Every summer, high school students are offered a unique law school experience by the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law. Students from across North America and around the world are invited to learn at Canada’s most prestigious law school!
During the Law YSP, students currently enrolled in grades 10 through 12 can spend between one and five weeks at the Faculty of Law discussing advanced legal concepts, learning about the reality of the Canadian legal system, and applying their knowledge in a variety of stimulating environments.
For high school students interested in the law and legal issues, the Law YSP offers an unprecedented opportunity to spend time in the fascinating world of Canadian and international law, legal thinking and advocacy.
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Vaccination Requirement – Paused effective May 1, 2022
The University of Toronto will be pausing the following measures effective May 1, 2022:
- The requirement to complete health screening via UCheck prior to attending University premises
- The requirement to be fully vaccinated for in-person activities on University premises
- The requirement to be masked in indoor University spaces, unless otherwise required
Some or all of these requirements may be reinstated on short notice should public health conditions or guidance change. For more information visit https://www.utoronto.ca/utogether/changing-health-measures-summer-2022
Academic Modules
March Break Youth Program - In the Shoes of a Law Student - the Complete Law School Experience!How do you get into law school? What is it like being a law student? What types of careers are available in the field of law? The brand new March Break Youth Program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law explores these questions and more. This one-week module offers participants a unique glimpse into the study of law at Canada’s leading law school. Through interactive workshops, lectures, field trips and legal simulations, students will immerse themselves in the world of legal thinking and advocacy and step into the shoes of a law student.
Criminal Law: Prosecute and Defend Murder!In contrast to the popular portrayal of criminal law presented in bestselling novels and Hollywood movies, this module engages students in the realities of criminal legal practice by immersing them in the proceedings of a murder trial. In preparation for their culminating mock trials, students work with leading criminal litigators to develop complex legal strategies, weigh evidence, consider possible defenses, prepare and examine witnesses, and deliver persuasive arguments in a courtroom setting.
Law and Politics: Debate Policy and Create Law!Whose role is it to create law in a democratic society? Who gets to vote or to run for office? How and why does the law change over time? In this module, students examine our political framework through a legal lens, develop oral advocacy skills, weigh society’s complex needs and interests, and gain a deep understanding of the importance of respectful debate in a democratic society. Engaging with legal experts and exploring leading Canadian political institutions, this module immerses students in a challenging and rewarding political simulation that culminates in a Parliamentary debate.
International Law: Protect Human Rights and Examine International Norms!When is the international community responsible for interfering in cross-border matters? Should global institutions prosecute individuals or censure rogue states? Is there ‘one law that binds us all’? Through dynamic workshops, debates, lectures, field trips and interactive activities, students learn to frame issues in the language of international law, explore the world of global human rights, and examine institutions such as the United Nations and the International Criminal Court.
Corporate Law: Negotiate Big Business Deals!What is a corporation? What are its legal responsibilities and obligations? Relationships between corporations and the law are complex, often surrounded by significant degrees of controversy. During this module, students engage with leading corporate lawyers and experts, and visit top Canadian corporate law firms and in-house legal departments. They immerse themselves in complex legal simulations, exploring corporate mergers and acquisitions, contracts, negotiation and corporate social responsibility.
Trial Advocacy: Represent Your Client in Court and Win Your Case! – What makes lawyers successful in court? How do they persuade judges and juries to rule in their favour? How do they ensure they represent their clients to the best of their abilities? During this module, students develop their individual advocacy styles, acquiring a strong understanding of trail processes and courtroom etiquette. Working with leading litigators and justice sector professionals, students develop trial strategies and put their theories of the case to the test in a final mock trial.