2015 Katherine Baker Memorial Lecture

 Professor David Armitage
Lloyd C. Blankfein Professor of History and Chair of the Department of History at Harvard University

"Civil War? What Does This Mean?": Mid-Nineteenth-Century Answers to a Nagging Question

Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015
4:00pm to 6:00pm

Innovation Law & Policy Workshop presents: Mario Biagioli, University of California, Davis, School of Law

Beyond Pastures:  Networked Commons v. Traditional Commons 

Thursday, September 17, 2015

12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Solarium (Room FA2), Falconer Hall

Lunch will be provided. To register, please send an email to: centre.ilp@utoronto.ca.

Abstract:  From software and science to collaborative forms of cultural production, the commons of the so-called knowledge economy are typically figured as networks, either material or virtual. No longer associated with groups of people sharing the same workspace, most of these collaborations are figured as changing grids, with interactions following a schedule so variable as to question traditional notions of collaboration. This is in stark contrast with the images of green village pastures or communal fisheries that are typically mobilized to exemplify these kinds of technological commons. More than just a problem of poorly fitting metaphors this indicates a tension within current conceptualizations of the commons -- a tendency to conceptualize it as resource rather than as forms of collaborative action. The mobilization of geographically-specific and community-managed pastoral figures of the commons indexes a conservative undercurrent within otherwise progressive intellectual property politics that, I argue, ends up romanticizing communities and their allegedly organic norms and forms of collaboration.  In doing so, it unwittingly reifies the logic of property (albeit in the form of communal property) rather than un-think it to make room for post-property concepts better able to capture collaborative knowledge making and knowledge access.

LAW & ECONOMICS WORKSHOP 

presents 

Oliver Hart
Harvard Economics Department 

Short-term, Long-term, and Continuing Contracts 

Tuesday, September 15, 2015
4:10 - 5:45
Solarium (room FA2) - Falconer Hall
84 Queen's Park 

Parties often regulate their relationships through “continuing” contracts that are neither long-term nor short-term but usually roll over. We study the trade-off between long-term, short-term, and continuing contracts in a two period model where gains from trade exist in the first period, and may or may not exist in the second period. A long-term contract that mandates trade in both periods is disadvantageous since renegotiation is required if there are no gains from trade in the second period. A short-term contract is disadvantageous since a new contract must be negotiated if gains from trade exist in the second period. A continuing contract can be better. In a continuing contract there is no obligation to trade in the second period but if there are gains from trade the parties will bargain “fairly” using the first period contract as a reference point. This can reduce the cost of negotiating the next contract. Continuing contracts are not a panacea, however, since fair bargaining may limit the use of outside options in the bargaining process and as a result parties will sometimes fail to trade when this is efficient. 

Oliver Hart is currently the Andrew E. Furer Professor of Economics at Harvard University, where he has taught since 1993. Hart works mainly on contract theory, the theory of the firm, corporate finance, and law and economics. His research centers on the roles that ownership structure and contractual arrangements play in the governance and boundaries of corporations. He has published a book (Firms, Contracts, and Financial Structure, Oxford University Press, 1995) and numerous journal articles. He has used his theoretical work on firms in two legal cases as a government expert (Black and Decker v. U.S.A. and WFC Holdings Corp. (Wells Fargo) v. U.S.A.). He is a Fellow of the Econometric Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the British Academy and has several honorary degrees. He has been president of the American Law and Economics Association and a vice president of the American Economic Association.  

For more workshop information, please contact Nadia Gulezko at n.gulezko@utoronto.ca.

hart-headnotes_17jun15.pdf

The James Hausman Tax Law and Policy Workshop Series 

presents 

Kevin Milligan
University of British Columbia
Vancouver School of Economics

Child Tax Benefits

Wednesday, September 16, 2015
12:30 – 2:00
Room FA3, Falconer Hall
84 Queen’s Park 

Kevin Milligan is a Professor of Economics in the Vancouver School of Economics at the University of British Columbia, and is also affiliated with the C.D. Howe Institute and the National Bureau of Economic Research. Since 2011, he has served as Co-Editor of the Canadian Tax Journal.  He studied at Queen’s University and the University of Toronto, receiving his Ph.D. in 2001. His thesis was awarded the 2002 National Tax Association dissertation award.  His research spans the fields of public and labour economics, with a focus on the economics of children and the elderly, as well as other tax and labour market policy topics.  

