Osgoode Professional Development

Melissa L. Eldridge is a leading education lawyer in Canada and Co-Chair of BLG’s National School Boards Practice. She advises leaders of independent schools and public and Catholic school boards on complex, high-stakes matters including employment, labour, governance, human rights and special education. Her deep understanding of the education sector is informed by her experience as General Counsel to one of Canada’s largest school boards and as a former Governor of an independent school.

This fall, she will chair OsgoodePD’s Education Law for Private and Independent Schools. This comprehensive one-day program offers a practical look at common school law issues from a different perspective while also addressing challenges unique to private and independent schools. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4fDCvds

Ian Hull is one of Canada’s leading estate litigators. He has successfully represented clients at every level of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. He was the Toronto Lawyers Association Honsberger Award Winner in 2018 and received the Ontario Bar Association award for distinguished service in 2020.

His work has been recognized internationally at the highest levels. And in North America, he is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, an invitation only fellowship of exceptional trial lawyers of diverse backgrounds from the United States and Canada.

This fall, he leads The Osgoode Certificate in Estate Litigation alogside Suzana Popovic-Montag. A program that goes beyond the basics, offering a hands-on and in-depth understanding of estate litigation to give you the expertise needed to confidently guide your clients and excel as an advocate in estate matters. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4u2GyUu

Orientation day 1 is a wrap✔️

Our Professional LLM students kicked off their journey at Keele Campus today with a day of introductions, program sessions, campus tours and plenty of opportunities to connect with their new classmates and the OsgoodePD community.

A special thank you to our returning LLM students who volunteered their time to lead the new students on a campus tour and help them get familiar with their new surroundings. We’re so grateful for the community you’re helping build!

The Hon. Justice Rick Libman, a recognized authority on the rules of court and regulatory offences, returns this fall as Program Director for the Certificate in Handling Summary Conviction Offence Cases. This one of a kind program explores the key stages of a summary conviction offence matter while emphasizing ways to strengthen your written and oral advocacy. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Sag7ML

Renée Pelletier is a partner at Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP (OKT). Her practice focuses on Aboriginal and Treaty Rights litigation and negotiation. Renée has extensive experience litigating Aboriginal title claims and regularly advises and represents her Indigenous clients on consultation matters and on regulatory and environmental issues.

She returns to OsgoodePD with Michelle Wood. Michelle is General Counsel at the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and has over 20 years experience providing advice about the duty to consult and accommodate and legal issues in connection with land claims, forest sector policy and operational issues, as well as other legal issues related to Aboriginal and treaty rights.

Together, they'll lead the Certificate in Fundamentals of Indigenous Peoples and Canadian Law this October. This intensive six-day program provides the essential knowledge and practical strategies you need to effectively navigate legal issues involving Indigenous Peoples. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4rFACQy

Maureen Salama has built a practice focused on criminal, regulatory and professional discipline matters, representing clients before courts and tribunals across Ontario and advising organizations on complex compliance and criminal law issues.

This fall, she joins Ian Bulmer as Program Co-Chair of Meeting the Legal Challenges of Policing in Canada. In one information-packed day, participants will examine recent legislation, court and tribunal decisions, and practical strategies affecting policing, police oversight and the prosecution and defence of officers. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4ww1q81

Lisa Stam, Founder and Managing Partner of SpringLaw, has built a practice focused on employment, labour and human rights law, with particular expertise in the legal implications of technology in the workplace. Through her work advising employers on issues ranging from workplace privacy and social media to data ownership and emerging technologies, she brings a practical and forward-looking perspective to some of today's most pressing workplace challenges.

This fall, Lisa will lead The Future of Work: Legal Issues in Remote and Hybrid Settings 2026. Designed for HR professionals, in-house counsel, employment lawyers, labour relations specialists, people leaders and workplace advisors, the program explores the legal, practical and strategic considerations organizations must navigate as remote and hybrid work continue to evolve. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4gF8Scm