The Osgoode Public Interest Requirement

(OPIR)

University of Toronto Symposium“Can Legal Ethics Be Taught”

April 4, 2008

Janet LeiperDirector, Osgoode Public Interest Requirement

The Osgoode Public Interest Requirement

A new Graduation Requirement

40 hours of work by Osgoode students which is:

• Law-related

• In the Public Interest

• Uncompensated

Developing a Public Interest Requirement

• Strategic Plan 2005

• Clinical Education Committee 2006

• Faculty Council Approval 2006

• Implementation 2007

What Does “Public Interest” Mean?

• Interpreted “broadly”

• Includes activities which facilitate access to justice

• Law reform activities

• Services to organizations or communities to engage with law

What Does “Public Interest” Mean to Law Students?

Assisting Marginalized Groups

OR

Acting in the Broader Collective Good

Fall 2007: The New Curriculum • Ethical Lawyering in a Global

Community begins

• Themes: visions of lawyering, access to justice, panel discussions and smallgroup discussion

• “What Can We Do?”

OPIR: Nuts and Bolts

• Students register using on-line forms

• All forms and information are available at the OPIR webpage, link on MyOsgoode

• In keeping with recommendations to OPIR, paperwork for supervisors has been minimized: a brief survey at the end of the placement and initializing student time sheets

The Role of Faculty

• Opportunity for Public Interest Work with Enthusiastic Student Involvement

• Proof: Professor Alan Young• Six positions announced: November

20/0710 days later: 23 first year student applicants, complete with descriptions of aptitudes, ability to manage their time, interest in the project, many with resumes attached

The Role of Faculty (continued)• Ambassadors into larger legal

community for student placements

• Idea Generators for student placements

• Facilitators of Student Discussion Groups

Program Students

CLASP 15

PBSC 13

Student Initiated

7

Faculty 1

Private Bar

1

Student Registration in OPIR Programs to Date

% of Student Registered

40%

35%

19%

3%

3%

CLASP PBSC Student Initiated Faculty Private Bar

What Existing Osgoode Programs Qualify for the OPIR?

Program Type of WorkPro Bono Students Canada Range of work and

placements with legal clinics, lawyers, government agencies, NGOs, courts and tribunals

Community and Legal Aid Services Program

Intake, casework, research in student legal aid clinic

Intensive Programs at Osgoode- Aboriginal Lands, Resources & Government- Criminal Law- Immigration Law

Research

Innocence Project Research and Drafting

Poverty Law at Parkdale Casework, intake, research

International Research and Placements Research and Drafting

Osgoode Business Clinic Casework, intake, research

Where is Osgoode Developing New Placements?

Organization Nature of Work

Pro Bono Law Ontario Litigation support, intake, public legal education, real estate

Legal Aid Ontario Duty Counsel Support

Court of Appeal for Ontario Research

Ministry of the Attorney General

Research in Legal Branches throughout government

Osgoode Faculty Research and Drafting

Where is Osgoode Developing New Placements? (Continued)Organization Nature of WorkPrivate Bar: Toronto and Ottawa

Research and case work: criminal, civil, intellectual property, family, international human rights

Ontario Justice Education Network

Research and writing

Law Commission of Ontario Research

Ontario Court of Justice Research

Pay Equity Commission of Ontario

Research

Where is Osgoode Developing New Placements?

Organization Nature of Work

City of Mississauga: Legal Counsel’s Office

Casework support, intake, public legal education

Justice for Children and Youth Research

Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

Research and writing, public legal education

Why are Partners Interested?• Temporal Flexibility: placements need

not fit into any pre-determined time slot; available year round

• Spatial Flexibility: research-focused placements mean students may provide service from home/library/school settings

• OPIR Director: Role of Broker: custom design is possible

The OPIR Committee

• Established November 2006

• Composed of community, student, alumni and faculty members

• Advisory resource to the program

• Available to hear appeals from placements found not to qualify for OPIR

• To date: committee has met in the fall and spring

The Osgoode Public Interest Requirement

(OPIR)

http://osgoode.yorku.ca/opir