• Advanced English for Law and Business
• Legal Research and Writing for International Students
• Introduction to Canadian Law
• Comparative Legal Systems
• International Business Law (Part I and II)
• Taxation of Cross-Border Transactions
• Electives: Selection of Optional Courses
• Internship (Optional)

Advanced English for Law and Business

(For students with a first language other than English)

This course will provide intensive instruction in order to assist in developing an in-depth working knowledge of the vocabulary of law and business, as well as an understanding of the style of communication in academic, legal and business settings in Canada.

Legal Research and Writing for International Students

This course focuses on the development of graduate-level skills in legal research, analysis and communication for international students. It will provide international graduate students with the skills to identify, locate and understand legal materials relevant to business scenarios around the world. The ultimate goal of the course is to teach students to research and write the kinds of legal materials that are needed in the practice of business law in a global environment.

Introduction to Canadian Law

This course is designed to ensure that international students have the background they need to study and communicate effectively with Canadian JD students and graduates. It will cover: the history of Canadian law, public law, Aboriginal rights, criminal law, family law, torts, property law, and resource law.

Comparative Legal Systems

This course provides an overview of the classification and operation of major legal systems around the world, using examples from countries that play a prominent role in the global economy. The course will begin at the theoretical level with an examination of classification systems and their rationale. Subsequent sessions will cover systems of common law, civil law, customary law, Islamic law and mixed law. The key elements of each system will be identified and compared. Selected countries/regions within each system will be chosen for deeper exploration, including: China, India, the European Union, the United States and Canada.

International Business Law (Part I and II)

This two-part course covers both public and private aspects of international business law. Part I begins by exploring and comparing the most significant international trade agreements and structures, including:

Specific areas covered will include trade in goods, environmental issues, employment and labour issues, competition law, intellectual property, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

Part II will use case studies to analyze international business transactions including: forming the contract, financing and payment techniques, and identifying and addressing barriers to contract fulfillment. Examples will include the study of import/export of goods and services, technology transfers, joint ventures and foreign direct investment. The course will address the challenges of trans-border electronic transactions and doing business on the internet.

Taxation of Cross-Border Transactions

The main learning objectives of this course are to introduce students to the basic concepts, ideas, structures, and potential traps of tax planning for cross-border transactions, and to equip students with the basic knowledge and skills to spot tax issues, to know when to call in the tax experts, and take taxation into consideration before embarking on a major cross-border transaction.

The course will begin with a primer on international taxation. Instead of examining the detailed technical tax laws of any specific country, the course will focus on general international tax principles found in tax treaties and in the domestic law of most countries. The main teaching materials will be leading tax cases in Canada, Australia, France, India, the UK and other countries.

Typical cross-border transactions to be examined in the course include cross-border financing, cross-border leasing and licensing, cross-border “securitization”, cross-border services, joint research and development, and the use of holding companies in low-tax jurisdictions.

Electives

Electives may be chosen from an extensive list of business law and related courses. Students will attend classes and complete the readings for the JD courses, but will be evaluated at a graduate-level.These courses may include Business Associations, Commercial Law, Conflict of Laws, Corporate Finance, Immigration Law, International Environmental Law, International Taxation, International Trade Regulation, Public International Law, Regulation of Competition and Securities Regulation.

Students will also have the option to take Professional LLM courses offered by Osgoode Professional Development with approval of the Program Director. upper year JD curriculum.

OPD’s Professional LLM Programs include Alternative Dispute Resolution, Banking and Financial Services, Business Law, Intellectual Property, Labour Relations and Employment, Securities, and Taxation.

By taking classes at both the OPD Downtown Conference Centre and Osgoode Hall Law School campus, students will have the opportunity to experience urban Toronto life and to enjoy campus life firsthand.

Unpaid Internship (Optional)

Students can apply for two-month, unpaid internships in settings such as law firms, financial institutions, and legal departments of corporations and government. The internships are an opportunity to experience what it is like to work in a legal setting in North America. Employers elect whether to interview or hire applicants. No student is guaranteed an internship position and the process is competitive - approximately 75% of students received placements in 2010/11. The internships have provided students excellent exposure and professional work experience in Canadian legal environments.