Osgoode vs U Vic

[biffo852]

I have been accepted to both schools. I would definitely go to UBC if they accepted me (they have not). So in the meantime I have to make a decision. I live in BC and want to practice here eventually.  

At first I thought I would prefer Osgoode. Despite the axiomatic refrain of "go to school where you want to practice," I really like Osgoode. As a person interested in working for government or litigation boutique, the clinical experiences and faculty are really unmatched. The alumni network is of course Toronto/Ontario focused, but there are some alumni out here in BC. They also achieve pretty excellent outcomes. In fact I would choose Osgoode even over a school like U of T because it's a great school for people who are interested in public sector work. I also have lived in Toronto, and I do like the city. I would not mind working for a few years in Ontario for Crown Law Office - Civil/Criminal, or Department of Justice. 

Having spoken to administrators and also lawyers for the BC Ministry of Attorney General Legal Services Branch or Prosecution Service, the process is open to all applicants and no weight is given to school of origin. Osgoode grads also make it into good litigation boutiques and big law firms in Vancouver. 

But of course, the problem is U Vic will always place better into all of these places, it's in BC and it's a good school too. U Vic has a co-op program that has government positions - giving you a leg up for summering and articling. U Vic is also tremendously cheaper (12k vs 26k). Though I am a mature students who would be able to bring some resources to bear to afford Osgoode. However, I feel very little desire to go to U Vic, their indigenous and environmental focus does not speak to me at all, I much prefer to live in Toronto than Victoria, and their course offerings cannot match Osgoode's (much smaller student body = less specialized courses offered). 

Any thoughts?

[Chef Justice]

The money saved going to UVic over Osgoode for likely similar outcomes makes me think that UVic is the better option. Even though school's say they have a "focus" in an area, that really won't prevent you from studying or practicing in a different practice area. Really, this comes down to how bad you want to live in Toronto versus living in Victoria.

Edited March 8, 2024 by Chef Justice

[INFJatlaw]

I would choose Oz, because the location of UVic is really not that convenient for OCI and networking with big firms. But if you just want to work at public sectors like BC government, UVic would be a good choice. Even if UVic is less expensive, you won't save too much because rental cost there is crazy and everything is expensive on the island.

[duck]

Hey! I went to Osgoode and will be articling in Vancouver (I am from Vancouver). I received no shortage of interest from Big Law firms and litigation boutiques. In my opinion, choosing Osgoode will not negatively affect your chances of getting a job in BC (rather, I am convinced it helped 😄).

[biffo852]

9 hours ago, duck said:

Hey! I went to Osgoode and will be articling in Vancouver (I am from Vancouver). I received no shortage of interest from Big Law firms and litigation boutiques. In my opinion, choosing Osgoode will not negatively affect your chances of getting a job in BC (rather, I am convinced it helped 😄).

Was it hard to transition from learning about Ontario laws and getting used to practice in BC? Also, do you feel that you have left behind a network that could have been useful to you had you started in Toronto? 

[Chef Justice]

From what I know, it really isn't that difficult to study in one province and practice in another. Yes, some law you study may not apply in other provinces, but you will learn most of this in actual practice. Yes, going to a law school in one province and practicing in another province means you are physically leaving your network behind. But, that doesn't mean you virtually leave them behind, and they will still be a phone call away.

[2easy]

UVic is a no brainer, you are talking about saving over 40k.

[biffo852]

My heart says Osgoode, my brain days U Vic. Great.

[Chef Justice]

Pretty much. I think you know what the "right" decision is, but I'm hoping UBC pulls through for you soon to make any doubts you have from deciding between these two schools irrelevant.

[duck]

11 hours ago, biffo852 said:

Was it hard to transition from learning about Ontario laws and getting used to practice in BC? Also, do you feel that you have left behind a network that could have been useful to you had you started in Toronto? 

I’m not practicing yet! But when I summered I didn’t struggle more than any other student. I don’t think being OOP put me at a notable disadvantage.  You can absolutely maintain your network over the course of law school if that’s a priority for you. If you find yourself going back to BC for holidays you can take some time to arrange a coffee chat or two. Otherwise, emails and messages go a long way too. 

[duck]

7 hours ago, biffo852 said:

My heart says Osgoode, my brain days U Vic. Great.

I gave up going to my dream school for undergrad because I got pretty much got a full ride to a local university. While I don’t regret my decision, it was undoubtedly influenced by financial concerns. 
When I applied for law school and got into Osgoode (my top choice), I chose Osgoode. I haven't regretted my choice at all since. Assuming that you’ve saved up enough for Osgoode, I would say follow your heart. It’s probably the last degree you’re going to get, why not go somewhere you really want?