A light lunch will be served. 

For more workshop information, please contact Nadia Gulezko at n.gulezko@utoronto.ca.

milligan-headnotes_08sep15.pdf

The U of T Criminal Law Students’ Association (CLSA) and the Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted (AIDWYC) present: 

Interviewing Child Witnesses and Victims: Preventing Wrongful Convictions through Best Practices

Tuesday, September 29, 2015
12:30-2 pm
Room 115, Victoria College Building (Old Vic)

One of the causes of wrongful convictions is the improper interviewing of child witnesses and victims. Memorial University PhD Candidate (Psychology) Kirk Luther will discuss the history of child interviewing practices in Canada, child development factors (such as memory, language, and suggestibility), various child interviewing protocols, and the progress that has been made training police officers in Canada.

The Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted (AIDWYC) is a Canadian, non-profit organization dedicated to exonerating innocent people and preventing miscarriages of justice through legal education and justice system reform. In the 22 years since its inception, AIDWYC has exonerated 20 innocent people who together spent almost 200 years in prison.

AIDWYC Legal Education Counsel Amanda Carling will talk about AIDWYC’s work as well as volunteer, summer and articling opportunities with the organization.

Coffee and dessert will be served.
Please join us! 

For more information, contact uoftlawclsa@gmail.com.

Interviewing Child Witnesses and Victims - Event Poster

The Law School Clubs Fair will be held on Sept 16th 12:30-2pm in the Hart House Great Hall. Representatives from law school clubs and committees, public interest programs and law school journals will be in attendance to chat about how to become involved. 

Students, staff and faculty are invited to register for yoga at the law school!

Classes will be held Tuesdays from 12:30-1:30pm in the Rowell Room in Flavelle House. Yoga classes at the Law School will begin on Tuesday Sept 15^th. There will be no class on Nov 3^rd due to reading week. The last class will be on December 1^st.  

Class will be taught by Morgan Cowie who taught at the law school in the Winter 2015. Morgan is an excellent instructor from Octopus Garden Yoga Studio in Toronto.

Classes are $55.00 for ten classes to be paid in cash at the first class. Students bring their own mats. Please email Sara-Marni Hubbard at sara.hubbard@utoronto.ca to register. Please allow 2 business days for a confirmation email. 

Labour and Employment in Actual Practice is a student interest club that focuses on fostering interest among students in workplace law. LEAP is looking for two (2) 1L executives to be part of our team. Being a 1L executive is a great way to get involved and expand your network.

Interested applicants should submit a 250-word statement of interest to leap.utoronto@gmail.com. The deadline to submit statements of interests are September 25, 2015.

Sincerely,

Jane Zhang & Jason Wong

Co-presidents, Labour and Employment in Actual Practice.

Did you come to law school to work in international law and end up writing “I’ve always found corporate restructuring fascinating” on your 30 OCI applications? Live your real dreams by joining the International Law Students' Society (ILS)! The ILS is looking for 2-3 upper year executive members to join our team. Positions available include: Firm Liaison, Promotions, Special Events, and OBA/SLS Liaison.

-----
The ILS encompasses all areas of international law and aims to promote an understanding of both public and private international law. This year, the ILS plans to host speaker events with professionals in the field, as well as firm tours to give students an opportunity to network with real-world practitioners. In late January, ILS will also host the 21st annual Canadian International Law Students' Conference (CILSC), in collaboration with Osgoode Hall Law School, an event for which past keynote speakers include Denis Halliday (former UN Assistant Secretary-General) and the Honourable Roméo A. Dallaire. More information about the ILS can be found at: http://www.law.utoronto.ca/…/stud…/international-law-society.

