Reflections on the Certificate in Law Teaching

One of the foundational messages of the Certificate in Law Teaching is that law teachers should strive to create a “community of inquiry” – a learning community with a shared intellectual purpose, guided by an expert, engaged in activities in support of that purpose. The inaugural offering of the Certificate in Law Teaching lived up to this aspiration and then some. Over the three weekends we spent together, many participants made connections with each other or with instructors that will extend beyond the certificate, a hallmark of programs at OsgoodePD. These bonds were created through shared engagement in our mission, which included lively discussion, challenging questions, and mutual support.

Along with twenty instructors, participants from across Canada learned about a wide range of topics, from nuts-and-bolts learning design to Indigenization to AI and law teaching. They did much more than listen passively to lectures. They wrote about how what they were learning could be useful in their particular teaching context, and they created a problem or project to be used in a course they were planning to teach. They used their experience and creativity to help each other improve on these problems or projects through peer review. More than one participant reported putting their new knowledge to work immediately in their teaching. 

While many participants lauded the utility of particular topics, some of the most meaningful comments I heard touched on the transformational quality of the experience. One participant commented: “The perspectives gained from these sessions resonate with me in ways I never imagined” (Damola Adediji, Doctoral Researcher). Another said, “Many thanks for everything. This is an experience I will never forget” (Kara Forrest, Lawyer). Participants also expressed their gratitude for the experienced law teachers who contributed, with one commenting: “All the speakers over the past modules were excellent, passionate and engaging in their areas” (John Burchill, Sessional Instructor). And then there is this comment, which hints at the community of inquiry we created: “There’s something for every law teacher – aspiring or seasoned – to learn from this program. I was impressed how my fellow students included current university professors and recently-retired Big Law partners, and yet the environment and collaboration that was encouraged across the modules meant that everyone’s voice was heard. This is practicing what you teach” (Kara Forrest, Lawyer).  

The next offering of the Certificate in Law Teaching is coming up on October 24, 25, November 8, 28, and 29, 2025. The program is fully online, allowing aspiring and experienced law teachers to participate from all over Canada and beyond.

Audrey Fried – Osgoode Professional Development
Program Director for The Osgoode Certificate in Law Teaching