This is a detailed guide on law schools in Canada for international students.
Canadian law schools are open to everyone who can pass through all the stages of examination successfully.
If you have an interest in studying law in Canada as an international student, it’s time to make it a reality as Canada is one of the best countries to study law.
There are many law schools in Canada for international students, but this article provides detailed information on the best law schools in Canada for international students.
Why Study In Canada
Canada is a leading country with numerous reputable law schools for those who are keen on expanding their horizon.
Many prestigious universities in Canada are offering outstanding law courses to undergraduate and postgraduate international students.
To qualify as a law student in Canada, it is compulsory to sit for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) which is a standardized test administered by the Law School Admission Council for new law school candidates.
It is organized to assess reading comprehension as well as logical and verbal reasoning mastery. It’s a notoriously difficult exam, and many students opt to undertake an LSAT prep course ahead of the exam to increase their chances of a passing score.
Law program in Canada runs through a period of four years and most law schools in Canada offer more than 240 programs, with specialization in civil law, social & legal studies, justice & society, Aboriginal Law, Business Law, Bankruptcy and Insolvency, Commercial Law, Constitutional Law, Communications and Media Law, Criminal Law, Corporate Law, etc.
Furthermore, one of the types of degree offered to international students studying law in Canada is the Juris Doctor.
The Juris Doctor degree (J.D. or JD), also known as Doctor of Law or Doctor of Jurisprudence is a well-recognized graduate degree offered by a majority of the universities in Canada.
The Juris Doctor degree is earned by completing law school. It is a standard degree obtained to practice law in Canada.
However, Canada operates a dual law system which is the common and civil law systems, and Canada Law colleges train their students to practice either of the two.
Benefits Of Studying Law In Canada
There are many benefits of studying law in Canada. Listed below are some of the benefits.
1. When you study law in Canada, you study in a developed environment and are equipped with legal knowledge and legal practical skills to stand tall in the legal world.
2. Degree from Canadian law school is widely recognized all over the world, therefore you can easily secure a job after school anywhere.
3. The law degrees offered by Canadian universities cover a wide area of specialization including cyberspace law, forest law, indigenous legal traditions, etc.
4. Numerous job opportunities are opened to lawyers in Canada.
5. Canada’s post-graduation work permit enables students to remain in Canada even after the completion of their studies and search for work.
6. The salary after pursuing a degree from law colleges in Canada is very huge.
Top 12 Law Schools In Canada For International Students
There are several law schools in Canada for international students but below are the best law schools in Canada for international students.
1. The University of Toronto Law School
The University of Toronto Faculty of Law was established in 1949 and is one of the best law schools in Canada.
The Faculty has continually been ranked the top law school for Common Law in Canada by Maclean’s, a Canadian news magazine since it began to publish law school rankings.
Due to its continuous excellence, in 2011, the law school was ranked 13th globally by the QS World University Rankings in the subject of law.
Again, In 2018, the Times Higher Education considered the Faculty the 10th best law school in the world.
However, the Faculty offers JD, LLM, SJD, MSL, and GPLLM law degrees.
Toronto university faculty of law create a community that accommodates all persons and treats all members of the community rightfully.
They provide support for and enhance the accommodation of individuals with disabilities to participate in the full range of activities that the Faculty offers.
Interestingly, the University of Toronto law school’s admission procedure is the most demanding of law schools in Canada.
The Faculty has high admission criteria which help to select the best and most qualifying students for the school.
However, the focus areas of the Toronto faculty of law are:
- Aboriginal Law
- Business Law
- Constitutional Law
- Criminal Law
- Environmental Law
- Health Law and Policy
- Innovation Law
- International Law and Policy
- Law and Economics
- Law and History
- Law and Literature
- Law and Philosophy
- Public Interest and Diversity
- Women in Law and Social Change
To learn more about the University of Toronto law school visit here
2. McGill University
McGill law school is the oldest law school in Canada for international students that was established 173 years ago. It is located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
The McGill law school is one of the professional graduate schools of McGill University.
McGill law school is outstanding in all endeavors as it consistently ranks among the best law schools in the world, and is the top law school for civil law, and common law.
McGill law school admission is strict and straightforward to select the best students for admission.
However, only 180 candidates are admitted for any given academic year.
Their faculty members are also active in legal reform and legal institutions in Canada and elsewhere, and their law professors are experts in both the civil and common law traditions.
McGill law school students graduate with two law degrees; a Juris Doctor (JD) and a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL); therefore enabling them to secure legal careers in all Canadian provinces, several US states, and beyond.
McGill Law graduates are widely known for their critical thinking skills, openness to diverse approaches to solving problems, and confidence in the face of new legal issues.
Additionally, international students who wish to school in McGill law school are advised to have a valid status to study in Canada (i.e. student visa, permanent residency, etc.) before registration and should plan the timing of their application accordingly.
Learn more about McGill law school here
3. University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa law school is one of the best law schools in Canada for international students.
It is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, the nation’s capital, and the home to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Although it was established 68 years ago still remains one of the most prestigious institutions of legal education in Canada.
The law Faculty of the University of Ottawa is today divided into Civil Law and Common Law sections, which are the two formally recognized legal traditions in Canada.
The law school helps its students access a variety of law-related internship and practicum opportunities across many diverse fields in government departments, and beyond.
The University of Ottawa Faculty of Law provides the best opportunity in the world to study Common Law, Civil Law, and Indigenous legal traditions in English or French.
