgoode. He was a smart lawyer from Oxford University. He also became the first chief justice of a place called Upper Canada.
The school's story goes back to the 1820s. One of its first students was Sir John A. Macdonald, who became Canada's first prime minister. The school was officially set up in 1889. This happened at a place now known as Osgoode Hall.
For a long time, Osgoode was the only law school in Ontario. This changed when the University of Toronto Faculty of Law opened in 1949. Back then, lawyers in Ontario had to attend Osgoode Hall to practice law.
The school moved from its original building in downtown Toronto in 1968. It found a new home at York University's Keele Campus. This move happened after it joined with York University in 1965.
Why Osgoode is a Top Law School
Osgoode Hall is known as one of the best law schools in Canada. A group called Times Higher Education ranked it among the top 150 law schools worldwide in 2023. It has a long and respected history. This makes it very famous among Canadian law schools.
In 2022, Osgoode's special program (JD/MBA) was ranked among the top 10 in North America. This program combines law studies with business studies. Maclean's magazine, a Canadian publication, ranked Osgoode second among all Canadian law schools.
Canadian Lawyer Magazine ranked Osgoode first in Canada in 2008. They praised its excellent teachers and many course choices. The school's professors are considered the "strongest in the country." They are also ranked number one in Canada for how often their writings are used by others.
In 2022-2023, about 3600 students applied for only 290 spots. This means only about 8% of applicants were accepted. This makes Osgoode one of the hardest law schools to get into in North America. Only Yale Law School has a lower acceptance rate.
Where Osgoode Students Learn
For its first 80 years, Osgoode Hall Law School was in a building called Osgoode Hall. This building is still there today. It is home to the Law Society of Ontario and courts.
Today, the law school is on the Keele Campus of York University. This is in North York, a part of Toronto. The school building got a big makeover and an extra part added in 2009. This project was helped by a large gift from Ignat Kaneff. The building is now named in his honour.
Osgoode also has offices and classrooms in downtown Toronto. These are used for special training programs for lawyers.
Life as an Osgoode Student
The Legal & Literary Society is the official student group at Osgoode Hall Law School. They help organize fun activities for students. This group also supports over fifty student clubs. They even help fund the student newspaper, Obiter Dicta.
Osgoode offers Professional Development Programs (OPD). These are located in downtown Toronto. They are close to the original Osgoode Hall building.
Famous People Who Went to Osgoode
Many notable people have graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School. Here are just a few:
Prime Ministers
- Sir John A MacDonald
- William Lyon Mackenzie King
- Arthur Meighen
Premiers
- Bill Davis, a former leader of Ontario
- George A. Drew, a former leader of Ontario
- Rachel Notley, a former leader of Alberta
Supreme Court of Canada Justices
- John Robert Cartwright, a former Chief Justice
- Bora Laskin, a former Chief Justice
- Andromache Karakatsanis, a current Judge
- Michelle O'Bonsawin, a current Judge
Other Judges
- George Ethelbert Carter, a notable judge
- Russell G. Juriansz, the first South Asian judge on the Ontario Court of Appeal
- Willy Mutunga, a former Chief Justice of Kenya
Government Leaders
- Lincoln Alexander, a former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
- Jim Flaherty, a former Minister of Finance for Canada
- Jagmeet Singh, a Canadian politician and leader of a major party
- John Tory, a former Mayor of Toronto
Business Leaders
- Sergio Marchionne, a former CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
- Moya Greene, a former CEO of Canada Post and Royal Mail
- Kathleen Taylor, Chair of Royal Bank of Canada
Arts and Culture
- Morley Callaghan, a famous novelist
- Jerry Levitan, an Oscar nominee for film
- Murray Cohl, who helped start the Toronto International Film Festival
Science and Medicine
- Robert Elgie, who became a neurosurgeon after being a lawyer
Sports
- George Dudley, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame
Amazing Teachers at Osgoode
Osgoode Hall Law School has many respected professors. They are experts in different areas of law.
- Peter Hogg, known for his work on Canadian constitutional law.
- Deborah McGregor, an environmentalist and educator from the Whitefish Bay First Nation.
- John Borrows, a leading expert in Indigenous legal studies.
- Angela Swan, a well-known scholar in contract law.
See also
- List of law schools in Canada
