It is no longer tenable to separate the study and practice of law from issues of mental health and wellness. Drawing from scholarship, clinical insight, and reflective experience, this course is premised on the conviction that mental
wellness, professional fulfillment, and academic insight can align, with productive and even transformative effects. The skills and capacities essential to thrive in law school and the legal profession—including personal reflection, healthy
relationships, values clarification, and boundary setting—are the very capacities that are strengthened by focusing on emotional and personal wellness. Using a model that marries the study of psychotherapeutic theory with experiential learning, the course equips students with skills and tools for life in the legal profession while cultivating critical and
personal insight to help students understand, navigate, and even constructively intervene to disrupt the mental health challenges endemic in legal education and the legal profession.
Combining practical skills-development and psychoeducation, the course will help students conceptualize their mental wellness from differing theoretical perspectives while deepening their awareness of self and others and fostering healthy relationships. The course will introduce students to topics such as: theories of psychological change; fostering awareness of self; the mind-body connection and the importance of good nutrition, physical exercise, and sleep;
deepening relationships to self, others, and at work; values clarification; effective communication of needs; coping mechanisms for stress & burnout; anxiety management skills; treatment options for depressive symptoms; resilience and meaning-making through adversity and trauma. With the support of assigned readings and other forms of class preparation, lectures, experiential exercises/practice, and small group discussions, the course will aim to create an
environment of trust and curiosity, and to foster a willingness amongst the students to bring their ideas, experiences, and emotions to the exploration of these issues, of the study and practice of law, and of themselves.
Course or Seminar Category: Dispute Resolution - Civil Legal Process and Professionalism
Theory and Practice of Mediation
Theory and Practice of Mediation offers students an interactive opportunity to develop an understanding of the utility and impact of mediation within the context of the dispute resolution spectrum. Students will gain knowledge through lecture, group discussions, simulations, placements in the Toronto Small Claims Court (circumstances permitting), and final evaluated mediations. As well, the seminar provides an opportunity for students to undertake a paper assignment to examine both theoretical and practical issues discussed during the term. Students will be engaged in a hands-on learning opportunity to explore negotiation, mediation styles and tactics, while being mindful of ethics and professional obligations.
Legal Practice Dynamics
This course is an introduction to the skills and behaviours necessary to become a successful legal practitioner. It analyzes how lawyers think and work and equips students with foundational skills in managing their careers and succeeding in any legal environment whether in-house, government or private practice.
Being well-versed in substantive law is only half the battle in becoming a successful legal practitioner. This course will prepare students to excel in the practical skills they need to optimize their professional development – communication, collaboration, human capital management, productivity and practice management.
This course is experiential in nature with learning revolving around a fictional law firm. Topics include the following: communication skills (difficult conversations, feedback, meetings); practice management (delegation, productivity, docketing, file management); human capital management principles (being managed, managing up, managing your own career; teamwork); lawyer competencies; mentoring and performance management.
Managing Family Law Cases
This seminar will focus on simulated family law cases. As “counsel” for these cases, students will examine and apply legal principles, tactical, ethical and policy considerations, and rules of practice and professional responsibility to complete tasks and resolve problems that arise in the day to day work of family law practice. Throughout the seminar, students will be exposed to the interdisciplinary nature of family law. Work with complex fact patterns will assist students to develop advanced analytical skills, client management skills and to understand how to work effectively with professionals such as mental health experts and business valuators to achieve optimal outcomes for clients. Students will engage in the drafting of documents and participate in mock courtroom appearances. Classes will be in-person.
Dispute Settlement: Alternatives to Resolving Disputes
Students are introduced to an analysis of the dispute resolution continuum and will be required to identify where and how, through the different processes, dispute resolution is achieved. Students will gain an appreciation of the historical development and current application of various dispute resolution processes, including litigation, arbitration, negotiation, and mediation. The process of litigation as applicable to the adversarial system of justice will be examined. The seminar focuses on an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to dispute resolution as well as the appropriateness of when to use them. Students will also gain a practical understanding of the theoretical aspects of certain processes available for resolving disputes within the legal system as a applicable to the Province of Ontario, including litigation and methods of alternative dispute resolution including negotiation and mediation. The seminar will provide an opportunity to develop and practice some of the techniques of dispute resolution under the supervision of members of academic staff. Teaching methods include: lectures/seminars (Socratic and otherwise), facilitated class discussions, interactive small seminar and larger group exercises.
