Episodes
Monday Nov 23, 2020
61. Taking Photos for Property Law
Monday Nov 23, 2020
Monday Nov 23, 2020
Felicity is in a state because she just had her graduation photos taken, and is wondering whether everything is happening too fast. Is she ready to leave the law school nest?
Our guest this episode is Dylan Yan, a former student at Osgoode who transferred to McGill and is back in 1L all over again. Richard and Dylan have an unusual relationship as Dylan, who admits he rarely goes to class, got to know Richard well because he often visited his office during 1L at Osgoode. (Richard taught Dylan Public and Constitutional Law). He ended up transferring because he realized that there's no truth to the rumour that you should attend law school where you want to practice; so he made the move for himself, not for some wacky idea.
Felicity wonders whether there are differences approaches between different law schools. Both she and Dylan talk about how the form of law school evaluation gets reflected in class attendance and study habits. (Hint: all agree that form follows function here, which is far from ideal). Dylan concludes by relating a story of how he found a creative way to complete a property law photography assignment. Felicity and Richard are rendered almost speechless.
Music Attribution:
What's Love Got to Do With It
by Tina Turner
Soundcloud: What's Love Got to Do with It
Monday Nov 16, 2020
60. How to Get Away with Talking in Class
Monday Nov 16, 2020
Monday Nov 16, 2020
Shaniel Lewis is our guest this episode. Shaniel's a 2L student at Osgoode, and it's her first time being a guest on a podcast.
Shaniel looks back to law school from the perspective of her 1L self. The amount of readings were a shock to her, she didn't expect to be reading cases everyday, including weekends. Richard wonders why it's such a shock; Felicity admits she also found the first year to include a lot of reading, but admitted she's a slow reader and knew it would take a lot of time.
Richard reveals that he wanted Shaniel on the show because she was a talker in class (as was Felicity), and is curious what they do to rein themselves in. Both agree that asking good questions in class is valuable, but sometimes it is better to go up individually to a prof. Shaniel drops the bomb that she sometimes ask questions just to get a laugh. The lesson to be learned, ultimately, is don't be annoying with your questions. Richard is put on the spot as to what he does with bad questions; he's far too diplomatic to ever say such a thing out loud (although he thinks it!)
Music Attribution:
What's Love Got to Do With It
by Tina Turner
Soundcloud: What's Love Got to Do with It
Tuesday Nov 10, 2020
59. The BLS Episode
Tuesday Nov 10, 2020
Tuesday Nov 10, 2020
Our guest this episode is Emily Kot, a 2L student at Osgoode. Although she recommends Legally Blonde as a law-related film, she mentions she's seen Legally Blonde the musical. Richard and Felicity are completely blown away as they had no idea such a thing existed.
Turns out, she saw it at Hart House at the University of Toronto, as friends took her there to help ease the stress of grades release. That's exactly what the episode is about: 1L life and in particular, dealing with 1L life during a pandemic. Emily has a unique perspective because she lived in Hong Kong during the SARS epidemic in 2003. She remembers being pulled out of school, having to wear masks, and when she went back to school, having her music teacher pointing out those masked students who were not singing because he could see that their foreheads were not moving. It isn't clear how that relates to law school, but when Richard asks Emily for advice or pointers on how to cope, she says the biggest thing is knowing that the pandemic will end, that there is hope. Excellent advice.
Emily also says that keeping perspective is important while the pandemic Is on. Although anxieties about grades will always exist, Emily tries to turn the focus away from law students being turned into commodities for firms, since in the world at large, people are suffering in ways that put the privileges of law students in stark relief. Also excellent advice.
Emily and Felicity compare law school to high school. That was one thing Emily found she wasn't prepared for. 1L is clearly the most like high school, as students lack agency (Emily's word) but both agree things improve in upper years. Richard wonders if the "high school" label is unfairly pejorative -- there are good aspects to the collegiality and friendships that occur because of everyone's close proximity and shared experiences. Reluctantly, the other two agree. Richard coins a new term, BLS, meaning before law school, to reflect the two halves of one's life that law school manufactures. Felicity disses it as a term that will never catch on, but Emily and Felicity both then say it's important not to abandon your BLS friends, and Emily imparts some final wisdom, which is to find out and protect something you used to do in your BLS life. Richard names the episode BLS as vindication.
Music Attribution:
What's Love Got to Do With It
by Tina Turner
Soundcloud: What's Love Got to Do with It
Monday Nov 02, 2020
58. A Great Day for a Great Day
Monday Nov 02, 2020
Monday Nov 02, 2020
Our guest is Adam Bruchetta, a law student at Dalhousie Law School. Adam decided to go to law school on the opposite coast from where he normally resides in Vancouver. He says he chose the ocean over the mountains of Calgary. Richard also went to Dal, so he and Adam have much in common. Adam and Felicity also have something in common because they met at a Dal Welcome Event for incoming law students -- Felicity was offered a spot at Dal but chose Osgoode. She is keen to assuage students who agonize over decisions about schools (not mentioning that some may not have options!) by saying they are all good in their own way.
Every March Dal hosts this event to win over potential students; Felicity suggests people on other admissions committees should think about doing the same thing.
Richard and Adam share stories about Dal, the Newfoundlanders that go there, and the East Coast mentality where strangers are more open and friendly. Richard agrees, although his only near-fight in his life took place on his second night in Halifax and to this day he's not sure how that happened.
The three discuss law school "social societies" as they are colloquially known. Domus, or house of the law, is Dal's social society, where students get together for drinks. Adam has a near-perfect record for making the Thursday night drinking (hisonly miss was for articling recruitment). Felicity thinks that Adam's approach exemplifies Dalhousie Law School. They all wonder what may happen to these during the pandemic. Adam ends with an aphorism that in unequaled in the podcast so far: "it’s a great day to have a great day". Enough said.