Osgoode Professional Development

Why is construction law more important than ever? Professor Janet Walker CM,
Co-director of Osgoode’s Professional LLM in Construction Law, shares how the program was created to meet growing industry demand and prepare professionals to navigate the complex legal, business and infrastructure challenges shaping Canada’s future. Read more: https://bit.ly/4veFq0R

Trauma shapes how clients communicate, make decisions, and are perceived, and understanding that is essential to effective, ethical legal practice.

On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, Senior Counsel Simona Jellinek will present on Trauma Informed Lawyering as part of Module 5: Hot Topics, Case Law and Trends, within The Osgoode Professional Development Certificate in Consent, Capacity and Substitute Decision Making.

Drawing on her extensive experience, Simona will unpack how trauma can affect a client's capacity, instruction-giving, and credibility, offer guidance on recognizing trauma symptoms in clients, and explore how to lead with civility and empathy in trauma-heavy environments.

We're proud to see Simona contributing her insights to a conversation that truly matters for clients and the profession alike.

Mark Pearce is a forensic psychiatrist for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, where he regularly performs assessments of fitness to stand trial and criminal responsibility. This fall, he returns to OsgoodePD to co-lead the Certificate in Mental Health Law with Meghan Payne (Borden Ladner Gervais LLP). Learn more:
https://bit.ly/49NpytQ

A little bit of luck and a lot of hard work is the formula for a successful transition to legal practice in Canada, judging by the career of internationally trained lawyer Ramanuj Basu. He shares his legal journey that sent him from India to the UK and back again, before finally settling in Canada as senior counsel for a digital payments company. Read more: https://bit.ly/4u0nzdb

Internationally Trained Lawyers Day 2026 brought together internationally trained lawyers, legal organizations, and members of the Canadian legal community for a day of learning, connection and inspiration.

Attendees gained valuable insights into the accreditation and licensing process, participated in interactive workshops, and expanded their professional networks during the evening reception.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to making this event a meaningful experience!

The conversations continue at Osgoode's Internationally Trained Lawyers Day 2026!

This afternoon, attendees are gaining practical career insights through sessions on networking, resume and cover letter development, mentorship and building a successful legal career in Canada.

We're also excited to hear from our keynote speaker and watch meaningful connections being made during speed mentoring and the networking reception.

Here are a few highlights from the afternoon so far!

Today is the day!
Internationally Trained Lawyers Day is officially underway.

This morning’s sessions bring together representatives from the NCA, Law Society of Ontario and the Law Practice Program to walk attendees through the accreditation and licensing process in Canada.

We’re excited to connect internationally trained lawyers with valuable insights and resources to help them navigate their careers in Canada.