Current and prospective law school faculty will have a new way to hone their teaching skills with the launch of OsgoodePD’s new Certificate in Law Teaching this fall. For legal practitioners of all experience levels, the certificate will cover foundational pedagogical principles, as well as how to deal with the challenges of law teaching in particular.
“This is an idea that has been percolating for some time,” said Audrey Fried, OsgoodePD’s director of faculty and curriculum development, who explained that she put the program together after identifying a gap in Canadian-focused law teaching programs.
“The certificate is part of a long-time vision to make OsgoodePD a centre of professional development for not only learners but instructors of law as well,” said Victoria Watkins, executive director and assistant dean. “The legal profession has an honoured tradition of giving back by teaching, and this is a way to support and sustain that tradition – by creating a learning community of law instructors.”
The introduction of this new certificate – which will be led by Fried, with the help of several other instructors who have expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence and trauma-informed teaching – will open up another option for permanent and adjunct faculty members at Canadian law schools, who have traditionally looked to more general, higher education-focused programs for professional development opportunities.
“The certificate is a way to help faculty improve their teaching and also to attract prospective law teachers who will feel more comfortable taking on a course once they have learned a little bit more about teaching,” Fried says. “It’s also a chance to draw on the expertise of some of the really wonderful law teachers we have in Canada.”
To obtain the certificate, attendees must complete all three modules, which will be offered online over three weekends this upcoming fall and winter via a combination of synchronous sessions and asynchronous activities to maximize reach. The modules include:
- Foundations of Law Teaching, tackling the basics of law teaching, including learning design, classroom management, assessments, accessibility, Indigenization, and diversity, equity and inclusion in the classroom;
- Law Teaching with Problems and Projects, designed to give attendees a footing in instruction and assessment using problems and projects; and
- Special Topics in Law Teaching, focusing on emerging and perennial issues at the cutting edge of law teaching, including online instruction, artificial intelligence, the role of lectures and trauma-informed practices.
“It’s aimed at everyone, from full-time faculty to adjunct faculty and prospective adjuncts,” said Fried. “We would like people to join us from all over Canada and beyond.”
The program is currently sold out, but those interested can register now to join the waitlist. For more information about the Osgoode Certificate in Law Teaching, visit the program website.