Your First Two Weeks at Law School
Welcome to U of T Law! We are thrilled that you are joining us in August 2025.
The first step towards having a great law school experience is ensuring that you have a smooth and successful transition into the law school community. This starts during the summer, ramps up during the first two weeks of our official Orientation (August 18 – August 29, 2025), and continues throughout your first term.
Our 1L Orientation is designed to give you an introduction to the three main components of your law school experience: Academics, Student Life and Supports, and Social Activities. All students must register for orientation via the Orientation registration form that was emailed to you on July 22, 2025. If you have not already done so, please complete your registration by the end of day on July 29, 2025. You will also be asked to include your U of T email address within the registration form. We will be sending all information regarding Orientation to your U of T email address.
Our goal for Orientation is to make sure that you have a solid general sense of the institution and community you are joining, how things work, and where to ask questions, before you start the school year in September. Orientation will also create space for you to get to know each other and start to build your law school community.
Please note: the schedule below, which will be updated regularly, gives you an idea of what your first two weeks will look like, but events may change. Please refer back to the schedule regularly for the most up-to-date room and location information.
2025 Orientation Schedule
Food & Refreshments
The morning of August 18 will feature a continental breakfast and coffee/tea. You will also be provided with lunch on August 18 and brunch on August 22. Light snacks and refreshments will be available during the afternoons on most days throughout Orientation, as indicated on the schedule. Please plan accordingly. Please ensure you indicate any dietary needs you may have on the Orientation registration form.
Costs
The orientation sign-up and social events are free of charge, except for the Toronto Blue Jays Game, which costs $28.50 per ticket. Tickets will be available for purchase in August.
Social Events at Orientation
Led by upper-year student coordinators and volunteers, our social Orientation events provide a range of fun and inclusive opportunities for students to get to know each other. This year's social activities will include snacks after Legal Methods classes, a Toronto Blue Jays game (presented by McMillan), a tour of downtown Toronto, Blue Jays BINGO presented by Gowling WLG, a trivia night, and more! Our hope is that social events during orientation will provide opportunities to make new friends and start to build your law school community.
For more information about student-led social activities, see below. All events are in person.
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TRIVIA |
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EVENING MIXER |
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EXPLORE THE CITY |
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GOWLING presents BLUE JAYS BINGO |
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LAW OLYMPICS |
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MCMILLAN presents the BLUE JAYS GAME |
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Orientation - Day 1 Agenda
8:30 am - 9:30 am - Event check-in - Flavelle House and Jackman Entrances (78 Queens Park)
Complimentary continental breakfast available
9:30 am - 11:00 am - Opening and Program Welcome - Moot Court Room (J250)
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Brittany Twiss, Assistant Dean, JD Program
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Andrea Johns, Manager, Indigenous Initiatives Office
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Sara-Marni Hubbard, Director, Student Programs
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Sako Khederlarian, Manager, Student Programs
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Sara Faherty, Assistant Dean, Academic
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Ada Maxwell-Alleyne, Assistant Dean Equity, Diversity & Inclusivity
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Jutta Brunnée, Dean, University Professor and James Marshall Tory Dean’s Chair
11:00 am – 11:30 am - Law School Tours (throughout the Law school)
11:30 am – 1:00 pm - Small Group Sessions & Lunch (throughout the law school)
1:00pm – 3:00pm - Legal Methods - First Class
3:00pm – 4:00pm - After Class Snacks (Atrium)
Our Sponsors
We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors for their support of the 1L Orientation!
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Academic
The Legal Methods intensive course is designed to give you a thorough introduction to the way we study the law BEFORE you start your substantive law classes in September. Legal Methods classes are mandatory and run Monday – Thursday from August 18, 2025 – August 28, 2025 with a final exam on Friday, August 29, 2025.
Student Life - Resources and Supports
We want you to make the most out of being a law student at UofT. To support you in doing so, we offer you lots of important student-focused services. At the central university these include: athletic centres, accessibility services, health and wellness, equity offices, and the multi-faith centre.
At the Faculty of Law, we also offer our students dedicated staff and resources in the areas of: financial aid, career services, academic support, academic accommodations and mental health and wellness. Our amazing team of student services staff are very happy to answer your questions. Before you arrive, get to know who does what.
Did you know...
UofT Law introduced Legal Methods to our orientation just 7 years ago. We are one of several internationally ranked law schools to offer an immersive academic orientation, along with the National University of Singapore and Columbia Law School.