48 LEXPERT MAGAZINE
|
JULY/AUGUST 2017
Osgoode students, supervised by lawyers at
the firm, to advise early-stage business ven-
tures on financing, equity structures and
other legal issues."
In addition, Osgoode offers multiple
other business learning experiences, in-
cluding initiatives from Davies Ward Phil-
lips & Vineberg LLP. e law firm hosts
the Advanced Business Law Workshop
and recently sponsored a new certificate
program for law students on "business
fundamentals" as part of the law school's
Learning & Leading series.
Tailored Advice
In fact, the emphasis on providing business
education to lawyers is a thread throughout
Davies. e firm annually holds an inter-
nal, two-day, cross-office Intensive Finan-
cial Training Program, led by an outside
provider. Designed to enhance not only
business skills training, but also internal
networking and marketing, the program
uses an integrated case study format in-
volving an M&A transaction between two
publicly traded companies.
Florence Simard, a senior associate at
Davies, has attended the program. She says
she found it so beneficial that she'll partici-
pate in it again this year. e main ques-
tion every client has, in any legal situation
is, "What does this mean for my business?"
While responses will vary for each client,
Simard says, "e only way a lawyer can re-
spond with a practical answer is by under-
standing the client's commercial realities.
It is absolutely fundamental for a corporate
lawyer to understand the rationale leading
to an investment or other business decision
and provide tailored legal advice."
Core Business Concepts
At Western Law, a number of law firms
partner on initiatives aimed at bolstering
students' business acumen. Osler, Hoskin
& Harcourt LLP, for example, has since
2015 run a Biz Basics series during the aca-
demic year. John Valley, a Toronto-based
corporate partner, is involved in the ongo-
ing development of the series.
e intention, he says, is "to provide law
students who don't have a formal business
education with a foundation to build from,
as well as get them comfortable with the
core business concepts that will help them
understand and meet clients' needs as they
enter practice."
Delivered by Osler lawyers and senior
administrators, the 90-minute lunchtime
panels, which focus on hard and so skills,
as well as informal networking and Q&A
portions, is extremely popular, says Valley.
As a result, last year Osler initiated a simi-
lar series at Queen's Faculty of Law.
Western Law Dean Erika Chamberlain
is unequivocal about the value of business
education. "We want our students to be able
to speak to their corporate clients on their
own terms: to understand their business
and financing needs and develop the most
effective plans to address them," she says.
"ey can only do this if they understand
the complexities of modern business and its
interaction with legal frameworks."
"[The intention is]
to provide law
students who don't
have a formal
business education
with a foundation
to build from, as
well as get them
comfortable with
the core business
concepts that
will help them
understand
and meet clients'
needs as they
enter practice."
- John Valley, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
PHOTO:
SHUTTERSTOCK
