Law School in Canada Overview and Recent Developments
Applying to Canadian law schools generally requires completion of postsecondary degrees such as a bachelor of arts or sciences. Some universities, like Quebec’s bilingual McGill University Faculty of Law do not mandate that their applicants write the LSAT exam.
However, admission decisions primarily depend on standardized test scores, although other elements such as undergraduate GPA and personal statements also influence decisions about admission.
The First Year
Students spend their first year taking mandatory law courses and select electives, becoming acquainted with Canadian legal system and participating in mock trials. Additionally, they begin looking for articling positions – whereby students work alongside a lawyer in real-life settings to practice their legal expertise – in which to practice.
Some universities require applicants to take the LSAT; others – like Quebec’s dual-curriculum McGill University Faculty of Law and Universite de Moncton Ecole de droit – do not. Furthermore, some schools consider essays and letters of recommendation when reviewing applicants.
Choose the appropriate law school is essential for prospective lawyers. Those interested in marine and environmental law might opt to attend TRU’s new House of Learning, a LEED gold-standard building designed with stairs made of locally sourced slate and an undulating roofline meant to evoke Kamloops mountains as inspiration.
The Second Year
Canadian law school admissions typically rely on previous grades and, for English-language common-law programs, on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Nonetheless, institutions often offer alternative admissions categories aimed at Aboriginal or minority candidates with differing application deadlines or more favorable admissions committees who look favourably on letters of recommendation and personal statements submitted alongside application.
Second year law students not only study law, but they participate in legal clinics and moot court programs which simulate court hearings with legal representation by representing clients or sitting as judges simulated hearings. Many also undertake articling – required before becoming licensed to practise law – at law firms over summer break. Finally, many also join student associations or get involved with extracurricular activities during this time period.
The Third Year
graduates from Canadian law schools must obtain admission into one or more provincial/territorial Law Societies before being permitted to practice law in Canada. Similar to state bars in the US, these societies set admission standards, regulate member conduct and interact with the public.
Are You Thinking About Pursuing a Career in Canada? If so, The University of Toronto provides various legal degrees, such as JD and LLM degrees. They also have joint programs which encourage students to use their degrees as platforms to engage with the local community.
Quebec law schools such as McGill University Faculty of Law do not mandate applicants take the LSAT; however, scores will still be considered if an LSAT exam was taken in the past. They do however require CEGEP diploma or equivalent as admission criteria and each law school may have special categories for admissions such as international, transfer, indigenous, access, or joint-degree applications.
The Fourth Year
Canada boasts many outstanding law schools. Notable examples are the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, Osgoode Hall Law School and Allard School of Law at University of British Columbia – among many others.
Top Canadian law schools provide pro bono clinics, academic competitions, and research opportunities. Many also take part in the Canada-United States Law Institute which hosts conferences, forums, student internships and student exchange programs focusing on issues pertaining to Canada-U.S legal relations.
As in the US, LSAT scores and undergraduate GPA are essential considerations when making admission decisions; however, some law schools also take into account “soft” factors like letters of recommendation and an optional essay as indicators of applicants’ potential that go beyond numbers alone.
The Fifth Year
You can apply to law school if you hold a bachelor’s degree (or are working toward one), meet specific law school requirements and have met them satisfactorily. In the US, however, any subject can often suffice; Canada usually requires students possess a degree related to legal studies for entry to legal studies programs.
Law degrees offer you unique skillsets and career options. Many Canadian universities provide specialized master’s programs in areas like environmental and natural resource law.
Lakehead University in Thunder Bay is set to unveil a law school dedicated to natural resources like forestry, mining and hydroelectricity – marking Ontario’s first new law faculty since over four decades ago. A local architect designed its distinctive building – featuring stairs wrapped with locally sourced slate as well as an undulating roofline which mirrors its surroundings – that will serve as home to this school.
The Sixth Year
Canada is home to law schools which teach one of two legal systems: Common Law (which is prevalent throughout all provinces except Quebec) or Civil Law. Each law school offers a master’s degree program which equips graduates for practice in their local jurisdiction.
Not only are students exposed to classroom instruction at law schools, but extracurricular activities and work experience through clinics or law firms or non-profit organizations is often encouraged as well as interviewing for and taking articling positions during summer breaks.
Blicker states that tuition, financial aid and bursaries, career outcomes for graduates, upper-year elective courses on topics such as technology or aboriginal law as well as social and lifestyle considerations play a pivotal role when articling students select their university of choice. Some also take LSAT scores into consideration but this should be less significant when making this decision.
The Seventh Year
Canadian law schools make admission decisions primarily on the basis of undergraduate GPA and LSAT scores (or similar standardized entrance tests such as the MCAT or GMAT), though many also use holistic admissions that consider factors such as personal statements and extracurricular activities.
Students completing their final year of law school typically take more specialized courses and develop lengthy research papers during this year. Additionally, they can become involved with many clubs, committees, and journals at their law school.
After graduating with either a Juris Doctorate (JD) or Bachelor of Laws degree, students must go through the articling process – working as an associate lawyer for about a year (six months in Quebec) prior to being licensed to practice law in Canada.
The Eighth Year
Depending on their province of study, students can earn either a J.D. or an LL.B. and may also need to complete a bar admission course before being allowed entry (although certain law schools, including Civil Law faculties in Quebec do not require this prerequisite for entrance).
Some of Canada’s top law schools also provide opportunities for practicing at their clinics, engaging in legal research projects, contributing to international and domestic journals and conferences, exploring Indigenous legal traditions through courses offered, as well as international law internships and judicial clerkships for their students. It’s great reason to consider Canada as a potential place for study compared to the United States since Canada offers far fewer law schools but their quality remains relatively consistent across institutions, making student mobility easy across its entirety.
The Ninth Year
Law students’ lives can be busy. Reading, writing and exams dominate their agenda; but socializing, volunteering and networking remain integral components of student life.
At Queen’s, Queen’s Legal Clinic offers students hands-on experience working directly with real clients on cases similar to those typically handled by lawyers in private practice. Students are assigned files under supervision by experienced practitioners and take full responsibility for their work, even representing clients in court if necessary.
Faculty of Law is well known for its longstanding commitment to diversity, and for its holistic application process that incorporates professors into admission assessments. This program was implemented specifically to ensure equity for Black law students who may be more vulnerable than White counterparts when it comes to financial costs of legal education; other Canadian law schools follow suit with this strategy.
The Tenth Year
Students entering their final year of law school take more specialized courses, write lengthy research papers, and assume leadership roles within student organizations, journals or other academic activities. Afterward, they may apply to conduct an internship or clerkship in their area of practice.
The Canada-United States Law Institute (CUSLI) offers research opportunities, clerking assignments and student competitions as well as binational conferences and forums for legal education.
Some schools provide additional admissions categories for candidates with special circumstances such as age, financial disadvantage or disability or membership of historically disadvantaged groups. These special admissions categories usually have their own review standard and require additional application materials like medical reports or personal statements; in some instances letters of recommendation may also be taken into consideration. But ultimately a successful law school application lies with writing an essay that answers three W’s: Why you want to study law, why you deserve it and why this specific school is right for you.
