GUIDE TO CANADIAN LAW SCHOOLS Want to be a lawyer? We have compiled information about Canada's 16 law schools plus some additional links to help you get started with your research! Please note: while we have taken efforts to ensure the accuracy of this information, use it as a starting guide for further research only. Deadline dates, tuition fees and other admission details are subject to change and should be verified with the law schools you are interested in applying to. Request and review the Calendar or Bulletin of law programs. Visit the web sites of law schools or speak with an admissions representative. Visit the law school for a first-hand tour and to speak with current students and faculty members. Preparing for Admission There is no one particular program of study required at the undergraduate level before applying to law schools. Courses in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences are all of value in developing the analytical skills and writing skills necessary to excel in the study of law. Due to limited space and resources, law schools must turn away many qualified applicants each year. Demand for spaces is strong. Understanding what law schools are looking for in applicants should help you decide where to apply and strengthen the quality of your application. Most schools look at a variety of factors including: GPA, trends in academic performance (did your grades improve or diminish during your undergraduate years), LSAT score, letters of recommendation (especially from academic sources), work experience and interviews. Note that many law schools operate on a "rolling admission" basis. That is, they do not wait until the deadline for admissions to start accepting or rejecting candidates but instead evaluate applications on an ongoing basis. LSAT Information The LSAT - Law School Admissions Test - is a half day standardized test required for admission to most (but not all) law schools in Canada. It consists of five sections of multiple choice questions, each 35 minutes in length plus a 30 minute writing sample. Four of the five multiple choice sections are scored: two logical reasoning; one reading comprehension and one analytical reasoning. One additional section is unscored and is usually used to try out new test questions. The writing sample is unscored but is forwarded to the law schools you are applying to. The LSAT is scored betwen 120 and 180. Most law schools report that the median LSAT score of admitted students falls in the 155-165 range. The LSAT currently costs $150 (Canadian funds) but there are additional fees for late registration, test centre changes and test date changes. A complete sample test is available for download using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Test Dates and Registration Information: Tests are usually scheduled for June, October, December and February. Refer to the LSAT Registration and Information Book for registration procedures, deadlines and alternative testing arrangements. For more information, or to obtain the free LSAT Registration and Information Book, contact the Law School Admission Council via-mail lsacinfo@lsac.org, phone 215-968-1001, fax 215-968-1119, write: Law School Admission Council, Box 2000, 661 Penn Street, Newtown, PA, USA, 18940-0998 or visit their web site at www.lsac.org. LSAT packages may also be available for pick up at university campus career centres. Ontario Law Schools Applicants to Ontario law schools should contact the Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS) to obtain an application form: online: www.ouac.on.ca/olsas/ tel: 519-823-1940 ext.580; e-mail: olsas@ouac.on.ca The deadline to apply for all Ontario law schools for September admission is usually sometime around the previous October or November (except the University of Ottawa french language program which may have an April deadline). Summary of Law Schools in Canada
Home | Explore Careers | Market Yourself | Find Work All contents of this web site are copyright and may not be reproduced without the explicit consent of CanadianCareers.com |
