Students at Osgoode Hall Law School recently had the opportunity to witness the work of the Federal Court firsthand, as the Court convened an on-campus hearing—bringing a live immigration law case into the classroom and offering a unique experiential learning opportunity.
Presided over by Justice Alan Diner (LLB ’93, LLM ’98), the hearing involved an immigration law case argued by two lawyers who are also Osgoode graduates: Amina Riaz (JD ’96) and Afshin Yazdani (LLM ’18). Students from Osgoode’s Immigration Law course, taught by adjunct professors and immigration practitioners Naseem Mithoowani and Tara McElroy, attended as part of a reflective assignment, analysing advocacy strategies and judicial engagement to connect the live hearing to their classroom learning.
For many students, it was their first opportunity to observe the Federal Court in action. The approximately hour-and-a-half hearing gave them a firsthand look at how immigration law arguments unfold and how counsel respond to questions from the Bench.
Following the hearing, both counsel and Justice Diner stayed to answer students’ questions, providing insight into the case and the broader workings of the Court. Ariel Goldberg (JD ’25), an Osgoode graduate currently clerking at the Federal Court with Justice Southcott, joined the discussion to share her experience and provide students with a window into the clerkship pathway.
The visit also marked the return of Federal Court hearings to Osgoode after a hiatus during and following the pandemic, giving students a rare opportunity to observe proceedings firsthand and see how classroom learning connects to real-world legal practice.
Dean Trevor Farrow said:
“Hosting the Federal Court at Osgoode allows students to see the law in action and witness its power and impact in the lives of people. Experiences like this—where students can observe proceedings and engage directly with the judiciary and the bar—are an important part of Osgoode’s long-standing commitment to impactful learning and our excellence in advocacy training.”
Justice Diner added:
“It was a pleasure to be back at Osgoode. The students who attended the hearing and Q&A were engaged and thoughtful in their questions.”
The hearing gave students a front-row view of the law in action, bringing their classroom learning to life and reinforcing the value of experiences that connect Osgoode to the wider legal community.