On July 1, 2010, I returned to Osgoode as Dean.

I am a proud 1992 graduate of Osgoode’s LLB program and a former Osgoode faculty member who had the privilege in the 1990s of supervising a number of outstanding students in Osgoode’s Graduate Program in Law, which offers research-intensive courses of study leading to a Master of Laws (LLM) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. 

Osgoode’s Graduate program was then – and is now – the oldest and largest graduate legal program in Canada, with the widest array of graduate legal studies of any law school in the country and an intensive research orientation.  Graduate programs at both the masters and doctoral levels have been offered by Osgoode since the early 1960s and the first LLM degree was awarded in 1963. 

The first decade of this century has seen ongoing innovation in Osgoode’s Graduate program with the introduction of initiatives such as reading groups (“study groups”) for all students in first year and all continuing PhD students; the compulsory Graduate Seminar; and the dissertation proposal examination.

I know the importance of choosing the right graduate school.  If you are considering Osgoode, I can guarantee that you will be surrounded by highly intelligent scholars and researchers who will support your thesis research, listen to your ideas, offer critical analyses, and point you to relevant literature. 

You will also meet a great group of students, who will become your friends.  And you will enjoy the benefits of studying in state-of-the-art facilities in our renovated Law School building, which will re-open in August of 2011.  All the more reason, I say, to choose Osgoode.

Lorne Sossin LLB ‘92

From the Director of the Graduate Program

Osgoode is rightfully proud of its intellectual standing among law schools internationally, the breadth and depth of its graduate course offerings, and the quality of its library. It attracts outstanding students with diverse and worthwhile research projects. Osgoode provides a vibrant intellectual community that welcomes new approaches and intellectual challenges. The Graduate Program staff work hard to create a sense of community for students.

Graduate students can draw upon a wealth of expertise in support of their own studies. Osgoode’s 57 faculty members produce world-class scholarship. Osgoode also hosts several renowned research centres and units, including on Transnational Organized Crime, Feminist Legal Studies, Comparative Law and Political Economy, Intellectual Property, and Law and Business.

The Graduate Program makes a serious effort to provide graduate students with opportunities to teach and publish, in preparation for academic careers. Alumni of the Program have distinguished themselves in academia, government, private practice and other arenas.

Please feel free to contact us for further information. In the meantime, this website is for everyone: potential applicants, new and continuing students.

Professor Ruth Buchanan