10 replies to this topic

[davedavedave]

So I'm about to firm accept Osgoode, but before I do so I wanted to make sure I'm not limiting my options.

I have become increasingly interested in the law surrounding sports and music (i.e. sports/music agent), which I'm assuming falls under IP. My searching on this form has led me to the conclusion that Western is the Ontario school known for IP law, specifically in regards to sports. Although they are not known for it, will I be able to immerse myself in this area at Osgoode should I wish to? I'm wary of relying on the listed course offerings as I know many are usually not actually offered.

Also, does anyone have any experiences with exchange prgrams at Osgoode? Once again this is an area in which Western seems to take the cake. Although I applied for the JD/MA and probably will not have time for an exchange, I'd like to keep my options open. I could not find any info regarding this on their site.

Edited by davedavedave, 03 February 2012 - 08:06 AM.

[muffins]

Good questions. I am trying to find similar answers myself. I think that any material difference that Western may offer can easily be outweighed by the potential networks that you could create in Toronto in the areas you mentioned.

[whereverjustice]

Here's the Osgoode IP 'hub' website. That may be helpful to you.

You mentioned that you're wary of relying on listed course offerings. Which list are you looking at? This list is what was offered for students to enrol in for 2011-2012. If you see a course there, it's almost certainly being offered this year.

This is the first time I've ever heard the idea that Western is the place for IP. I've heard people say that about Ottawa (I'm guessing that's 50% "I've only heard of one IP professor [Michael Geist] and he's at Ottawa" and 50% the sensible realization that Ottawa is a significant place for patents). Anyway, I'm certainly open to believing that Western has an excellent IP program, and maybe even the leading one, but that's a novel assertion to me.*

And in response to your title question - "does strength at one school mean weakness at another" - the answer is no. Employers are going to be looking to what you've actually done, not what your school offers. So if you do an IP Clinical and get great experience out of it, or a whole bunch of IP courses, that's what you're going to talk about in your interview, not "Well I went to School X which you may have heard is the best for the Law of Whatever".

* I don't mean to slag Western in any way, here. It's a great law school. The problem is that it only takes one person to say "Hey I heard XSchool is great for YLaw" and suddenly there are 200 people on lawstudents.ca saying "WHY WOULD YOU GO ANYWHERE OTHER THAN XSCHOOL FOR YLAW, ZSCHOOL IS A TTT". Only you can stop status-seeking.

[davedavedave]

Thanks whereverjustice, your post was very helpful.

I did some searching on the subject of intellectual property law on this forum which led me to believe that Western was the school for IP. I could not find much discussion regarding IP and Osgoode in my searching which led me to wonder why this was so.

And I was wary of relying on listed course offerings as I know sometimes courses are listed as being offered in the calendar but rarely ever offered, or are offered once every couple of years.

Edited by davedavedave, 03 February 2012 - 09:02 AM.

[erinl2]

I'll second the comments by whereverjustice. And I, too, in all my time here on ls.ca, have never heard that Western is THE place to go for I.P.

[mike4]

http://www.iposgoode.ca/

David Vaver

[Mal]

davedavedave, on 03 February 2012 - 08:01 AM, said:

So I'm about to firm accept Osgoode, but before I do so I wanted to make sure I'm not limiting my options.

I have become increasingly interested in the law surrounding sports and music (i.e. sports/music agent), which I'm assuming falls under IP. My searching on this form has led me to the conclusion that Western is the Ontario school known for IP law, specifically in regards to sports. Although they are not known for it, will I be able to immerse myself in this area at Osgoode should I wish to? I'm wary of relying on the listed course offerings as I know many are usually not actually offered.

Also, does anyone have any experiences with exchange prgrams at Osgoode? Once again this is an area in which Western seems to take the cake. Although I applied for the JD/MA and probably will not have time for an exchange, I'd like to keep my options open. I could not find any info regarding this on their site.

I would be really hesitant on choosing a school based on such a narrow interest, particularly one that is difficult to break into such as sports/music. Although I have heard that Western is good for IP, I have heard Osgoode mentioned as good too. Osgoode is a great program where the size really allows them to have some really great course offerings, so I wouldn't be too worried about any problems with going to Osgoode.

Prior to law school I was sure I wanted to do securities type work coming from a finance undergrad that I really enjoyed and was hoping to continue. At the end of law school I am not interested at all in securities anymore (which I found to be rather boring) and am interested in an area that I thought was boring before law school.

Exchanges are available at any school so I wouldn't be too worried about that. I also really have always felt that exchanges are better done in undergrad when it is important to broaden your horizons rather than in a professional school where what you are learning is important as well.

[davedavedave]

I firm accepted Osgoode a bit earlier. I just wanted to make sure I was not limiting any opportunities by doing so (I worded it too strongly before by stating that I had gathered that Western was the school for IP; I had just seen Western listed repeatedly as strong in that area and Osgoode as strong in other areas, such as constitutional law, etc.).

All your responses were useful in clearing up my concern. Thank you.

Edited by davedavedave, 03 February 2012 - 12:21 PM.

[JudgeDredd]

osgoode is very strong for IP, it offers the most IP courses out of any ontario law school and has an IP intensive clinic, there is also usually a perspective option (you get to choose one first year seminar yourself ) on IP law/law and music. So if that's your interest you will be well served at Osgoode.

Keep in mind however that the number of lawyers doing sports and music law is very very small (its like the 0Ls around here wanting to go into international law or environment law). It is a sexy area of the law but there are no jobs in it for junior lawyers. A few of the big firms have entertainment and sports law departments and but really only a few senior partners do it full time or double as agents. its a tough area to break into but can be done if you establish a strong reputation down the road and transition into it.

[erinl2]

Dave, as for entertainment law, have a look at the bios of the lawyers at Stohn, Hay, which is arguably the most respected entertainment (of all kinds) law firm in the country. I think all of them had biglaw experience prior to joining the firm and certainly Stephen Stohn had many years at McT before leaving. Many also have had a lot of varied experience in the entertainment industry. This is a niche market and it's very unusual for new grads or young associates to begin their careers in this area. Same thing goes for sports agency.

[davedavedave]

erinl2, on 03 February 2012 - 07:11 PM, said:

Dave, as for entertainment law, have a look at the bios of the lawyers at Stohn, Hay, which is arguably the most respected entertainment (of all kinds) law firm in the country. I think all of them had biglaw experience prior to joining the firm and certainly Stephen Stohn had many years at McT before leaving. Many also have had a lot of varied experience in the entertainment industry. This is a niche market and it's very unusual for new grads or young associates to begin their careers in this area. Same thing goes for sports agency.

Thanks, erinl2.