Their students are always equipped with critical thinking skills to prepare them for any legal career in Canada or elsewhere. Their focus areas are
- Aboriginal Law
- Legal Writing
- Advocacy
- Dispute Resolution and Professionalism
- Environmental Law
- Health Law
- International Law
- Public Law
- Social Justice
- Technology Law
Learn more about the University of Ottawa law school here
4. University of Victoria
University of Victoria Law school is one of Canada’s leading law schools for international students. It is located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
The law school is known for its commitment to community engagement and social justice.
They have the largest number of clinical placements per student in the country, and the school grants JD, LLM, and Ph.D. degrees in law.
Their areas of focus are:
- Access to Justice
- Environmental Law and Sustainability
- Indigenous Law
Moreover, their students can become any of these when they graduate
- Crime analyst
- Investigator
- Judge
- Lawyer
- Negotiator
- Policy analyst
Learn more about the University of Victoria here
5. Carleton University
Carleton University is one of the oldest and largest undergraduate programs in Legal Studies founded in 1967.
It is one of the best law schools in Canada for international students.
The school offers four undergraduate BA programs, including a BA Honors program with concentrations in Human Rights & Transnational Law, Business Law, Law Policy, and Government.
Their closeness to outstanding institutions like Canada’s Parliament, the Supreme Court, government departments, Ottawa government sector, and the offices of many interest groups and social movements concerned with legal and social change allows them to create scores of research and employment opportunities for their students.
Find out more about studying law at Carleton University here
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6. Dalhousie University
The Schulich School of Law is the law school of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
It is the oldest university-based common law school in Canada founded in 1883 as Dalhousie Law School.
Presently, the Schulich School of Law is the largest law school in Atlantic Canada With 500 students enrolled each year.
The law school welcomes a diverse mix of students from around the world.
Their programs are Juris Doctor (JD) Program and graduate programs.
The JD program at the Dalhousie School of Law is a first law degree that prepares students for the practice of law as well as a respect for and participation in public life.
The full-time JD program at Dalhousie requires three years of study. The first year is entirely compulsory, while the second and third years offer adjustable course options
Their graduate programs consist of both the Master of Laws (LLM) and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees.
Learn more about Dalhousie law school here
7. York University
Osgoode Hall Law School is the law school of York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Osgoode Hall Law School is one of the most comprehensive and highly regarded law schools in North America, and It is one of the best law schools in Canada for international students.
The Law School offers the Juris Doctor (JD) program and Graduate Law Program (LLM and Ph.D.).
Learn more about Osgoode Hall law school at here
8. Queens University
Queens University law school is one of the best law schools in Canada for international students.
The law school provides high-tech classrooms with dedicated law-only study areas and a meeting room.
In 2013 Maclean’s Magazine Law School Rankings ranked Queen as third among law schools in Canada.
Program offers in Queen’s law school include Juris doctor program with areas of interest in Business Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, International Law; Graduate program which includes LLM Program and Ph.D. Program.
They also award Undergraduate Certificate In Law, Graduate Diploma in Legal Services Management, and Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law.
9. The University Of Alberta
The University of Alberta Faculty of Law, is Western Canada’s most prestigious law school and one of Canada’s leading institutions of legal education and research.
The Faculty of Law offers degree programs at the undergraduate, master, and doctorate levels and also a program that assists foreign-trained lawyers with completing the courses required to practice law in Canada.
The Juris Doctor is a three-year degree program that provides students with a strong foundation in law.
The Master of Law is a one-year research degree program that enables law students, lawyers, and academics from related disciplines to sharpen their legal knowledge and conduct advanced research.
The Doctor of Philosophy is a three-year research degree program that attracts aspiring legal academics who have already completed a postgraduate law degree.
The Internationally Trained Lawyer Pathway is for foreign-trained lawyers who want to practice law in Canada.
The program allows students to complete courses required by the National Committee on Accreditation.
There is more to learn about the University of Alberta Faculty of law here
10. University of Windsor
The Windsor law school is a faculty of the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Windsor is an outstanding law school offering a vast legal education and practical lawyering skills.
Their Degree Programs are Juris Doctor (JD), Canadian & American Dual JD, Master of Business Administration/JD, Master of Social Work/JD, Master of Laws (LLM).
Windsor law school is one of the best places to study comparative Canada-U.S. law or to earn joint Canadian & American Dual JD degrees that will allow you to practice law in both countries.
In 2018, Windsor law school was ranked the 5th best law school in Canada by Canadian Universities magazine.
Learn more about the Windsor law school here
11. Thompson Rivers University Faculty of Law
Thompson Rivers University Faculty of Law is the school of law of Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada.
It offers a three-year Juris Doctor degree accredited by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.
Its degree is recognized in all common law provinces and Territories in Canada and by other common law jurisdictions.
There is more to learn about Thompson Rivers University Faculty of law here
12. Western University Law School
Western University Law school is the only Canadian law school to offer first-year students the option of taking Corporate Law, which allows them the opportunity to begin taking advanced business law courses at an earlier stage of their legal careers.
The faculty offers two masters-level degrees; the Master of Laws (LL.M.) and the Master of Studies in Law (M.S.L.).
Western Law school in conjunction with other faculties on campus also offers joint degree programs, including combined business and law degrees, combined law and engineering degrees, and combined law and Ph.D. degrees.
That’s all on law schools in Canada for international students, I hope it helps.