Labour Arbitration
This seminar is intended to provide an overview of the labour arbitration process applicable to unionized workplaces. The seminar primarily addresses grievance arbitration and med-arb as alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. It may also introduce interest arbitration. The seminar will examine both procedural and substantive issues, including the regulatory framework, arbitral jurisdiction, pre-arbitration and arbitration processes. This seminar will be taught partly as an advocacy course, encouraging students to apply these concepts to persuasive and coherent oral and written arguments.
A.I. and Technology in Legal Practice
This course provides an in-depth look into the evolving role of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal field. It explores how these advancements are transforming legal practices, from automating routine tasks to providing sophisticated analysis and decision-making support. Students will gain hands-on experience with key platforms
available on the market, enhancing their technical proficiency. The curriculum covers machine learning, data systems, legal workflow automation, and a high-level overview of AI technology, preparing students for a modern legal
environment, focusing on technical skills and knowledge to address today’s challenging issues around AI.
Learning Objectives:
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of legal tech tools.
• Apply legal technology effectively in various legal contexts.
• Recognize the ethical implications of technology in legal practice.
• Enhance efficiency and accuracy in legal tasks through tech solutions.
Constitutional Litigation
This is a fun course with equal emphasis on both oral and written advocacy. Debate, questions, brainstorming and discourse are encouraged.
Students will be involved in almost all of the steps of a constitutional case, from the initial claim, to cross-examinations, to arguing a preliminary motion and culminating in a final factum and moot before a panel of judges with students receiving both oral and written feedback throughout.
We will focus on a substantive area of constitutional law (ex., freedom of expression, equality or division of powers) as well as questions of procedure, evidence (adjudicative and legislative, privilege) and judicial notice. A key focus is on the importance of remedies as an initial consideration, not as an afterthought.
The seminar also involves working through problems in small groups and presenting positions in class.
Seminar topics are designed to be in service of the final moot and factum. Topics typically include: the role of the courts in constitutional litigation; commencing a constitutional case; drafting pleadings; government action under s.32 of the Charter; standing; selecting the appropriate court and procedure; mootness, interventions; role of the Attorney General; evidence in constitutional cases, proving constitutional facts, the role of experts and drafting effective affidavits, examination of government witnesses, presentation and assessment of social science data in the adversarial system; drafting constitutional arguments and presenting them effectively; oral advocacy; the importance of remedies for constitutional infringements; litigation strategies for public interest groups and case studies.
Administration of Civil Justice: Estate Litigation
This seminar will examine the substantive, procedural, and practical issues surrounding litigating certain claims by and against estates. Topics may include, depending upon available time, a detailed review of will challenges, dependant support claims, appointment and removal of estate trustees, passing of accounts, quantum meruit claims, and solicitor’s negligence in drafting wills. We will also examine the role of mandatory mediation and other negotiation techniques in resolving estate litigation. Students will also participate in a mock mediation exercise.
For each of these topics, we will explore how a client’s case is developed through the interaction of the case law, the Rules of Civil Procedure, the applicable statutes, the rules of evidence, and the psychology of the family unit.
Admin. of Crim. Justice: Justice 360
This course is designed to provide students with a unique, holistic survey of the criminal justice system from all perspectives, an appreciation that all parts of the system are interrelated, and some assessment of how effectively it contributes to a just society.
Students will hear from and engage in discussion with exceptional leaders from different parts of the justice system, including: the former Attorney General of Ontario, the former Chief of the Toronto Police Service; Judges of the Superior Court Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice; a family member of homicide victims; an offender convicted of manslaughter; a leading forensic psychiatrist; as well as prominent Crown Attorneys, defence counsel, probation and corrections officials, and representatives of the fourth estate.
Students will review selected readings covering the constellation of theory, law and policy regarding each stakeholder’s role. Each panel of speakers will provide the class with a clear idea of the theoretical role that they play in the system and how that role actually plays out “on the ground.” The class and panel will discuss what is required to close the gap between theory and practice.