Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Osgoode Hall Law School Students Get Lion's Share of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP National Scholarship Program -- $666,000 in Aid to Help Deflate Debt

While law students tackle rigorous and relentless academic challenges, they also often find themselves facing another foe -- debt. To help ease that debt, the law firm of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP donated $333,000 to Osgoode Hall Law School in support of outstanding students in financial need. The donation was matched by the provincial government as part of the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund, yielding $666,000 for student awards.
The donation is part of Blakes' national scholarship program involving 13 Canadian law schools. The firm's generous support of Osgoode is one of the two largest gifts bestowed upon law schools across the country. It is designed to assist exceptional and deserving students finance their legal education.

The new scholarships were officially announced at a reception at the Royal Ontario Museum on January 26, 2000. Considered one of Osgoode Hall Law School's premier honours, The Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP Awards will be distributed annually to three students. The Blakes Scholars, who will be announced in the fall, will be selected on the basis of academic achievement, must be in the top 20 per cent of their class after first year and demonstrate financial need. The award will be renewable to recipients who maintain their academic standing and continue to demonstrate financial need after second year. One of the three awards in each year may be granted to a student in the combined LLB/MBA program.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is one of Canada's leading law firms. In recent years, in response to the needs of its national and international clientele, the firm has expanded from its original Toronto base, and now has more than 400 lawyers in four offices across Canada, an office in London, England and an office in Beijing, China.