With numerous applicants but only a limited number of slots for first year students, UofT has an average acceptance rate of around 7%-8%.
First, students looking for a good law school in Canada must consider its location. This is important since a faculty of law’s location will affect the tuition costs of a particular student.
For example, law schools tend to charge higher tuition fees for students who are not from the same province as that of the law school.
Related to location is the law school’s accessibility to its students. Normally, the nearer the law school is to a student’s hometown, the cheaper their expenses would be.
Some considerations are law schools offering online classes. This is rare; most law schools conduct in-person classes.
Degree Programs
Another factor in choosing a good law school is the law degree or programs that it offers. No law schools offer the same set of degrees or programs, although most would have similar courses.
An applicant’s educational background would also matter as to which law program is appropriate for them. This is also related to the requirements and admission process that every law school has.
Bachelor of Law (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD)?
The Juris Doctor (JD), or what was once designated as Bachelor of Law (LLB), is the most basic degree program for aspiring lawyers. Although there are some law schools across Canada that still use the LLB, the JD is now the more common law degree.
The JD is usually a 3-year program, which requires a prior undergraduate degree for admission (also called a Bachelor’s degree or post-secondary degree). There is no specific undergraduate degree that is required from students to be admitted to a JD program. The undergraduate degree must be a 3-year degree, at the minimum.
While the JD program must be completed in a full-time 3-year arrangement, some law schools would offer it on a part-time, half-time, or extended-time basis. If permitted under specific conditions, a student may be allowed to take fewer units, but it would take longer (e.g., 4 years or 6 years).
As a part-time, half-time, or extended-time program, other faculties of law would offer evening classes in lieu of morning classes. Weekend classes are also included for students who choose to do this program.
These types of classes are perfect for working students, students whose morning or daytimes are devoted to parenting, or students with special circumstances.
In sum, it’s not only the content of the degree or program that serve as criteria for good law schools in Canada. How the program is administered is an important consideration.
Joint Degrees
As for students who are looking for time-efficient degree programs, joint degrees may be the best for them. Some faculties of law offer combined degrees or joint degrees as part of their regular JD Program or as a separate Program. This is helpful for students who wish to complete two degrees within a shorter timeframe.
Admission Process
Admission to law schools is typically rigorous. However, some of the good law schools in Canada ease out on their processes to accommodate more students, while still upholding their high standards.
Requirements
To be admitted to admitted to a JD program under the general category, one must:
- have finished a 3-year undergraduate degree in any course.
- have written the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) at a specific period, if required.
- have reached a prescribed Grade Point Average (GPA), if required.
As an exception, some faculties of law would consider first year applicants even without some of these requirements, hence, the “admission categories” other than the general category.
Depending on the specific law school, its selection criteria may be relaxed through these admission categories.
Some examples of these admission categories are the following (although the specific names of these categories vary for every law school):
Mature category:
Applicants who have less than the required number of undergraduate years and are above a certain age (e.g., 18 or 19 years old). This category is for those who have already worked after completing high school or have not finished their undergraduate degree. One important factor in this category is an applicant’s professional or life experience.
Indigenous category:
Applicants who are from the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. Here, the applicants’ identification of their Indigenous background, along with their non-academic experience, are strong considerations for admission. Usually, their identification as an Indigenous student is explained by applicants in their personal statements.
Racial or Minorities category:
Applicants who are from racially disadvantaged communities and other minorities. This category may include Black applicants; LGBTQI+ applicants; and applicants who are living with disabilities.
Accepting students based on these categories is also in line with most policies of faculties of law to accommodate the most diverse sets of students. No matter how good a curriculum of a degree program is, good law schools in Canada are also measured based on their admission processes.
Rankings
Another point of view to consider when looking for good law schools in Canada is their rankings from reliable sources. This may include the world rankings of law schools, or rankings of law schools within Canada.
While one can simply look for rankings of the best law schools in Canada, its reputation among the graduates and the legal field will also speak for itself. This includes testimonies from lawyers of their alma mater or feedback from clients regarding their lawyers.
Articling and Bar Examinations
Writing the bar exams may be one of the last steps in becoming a lawyer in Canada, as administered by the different Law Societies of each province (and Barreau du Québec).
This is in addition to the requirements imposed by these Law Societies, such as articling in law firms or in other legal workplaces.
Feedback for articling students and passing rates of students who have taken the bar may also be the deciding factors for students when looking for good law schools in Canada.
Note that this is always on a case-to-case basis; becoming a lawyer is still an individual endeavor. One cannot judge a person’s experience of articling and passing the bar as similar to that of another.
What are some of the good law schools in Canada?
Based on the considerations mentioned above, below are some good law schools in Canada.
For a complete list of the Canadian law schools, the degrees they’re offering, and tuition rates, check out our list of the Canadian Law Schools 2023/24.
University of Toronto – Faculty of Law
By far one of the most rigorous when it comes to admissions, the University of Toronto (UofT) makes up for the quality of education that students are assured to receive. The UofT was among the 10 best law schools in the world in 2020.
With numerous applicants but only a limited number of slots for first year students, UofT has an average acceptance rate of around 7%-8%.
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