Harinder Gahir, LLM

We had the pleasure of speaking with Harinder Gahir, a graduate of the Professional LLM in General Law at Osgoode. Harinder took us through his rich career thus far, and told us how the LLM helped achieve some of his goals.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I have been practicing in the areas of administrative, business and real estate law since my call to the bar in June 2000. A significant part of my practice includes acting as a mediator and arbitrator in complex matters. Aside from having a busy practice, I spent 15 years of my career as a part-time adjudicator. I joined the Canada Pension Plan Review Tribunal in 2006 as a Chairperson and presided over a three-member panel for three years. Concurrently, in November 2007, I joined the Licence Appeal Tribunal (Ontario) as a Vice-Chair and adjudicated on over twenty legislations.

At both tribunals, I had the honour of presiding over several hundred case conferences, appeal hearings, and documenting those decisions. During this time, I had the privilege of observing top-notch lawyers practicing fine advocacy skills. This exposure was a key motivator for pursuing an LLM.  

Why did you decide to pursue an LLM at Osgoode?

It was an easy decision to choose Osgoode as I had taken several Professional Development programs there in the past. I was familiar with the high quality of programming and the calibre of the faculty.

In the past, I took the Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop, Advanced Certificate in Adjudication, and The Osgoode Certificate in Negotiation. The faculty of judges, lawyers and academics bring unprecedent passion and knowledge to the classroom.

How LLM in General Law help you achieve your professional goals?

I took advantage of the enormous latitude Osgoode provides in selecting my area of specialization. I chose the courses that fulfilled my professional goals in Administrative Law, Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution. Through them, I developed skills and perspectives to advance my career and better serve my clients. These learnings truely guide my daily life, work, practice and approach to life.

Do you have any advice to share with prospective LLM candidates?

If you want to fulfil your passion for professional development, Osgoode is the perfect place. The program bridges the gap between theory and practice, helps stimulate intellectual growth, hones your skills and deepens your knowledge of the law.

You can personalize your learning experience while leveraging unique and diverse perspectives from eminent academics, lawyers and judges. Furthermore, you can pursue your passion for excellence while taking advantage of tremendous networking opportunities with the profession’s best brains.