It’s emblematic of the current intolerant climate that I feel compelled to publish this letter anonymously. Nonetheless, as an individual of decent conscience, this matter is too important to neglect. This letter comes from a place of deep compassion and the moral obligation we owe humanity to speak up when grotesque injustice becomes the norm. These are the values Osgoode prides itself on, and I...
I. Ontario’s Ag-Gag Legislation On June 18, 2020, Ontario’s Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act (“the Act”) received Royal Assent. Some provisions of the Act came into force on September 2, with the remaining provisions of the Act and its Regulation coming into force on December 5, 2020. The Act creates provisions specific to places where farm animals are kept and...
Recruit season is upon us. This year’s 2L class is facing additional stress due to the pandemic and will be navigating the first-ever virtual recruit process. As I stare at the Excel spreadsheet I made with the list of employers, application requirements, practice information, and contacts, I can’t help but wonder when this will end. For some odd reason, the time from January – April always...
“We have to talk about liberating minds, as well as liberating societies”. In first year, we were encouraged to write letters to ourselves. These letters were to contain our ambitions, our fears, our worries and the words we aspired to live by. As part of the letter I wrote to myself, I included an excerpt of a blog I wrote when I was 18 years old. “To be Black, is to be radiant. A radiance...
As COVID-19 decimates the Canadian economy, throws indebted students into an uncertain job market, and poses real risk to both physical and mental health, Osgoode Hall Law School’s students click into their Zoom classes to start off the 2020-2021 academic year. One student reflects on the changes brought on by the pandemic and laments the virtual formatting of her courses. “Just because I never...
OTTAWA, ON Following what they call years of systemic discrimination, “gamers” flooded the House of Commons yesterday to make their voices known. Championing private member’s bill C-1337, gamers of all stripes came to highlight the struggles they have faced and how parliament has remained silent on these issues. “It’s an utter travesty, what we can see is the state trying to control our...
OSGOODE HALL, TORONTO ON – Citing ‘app failure’ and a lack of volunteer training, nearly a day after the Iowa caucuses in the Democratic primary we are still left in the dark as to who has clinched valuable delegates in the race to be the Democratic Party candidate. With the failure of the DNC to publish the results of the Iowa Caucus in a timely manner, Osgoode students who are allegedly...
TORONTO, ON – Responding to considerable public pressure regarding arcane and unfair Legal Aid requirements, the Ford administration has announced what it has determined to be a more practical and easily understood set of criteria “for the people”. Long have legal professionals and concerned members of the public argued that Legal Aid’s current financial cutoffs have been far too...
OTTAWA, ON – Still reeling from dangerous rhetoric and military mobilization in the beginning of 2020, our nation is left with a great deal of uncertainty. Several questions are at the forefront of our minds: What threats are legitimate? Which are merely posturing? How is Newfoundland involved? It should be awfully suspicious to all Canadians that Newfoundland has remained shockingly silent...
TORONTO, ON – Reports now show that Trevor Redding, a local 3L student, has realized that he has become completely mired in law school culture. Sources are now saying that Redding has passed the point of no return, and that all future interactions with those outside of the legal community are doomed to failure. The tipping point came last Friday. While attending a party with his...
OTTAWA, ON – It was a calm afternoon as the newest crop of Canadian MPs were set to be sworn in. Freshmen MPs nervously adjusted their ties as veterans could not wait to get the pomp and circumstance over with. All of this was brought to a screeching halt as a familiar figure burst into the legislature, kicking down the door and sending debris everywhere. The other MPs stood in shock as...
ETOBICOKE, ON – On Tuesday, Obiter had the chance to sit down with Fred McQuaid, 59, Member of Parliament for Etobicoke West. McQuaid is looking to defend his title for the fourth time in what is shaping up to be an incredibly divisive election. – Obiter: I’ve got to say that it’s an honour to meet you, sir. You’ve had one hell of a career. Could you give our readers a quick summary...
Report: One Fucking Asshole In Group Presentation Wore A Suit Toronto, ON – Shit, shit, shit. On Monday it was reported to Obiter Dicta that this one fucking asshole in your seminar wore a fucking suit. Why the hell did he think that was a good idea? This fucking thing is only worth 8% of your total grade, and the group all agreed that they’d “just do business-casual.” This one fucking...
TORONTO, ON Local Osgoode Law student Rebecca Stevens, has reported to Obiter that her three-month relationship with her boyfriend, Kyle, is quickly taking a turn for the worse. Whereas most women in her situation would cut these things off immediately, Rebecca’s legal training has given her a different perspective on the matter – sheer curiosity about how all of their issues will play out...
[Editor’s note: The author of this article informed me that they have recently landed a paid articling position, and has asked me to mention that holding out for paid positions is worth the effort. Congrats to him/her, whoever he/she is. Editor’s note: Online title has been edited, for a variety of reasons.] Articling: a necessary stepping-stone in the legal licensing process...
(Editor’s Note: Obiter does not usually publish anonymous articles, but in this case, identifying the author might be detrimental to his/her career prospects, and the message is one of some social and/or legal importance. You can probably guess the author’s identity anyway.) Full disclosure time: over a decade ago, I was a teenage reprobate. When I returned to university in my early...