Osgoode@125 Historical Photo Exhibit

Though Osgoode Hall Law School's history dates back to the 1820s, it was first permanently established in 1889 and the first class was held in October. Osgoode's 125th anniversary in the 2014-2015 academic year is an occasion for telling more of our stories to more communities. Enjoy these historical vignettes!

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1997 - In Pursuit of Justice

Professors Dianne Martin ’76 and Alan Young ’81 found Osgoode’s Innocence Project. Based on the original Innocence Project created by the Cardozo School of Law in New York City, Osgoode’s Innocence Project investigates cases of suspected wrongful conviction. Mark Nathanson donates $3 million to establish the Jack and Mae Nathanson Centre for the Study of Organized Crime and Corruption. Here, Dean Marilyn Pilkington speaks at the opening of the Centre.
1998 - Knowledge to Share

York University Law Library becomes the Osgoode Hall Law School Library as the School assumes control of the administration. Peter Hogg becomes Dean of Osgoode. Chief Prosecutor Louise Arbour, of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, invites Professor Garry D. Watson of Osgoode Hall Law School to put together a team of experienced trial advocacy teachers to provide an intensive training programme for the prosecutors working for the ICTR. The student organization Pro Bono Students Canada is created. Here, Louise Arbour speaks with former York President and Osgoode Dean Harry Arthurs at Convocation, 1995.
2000 - You’ve Got Options

There is a major overhaul of the first-year curriculum that includes the introduction of a compulsory course in legal ethics. The Business Law Intensive is introduced. Osgoode expands its student exchange agreements to include law faculties in Australia, Singapore, and India. The Osgoode Professional Development Program moves downtown. Professor Paul Emond speaks at the opening.
2004 - Hail and Farewell

Osgoode sends a team to Vienna, Austria, to compete in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot against 42 other law schools from the world. The Osgoode team wins the competition, becoming the first Canadian law school to do so in the competition’s history. Osgoode Professor Dianne Martin ‘76 passes away and the Dianne Martin Medal for Social Justice through Law is established in her honor. Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP donates $1 million to establish Osgoode’s first endowed chair.
2005 - A Good Apple

The Moot Court undergoes renovations. Osgoode hosts the Raoul Wallenberg Day International Human Rights Symposium. Osgoode announces a joint program with New York University School of Law. Under the program, students spend two years at Osgoode and two years at NYU and receive an Osgoode LLB (Bachelor of Laws) degree and an NYU JD (Juris Doctor) degree. NYU School of Law Dean Richard Revesz and Osgoode Dean Patrick Monahan ’80 exchange school caps and sweatshirts.
2006 - Service Before Self

Osgoode becomes the first Canadian law school to introduce a public interest graduation requirement, to promote the ethic of community service and public-mindedness. Students are required to complete forty hours of unpaid, law related, public interest work. As a result of a student-led initiative, the Mediation Intensive Clinic is introduced. The Clinic’s first director, Leanne Shafir ‘05 (LLM), can be seen in the first row, second from the right.
2007 - A Banner Year

The Law Commission of Ontario, which operates independently of the government to recommend law reforms, makes its home at Osgoode. Osgoode students sweep the mooting competitions and bring home the Arnup Cup, the Sopinka Cup, and the Wilson Cup. Shabir Amlani ‘07, Jennifer Brent ‘07, and Daniel Cole ‘07 become the first non-American team to walk away with first place prizes at the Fifth Annual National Law School Mediation Tournament.
2008 - Back on Top

Osgoode is ranked the #1 law school in Canada by Macleans magazine. The Collaborative Urban Research Laboratory (CURL) celebrates its two year anniversary. IP Osgoode, the innovative Intellectual Property (IP) Law and Technology program, is founded by Professor Giuseppina D’Agostino ‘99.