Please email toronto.ils@gmail.com with a 200-400 word statement of interest, as well as the positions you would like to apply for. Feel free to include more than one position of interest. Applications are due by Tuesday, September 15 at 10:00 pm.

We look forward to working with you!
Sam & Kartiga
Co-Presidents, 2015-2016

Interested in environmental law and sustainability? Want the opportunity to talk with like-minded students and faculty in a relaxed environment? 

The U of T Environmental Law Club (ELC) is excited to be hosting our first pub night of the year! This will be a great chance to learn about what the ELC does, how you can get involved, and the opportunities available at U of T to pursue environmental law. The event details are as follows:

• Date: Tuesday, September 22nd
• Time: 6-8pm
• Location: Fox & Fiddle (27 Wellesley Street East)
• Questions?: Contact us via email uoftenvirolawclub@gmail.com or by visiting our facebook page. 

We look forward to seeing you at the event and will also be at Clubs' Fair on September 16th!

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.” - Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

Location: EM302

Date: October 15, 2015

Time: 12:30-2:00pm

Downtown Legal Services is the Faculty’s flagship public interest clinic.  For over 40 years, our staff and students have been providing free legal services to low income clients and University of Toronto students.  For more information about DLS and our student programs, visit our website at http://downtownlegalservices.ca/

We are seeking volunteers from all years (first years and upper years) to work at the clinic for the 2015-2016 academic year.  Please join us in Victoria College Chapel on Tuesday, September 15, 12:30 – 2:00 pm to learn more about DLS, the various volunteer activities and how to apply.

Work-Study Position with Asper Centre

The Asper Centre is looking for a student to provide research and some technical support for the Centre’s website and social media (Facebook and Twitter). The position involves some research and drafting for content to be uploaded to the Centre's website related to Canadian constitutional law and the activities of the Centre (primarily case summaries). Training will be provided in respect to the site's content management system; therefore, in-depth knowledge of website development, maintenance and design, although helpful, is not required.  To apply email cheryl.milne@utoronto.ca with resume and covering letter by September 18^th at 5:00 p.m. Details of the position can be found on the University’s Career Centre page: http://cln.utoronto.ca (Job No. 61304.) or the Law Faculty’s career page.

Recruitment for Volume 74

The Law Review is currently accepting applications for 2015-2016 Assistant Editor, Associate Editor, and Senior Associate Editor positions. 

To join the Law Review, please complete the survey found on our website: www.utflr.org under "Join Us" (http://utflr.law.utoronto.ca/page/join-us)

Applications are due Friday, September 18, 2015 at 11:59pm. 

Questions? Send our Editors-in-Chief an email at utflr74@gmail.com.

Check us out on the web at www.utflr.org; on Facebook at /UofTLawReview; and on Twitter @utflr1942.

Twenty years ago, the Supreme Court of Canada decided Weber v Ontario Hydro, one of the most influential and baffling decisions ever issued by the Supreme Court of Canada in the field of labour arbitration. Join the Centre for Law in the Contemporary Workplace at a Symposium to examine the Weber legacy, evaluate its impact on labour arbitration, and discuss what lessons we can learn from the Weber experience about employment dispute resolution more generally.

Program and Registration

THE COUNCIL OF CANADIAN LAW DEANS and MAGNA CARTA CANADA

2015 LEGAL WRITING COMPETITION

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Council of Canadian Law Deans (CCLD) and Magna Carta Canada are pleased to mark the occasion of Magna Carta and the Charter of the Forest coming to Canada by organizing a national writing competition for both common and civil law students.

ELIGIBILITY:

The competition is open to every student currently enrolled in a Canadian Law School.  The essay must be the original work of the student but may also be work or part of work previously submitted by the student within a law school course.  Co-authored essays are ineligible.  Each student may submit only one essay.  Submissions in French are encouraged.

