York University, Osgoode Hall Law School International LLM Program

Business law goes global at Osgoode

Canada's leading law school to launch new LLM in Business for International Students

Fariborz Davoudi figured he had nothing to lose and everything to gain from a Master's of Law degree at Osgoode Hall Law School, the largest, one of the oldest and among the best common-law law schools in Canada.

What he didn't bargain for was how the experience would help earn a not-guilty verdict in one of the most challenging trials of his criminal defense career.

"I had just finished writing a major paper on rules of confession," remembers Davoudi, who graduated from Osgoode's part-time LLM program in 2005. His research findings played straight into the courtroom where he spent two days arguing why his client's statement should be excluded from consideration. The judge concurred and Davoudi went on to land a not-guilty verdict in what everyone thought was an open-and-shut case for the Crown.

Osgoode ranks number one

"Osgoode's graduate program made me a better lawyer," Davoudi says simply. "The knowledge I gained through research put me in a much better position to argue important issues in court. I've squeezed a lot of mileage out of this degree for my clients."

Founded in 1889 and ranked the number one law school in Canada in 2006, Osgoode has the largest graduate program in law in the nation. More than 500 students are currently enrolled in the School's LLM and PhD programs, including some 300 in the part-time Master's degree stream. The only program of its kind in Canada, Osgoode's part-time LLM was first established in the 1970s and overhauled in 1995 to now include up to 10 different specializations, among them banking, intellectual property, international trade, labour relations, securities and – Davoudi's program of choice – criminal law.

New LLM for international students

In July 2008, Osgoode will lay claim to another first with the launch of the LLM in Business for International Students, a unique combination of specialized, course-based programming, English as a Second Language (ESL) support and internship opportunities.

Customized for those who hold a degree in law from an accredited institution outside Canada and have both a minimum B average and proof of English language proficiency, the new LLM will teach students the ins and outs of business law in the United States, Canada, the European Union, China, India, Africa and other countries and regions that play a key role in the international economy. After 12 months (or longer with the optional internship program), participants will graduate with a strong understanding of the expectations of western clients and how western law firms do business.

"We set out to create a world-class program that responds to the issues and needs of students and their prospective employers," says Elaine Bright, program lawyer and project manager of Osgoode Professional Development.

"Globally, there is an urgent need for lawyers who understand the nature of legal business in other jurisdictions."

Benefiting lawyers from Latin America to Asia

Each class of up to 30 LLM students will learn, for example, how to identify and interpret international trade agreements, including the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), The World Trade Organization regulations (WTO), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the regulation of trade and competition in the European Union. Using case studies, they will also gain skills relevant to international business transactions – how to negotiate a contract, financing and payment issues and the legal ramifications of e-business – together with the latest developments in intellectual property law, environmental law and international dispute resolution.

The program, says Bright, has something to offer lawyers from every country in the world.

"Students from Mexico will gain practical insight into business practice under NAFTA. South American students will find a strong emphasis on the international trade agreements that govern relations with their major trading partners. Joint ventures, technology transfers, online business – these are all subjects of relevance to practicing lawyers from Brazil to China."

Unparalleled programming and expertise

By its very breadth, Osgoode's Master of Laws in Business for International Students stands apart from most other North American law schools that offer just a handful of specialized courses for international students. Osgoode's more than 50 full-time faculty members bring a rich and diverse expertise in many areas, including international law. Adjunct faculty include practitioners from many of the top law offices in Toronto.

As part of the LLM in Business Law, Osgoode is also the first to offer advanced ESL courses for law and business, along with courses in comparative legal systems and Canadian law, all within the first three months of admission. Post-graduation, the program also includes the opportunity to land a paid internship for up to one year at a top tier Canadian or international law firm based in Canada.

Taken together, these features mark Osgoode as a widely anticipated program of choice among prospective students and employers alike.

"Employers tell us they highly value internship opportunities," says Richard Haigh, Osgoode's associate director of graduate programs. During a recent meeting with senior lawyers from China, for example, internships were credited with providing graduates with the skills to excel both at home and in international business.

Building successful careers

Osgoode is no stranger to programming that helps graduates succeed. Since 1996, more than 1,000 LLM graduates have parlayed their degrees into new career opportunities and international ties. Allan Ritchie, a graduate of Osgoode's LLM in Business Law – now in its fourth year and a winning model for the LLM in Business for International Students program – says his LLM experience exceeded every expectation.

"While enrolled in the program I was practicing with a mid-sized firm in suburban Toronto. Within two months of completing the LLM program, I was approached with offers from four of Canada's leading law firms."

Ritchie is now a key member of the securities and finance practice group at Baker & McKenzie LLP, one of the world's largest business law firms with more than 70 offices in 38 countries worldwide.

Fairborz Davoudi speaks of the confidence that comes from having the knowledge to make more compelling and persuasive arguments "Before earning my LLM from Osgoode, my job was just a job and legal principles like fairness and due process were just words. Now they have real application in the court."

"My career has changed remarkably."

Committed to internationalization

For Osgoode, the launch of the LLM in Business for International Students is just the beginning. From its location at the heart of one of the most multicultural and safest cities in the world, Osgoode – and York University of which it is a part – remains firmly committed to internationalization in teaching, research and student recruitment. Plans are already underway to add additional programming for international students and to partner with universities abroad. Each new strategy builds on the School's decade-long experience in delivering specialized courses for adult learners from around the world.

"Our vision all along has been to attract and support a diverse student body," says Bright.

It's a solid strategy, agrees Davoudi. "If I had any advice for international lawyers considering a Master of Law degree, it would be to put Osgoode at the top of your list. The quality of the courses and the instructors can't be matched."

"No one," he says emphatically, "even comes close."

Christine Ward

SIDEBAR:

Is Osgoode's new LLM for you?

Applications are now being accepted for admission to Osgoode's LLM in Business for International Students beginning in July 2008. Applicants require a first degree in law from a four-year program in an accredited institution outside Canada with a minimum B (75%) average. Proof of language proficiency is also required, including a TOEFL score of 580, 235 (computer), 92 (iBT) or 6.5 on the IELTS.

Tuition for 12 months of study totals $27,000 CAD. Scholarships of up to $3,000 are available. Internships following graduation will include remuneration at a rate of up to $2,000 CAD/month or more.

For more information, visit Osgoode at the QS World Grad School Tour in Sao Paolo, (August 27); Buenos Aires (August 29); Mexico City (September 10); or Caracas (September 27). Or visit us online at www.osgoodepd.ca

Word Count: 1,442