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 | Pewter and Red
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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 learn to become lawyers. This school is home to important groups like the Law Commission of Ontario. It also publishes journals about law.
Students at Osgoode can earn different law degrees. These include the J.D. (Juris Doctor), LL.M. (Master of Laws), and Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) degrees. Many famous people have studied here. These include three Canadian prime ministers and many judges. Some judges even served on Canada's highest court, the Supreme Court of Canada. The current leader of the school is Trevor C.W. Farrow.
Contents
The Story of Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall is named after William Osgoode. He was a very important judge in early Canada. The school's history goes back to the 1820s. One of its first students was Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister.
The school was officially set up in 1889. It was started by the Law Society of Ontario. For a long time, it was the only law school in Ontario. This changed when the University of Toronto Faculty of Law opened in 1949.
In the past, lawyers in Ontario had to attend Osgoode Hall. The school moved from its original building in downtown Toronto in 1968. It found a new home at York University's Keele Campus.
How Osgoode Ranks Among Law Schools
Osgoode Hall is known as one of the best law schools in Canada. In 2021, Times Higher Education ranked it 43rd in the world. Its special program that combines law and business was named among the top 10 in North America in 2022.
Maclean's magazine, a Canadian publication, has ranked Osgoode as the second-best law school in Canada. In 2008, Canadian Lawyer Magazine ranked it first. They praised its excellent teachers and wide range of courses. The teachers at Osgoode are considered among the strongest in the country.
It is quite hard to get into Osgoode Hall Law School. In the 2022-2023 school year, about 3600 students applied. Only about 290 spots were available for new students. This means only about 8% of applicants were accepted. This is one of the lowest acceptance rates for law schools in North America.
Buildings and Learning Spaces
For its first 80 years, Osgoode Hall Law School was in a building called Osgoode Hall. This historic building is still in downtown Toronto. It is home to the Law Society of Ontario and important courts.
Today, the law school is on the Keele Campus of York University. This is in North York, a part of Toronto. In 2007, plans were made to update the school's building. A new part was added, and the old building was made new again. This project was helped by a large gift from Ignat Kaneff. The building is now named in his honor.
Osgoode also has offices and classrooms in downtown Toronto. These are used for special programs for lawyers who want to keep learning.
Student Life at Osgoode
Students at Osgoode Hall Law School have many activities. The Legal & Literary Society is the official student group. It helps organize events for students. This group also supports the student newspaper, Obiter Dicta. There are over fifty student clubs, too. Some popular ones include the Osgoode Hall Criminal Law Society.
Famous People Who Studied at Osgoode
Many people who studied at Osgoode Hall Law School became very successful.
Judges of the Supreme Court of Canada
- John Robert Cartwright, a former Chief Justice
- Peter Cory, a former Judge
- Sir Lyman Duff, a former Chief Justice
- Andromache Karakatsanis, a current Judge
- Patrick Kerwin, a former Chief Justice
- Bora Laskin, a former Chief Justice
- Malcolm Rowe, a current Judge
- Michelle O'Bonsawin, a current Judge
Other Important Judges
- John Arnup, a Justice at the Ontario Court of Appeal
- George Ethelbert Carter
- Charles Dubin, a former Chief Justice of Ontario
- Asher Grunis, a former President of the Supreme Court of Israel
- Russell G. Juriansz, the first South Asian judge on the Ontario Court of Appeal
- Roy McMurtry, a former Chief Justice of Ontario
- Willy Mutunga, a former Chief Justice of Kenya
- Warren Winkler, a Chief Justice of Ontario
Prime Ministers of Canada
- Sir John A Macdonald
- William Lyon Mackenzie King
- Arthur Meighen
Premiers of Ontario and Alberta
- Bill Davis, a former Premier of Ontario
- George Drew, a former Premier of Ontario
- Ernie Eves, a former Premier of Ontario
- Rachel Notley, a former Premier of Alberta
- John Robarts, a former Premier of Ontario
Government Leaders
- Gary Anandasangaree, the current Minister of Public Safety
- Lincoln Alexander, a former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
- Jim Flaherty, a former Minister of Finance of Canada
- Judy LaMarsh, a former Secretary of State for Canada
- Jagmeet Singh, a Canadian politician and leader of a major political party
- John Tory, a former Mayor of Toronto
Lawyers and Business Leaders
- Austin Cooper, a well-known criminal lawyer
- Edward Greenspan, a famous criminal lawyer
- Marie Henein, a prominent criminal lawyer
- Sergio Marchionne, a former CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
- Kathleen Taylor, the Chair of Royal Bank of Canada
- John S. D. Tory, who founded a major law firm
People in Arts and Sports
- Morley Callaghan, a novelist
- Murray Cohl, who helped start the Toronto International Film Festival
- Jerry Levitan, who was nominated for an Academy Award
- George Dudley, who is in the Hockey Hall of Fame
Notable Professors at Osgoode
Osgoode Hall Law School has also had many important teachers.
- Peter Hogg, who wrote a very important book on Canadian law
- Deborah McGregor, an environmentalist and educator
- Obiora Chinedu Okafor, an expert in human rights law
- David Vaver, an expert in intellectual property law
- John Borrows, an Indigenous legal scholar
- Leslie Green, a philosopher and legal scholar
See also
- List of law schools in Canada
