12 replies to this topic

[JessieL]

I have wanted to do the Dual JD Canada/American Programme since I heard about it back when it was LLB/JD; in fact I would have been doing it had I not decided to do my MA 2 years ago. What is concerning, however, is that whenever I mention uOttawa to lawyers, they cringe. Being that I was also accepted to UT and Osgoode, the "cringe factor" makes it hard for me to choose Ottawa.

Can anyone out there offer advice on this programme???? Thanks!!

[davedavedave]

Is there a reason you want to do the dual program? Where do you want to work?

[JessieL]

davedavedave, on 29 December 2011 - 09:16 AM, said:

Is there a reason you want to do the dual program? Where do you want to work?

I will definitely be practicing in Canada, most likely with the government or a civil liberties organization. The reason is simply my passion for politics. I'm already quite politically active and figure it would be very valuable to have in the future (not so much for an employer, but for me).

[davedavedave]

If you want to practice in Canada, the American degree will be of little value (unless you want to do something pertaining to international law, with a focus on cross-border business/relations). I also do not think it will be very valuable to a political career in Canada. You'll be learning similar things (i.e. legal theory) so I'm not sure it would be useful in terms of satisfying your passions.

I would choose U of T or Osgoode. Not because Ottawa is a bad school, but because either of those schools will help open up more options in terms of your future and because their stellar reputations will be more valuable to a political career in Canada than an American JD.

(I'm not sure of the cost of the program you speak of, but it is probably more - another con).

[JessieL]

davedavedave, on 29 December 2011 - 10:14 AM, said:

If you want to practice in Canada, the American degree will be of little value (unless you want to do something pertaining to international law, with a focus on cross-border business/relations). I also do not think it will be very valuable to a political career in Canada. You'll be learning similar things (i.e. legal theory) so I'm not sure it would be useful in terms of satisfying your passions.

I would choose U of T or Osgoode. Not because Ottawa is a bad school, but because either of those schools will help open up more options in terms of your future and because their stellar reputations will be more valuable to a political career in Canada than an American JD.

(I'm not sure of the cost of the program you speak of, but it is probably more - another con).

Less cost per year, but for 4 years so ends up essentially the same (2 years in Ottawa and 2 years in Washington paying uOttawa fees).

Thank you for your advice! You've helped affirm how I'm leaning.



That being said, if anyone knows of someone who has done this programme (only 2 students year...), please connect me!

[whereverjustice]

JessieL, on 29 December 2011 - 10:24 AM, said:

That being said, if anyone knows of someone who has done this programme (only 2 students year...), please connect me!

Around 18 months ago I met someone who was in the dual JD/JD that Osgoode was running with NYU. He told me that the prevailing sentiment among the students was that there really wasn't anything to be gained from the dual program - people who wanted to practice in the States would be better off just doing the NYU degree, and saving their time and money.

Shortly after that conversation, Osgoode discontinued the JD/JD.

I don't see how political activism makes the joint program a better value proposition.

[erinl2]

Quote

I don't see how political activism makes the joint program a better value proposition

Agreed. If your plan is to practice in Canada, the dual program is of little to no benefit, for any type of practice. Also, I'm not sure why the lawyers you're speaking to cringe at the mention of U of Ottawa. Did you ask their reasons? It's a silly response, honestly. You can get a fine education from any Canadian law school.

[JessieL]

erinl2, on 29 December 2011 - 11:06 AM, said:

Agreed. If your plan is to practice in Canada, the dual program is of little to no benefit, for any type of practice. Also, I'm not sure why the lawyers you're speaking to cringe at the mention of U of Ottawa. Did you ask their reasons? It's a silly response, honestly. You can get a fine education from any Canadian law school.

I have previously worked in policy with the government, so the benefit is just having a deeper understanding of the American political system. Like I said, I totally recognize it would be more for me than an employer. I see the consensus is, however, it's really not worth it. Very helpful!!

As for their reasons, a couple mentioned that a few years back Ottawa's enrolment ballooned without the proper infrastructure in place. Many are of the opinion that if you got into the best schools, you would go to them (I'm not of this opinion). I don't know what all the reasons were, though. Had it not been such a common response from random strangers AND lawyers I know and trust, I would have been going there for sure.

[davedavedave]

JessieL, on 29 December 2011 - 01:04 PM, said:

I have previously worked in policy with the government, so the benefit is just having a deeper understanding of the American political system. Like I said, I totally recognize it would be more for me than an employer. I see the consensus is, however, it's really not worth it. Very helpful!!

That extra year will be pretty costly (tuition + lost wages) just to have a deeper understanding of the American political system. With the internet and a library card you can learn just as much about the American political system for a lot less money. But if you really want to do so in a university environment, that's your perogative.

[erinl2]

Quote

so the benefit is just having a deeper understanding of the American political system

Attending a U.S. law school for one year is not going to be the optimal way to gain a deeper understanding of the American political system.

[asfxxx]

I never understood the point of JD/JD programs in general. With a Canadian JD you can still write the bar in NY, Mass and California -- and where else would anyone really want to practice anyway?

Anyway, I have learned apx 0 things about the Canadian political system, so either I'm doing something horribly wrong or that's not really the focus of legal education

Edited by asfxxx, 29 December 2011 - 07:53 PM.

[palmtrees1]

asfxxx, on 29 December 2011 - 07:52 PM, said:

I never understood the point of JD/JD programs in general. With a Canadian JD you can still write the bar in NY, Mass and California -- and where else would anyone really want to practice anyway?

Anyway, I have learned apx 0 things about the Canadian political system, so either I'm doing something horribly wrong or that's not really the focus of legal education

I thought you needed an American LLM to pass the bar in Cali, that the canadian JD wasn't sufficient? Unless you pass the NY bar and then pass the Cali bar?

I was planning on doing an American LLM to be able to practice in Cali...

[asfxxx]

Yeah I just googed it and you're right - you can write the bar in MA/NY with a Cdn JD, but it looks like to write the Cali bar you need to have already been called either in Cda or in another US state. So you could spend the year articling and making a bit of $$ instead of spending more on an LLM, or go straight to the NY bar then write the Cali bar, I guess.

Edited by asfxxx, 11 January 2012 - 02:12 PM.