CONTENT GUIDELINES:

The essay must address “the relevance of Magna Carta in Canada in 2015”.  The subject matter may be addressed from a number of perspectives including, the legal, historical, or societal effects of Magna Carta in Canada in 2015.

Submissions must be in Microsoft Word, double-spaced, in a twelve-point font, with one-inch margins; footnotes or endnotes must be single-spaced, and also in a twelve-point font with one-inch margins.  Citations may be embedded in the text or set out in the footnotes or endnotes.  The essay must not exceed 1,500 words exclusive of headers, footnotes, and endnotes.

ENTRY PROCEDURE

Electronically submit the essay with a cover page which includes: the essay title, student name, law school and email address.  If law students, ordinarily resident in the Provinces of either Newfoundland or P.E.I. wish to also be considered for a law society prize to be awarded by that provincial law society, they must indicate that fact on their cover page and provide their address in either Newfoundland or P.E.I.

ENTRIES MUST BE SENT TO magnacartacanadaessay@gmail.com  BY 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time ON FRIDAY October 2, 2015

JUDGING

The essays will be judged anonymously for the best essay from each province with a law school and for the best essay from a law student ordinarily resident in each of Newfoundland and P.E.I.  Each of these winners will then be eligible for the prize for the best essay in Canada. 

Each essay will be judged on its creativity and clarity, organization, quality of analysis and research, grammar and form.

PRIZES AWARDED

1) The student with the best essay from each province with a law school will be awarded a prize of $1,000.00 by the provincial law society. Notwithstanding that Newfoundland and P.E.I. do not have law schools in their province, the Newfoundland and P.E.I. law societies have agreed to recognize ($1000.00) the best essay from a student attending a law school within Canada, whose primary residence is in their province. Determination of primary residence will be at the sole discretion of the Newfoundland and P.E.I. law societies. 

2) All winning essays as identified above will be eligible for recognition ($1,000.00) as the best essay in Canada by Magna Carta Canada.

Note: By submitting an entry in this contest, the entrant affirms that the entry is his or her own work and grants the CCLD, Magna Carta Canada (and any relevant law society) permission to publish the entry.

The Faculty of Music's concerts are easily accessible to law students, as it is located right behind Falconer Hall. All students can buy tickets for $10 each, and many events are free.

Concert Schedule (PDF)

The Certificate Program is taught by some of the world’s experts in the field, including ICL professors, government lawyers, former advisers to the Canadian government and to the United Nations, and counsel in war crimes cases.

The Program is fully CPD-accredited. It will offer 45 webinars divided in an Introductory Module (10 courses) and an Advanced Module (35 courses), complemented by 2 in-person workshops. Read more about both modules here.

We hope you'll join us for our launch on October 2nd in Ottawa! A day of presentations & discussion of cutting edge topics in International Criminal Law will feature war crimes expert Dr. Joseph Rikhof and Professors Jennifer Bond and Timothy Radcliffe. The launch event is being held in partnership with Canadian Lawyers Abroad.

Please contact us at info@kirschinstitute.caif you have questions.

SECURE YOUR PLACE IN THE PROGRAM TODAY! All proceeds support the Canadian Centre for International Justice for its work with survivors of torture and war crimes.

The Hellenic Canadian Lawyers’ Association is an organization with a mandate to maintain a reliable network of lawyers, judges and law students of Hellenic origin. The Association is looking for a new University of Toronto student representative. You act as a liaison between the Association and Greek students, letting them know about upcoming events. It’s a great opportunity to meet Greek lawyers who are genuinely so interested in helping students with their careers. If you are interested, contact me at aaliferis@mccarthy.ca. Additionally, the annual President’s Dinner is taking place at Hy’s Steakhouse in Toronto, on September 29, 2015. In addition to announcing the scholarship winners, the HCLA is honouring new calls to the bar. Please contact kkalogiros@mccarthy.ca if you are interested in attending.