- Successfully complete 36 credits in the mandatory first-year program
- Successfully complete a minimum of 60 credits over second and third years
- In each of 2nd and 3rd year, successfully complete a seminar, course or other option satisfying the Upper Year Research & Writing Requirement
- Complete the Indigenous and Aboriginal Law Requirement
- Complete the 40-hour Osgoode Public Interest Requirement
- Complete a course or seminar that satisfies the Praxicum Requirement
Upper Year Research & Writing Requirement
Students are required, in each of their 2nd and 3rd year, to successfully complete a seminar, course or faculty-supervised research paper that is at least 7,000 words in length and is the primary mode of evaluation. Seminars and courses that qualify as meeting the Upper Year Research & Writing Requirement will be indicated as such in the Syllabus.
Indigenous and Aboriginal Law Requirement (IALR)
All JD students must complete a course for credit that focusses primarily on Indigenous and Aboriginal legal issues and engages in a substantial way with Indigenous laws, Aboriginal law and aspects of professionalism and practice skills relating to serving Indigenous clients. Courses and seminars that qualify as meeting the IALR will be indicated as such in the Syllabus.
Osgoode Public Interest Requirement (OPIR)
Students are required to complete 40 hours of law-related, public interest work over their three years at Osgoode and will receive recognition for their work on their final transcript. Evaluation is done through either a short paper reflecting on the student’s experience or by participating in a moderated discussion group with other students. Read more on the OPIR.
Praxicum Requirement
In either 2nd or 3rd year, each student must successfully complete a praxicum designated course. A praxicum is a course, seminar or program that integrates legal theory with practice. Praxicums provide opportunities for experiential learning: a process which engages and fosters reflective education to assist students in becoming reflective legal professionals. Courses, seminars and programs that qualify as meeting the Praxicum Requirement will be indicated as such in the Syllabus.
The Osgoode JD Program is approved by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.