Profile of the Law School
Address
Faculty of Law, University of Toronto
84 Queen's Park Cres.
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5S 2C5
(416) 978-0210 | Origins
The law school took on its modern form under the leadership of Cecil Wright in 1949, building on the foundations of the law school established at the University of Toronto in 1887. |
Deans
Dean: Mayo Moran
Associate Dean: Ian Lee
Associate Dean, First Year Students: Ben Alarie
Associate Dean, Graduate Program: Jutta Brunnée
Associate Dean, Research: Edward Iacobucci | Degrees Offered
Juris Doctor (JD)
Combined JD/MA or JD/PhD programs
Master of Laws (LLM)
Doctor of Laws (SJD)
Masters in Studies in Law (MSL)
Global Professional Master of Laws (GPLLM) |
Enrollment
Approximately 600 students (515 JD students, 85 graduate students) | Faculty
Over 50 full-time faculty, 60 adjunct faculty, 15-25 distinguished visiting faculty |
Back to Top
Why U of T?
An academically gifted and engaged student body: Our students are highly educated, extremely diverse and deeply committed to justice at home and around the world. Academically, they are the strongest student body in the country and they rank among the top in North America.
A world-renowned faculty: Professors at the Faculty of Law are leading experts in their fields who regularly shape the most important policy issues and debates in our society. More than 60 full-time faculty and 15 visiting scholars from across the globe create an intellectually robust and exciting academic environment.
An array of challenging academic programs: Our JD, LLM, SJD and GPLLM programs offer broad and diverse curricula that allow students to tailor their programs of study to meet their individual needs and ambitions. U of T also offers an array of exciting combined degrees options and certificates of specialization
An unmatched selection of public interest clinics and programs: We believe that an outstanding law school is one that demonstrates extensive public engagement with a broad cross-section of society, and a strong commitment to social responsibility in local and global communities. As such, public service is a critical component of the faculty’s mission and of every law student’s legal education.
A career advantage: At the Faculty of Law, our students are hired by the top employers in the Canada, New York, and London. Each year, approximately 95% of our JD students secure articling jobs. This hire rate is by far the best in the country, and reflects the high opinion the legal professional holds for our students and the Faculty of Law’s program.
A fabulous city: Toronto is Canada’s largest urban centre with a population of 2.5 million people, and a richness and cultural diversity that no other city in the world can match. Located in the heart of old Toronto, the Faculty of Law is just steps away from the provincial legislature, the Ontario Court of Appeal and Superior Courts, and the country’s largest legal and financial distric
Back to Top
What is a JD?
JD stands for Juris Doctor. It is a law degree that is typically granted to students who receive a legal education after they’ve completed an undergraduate degree. On the other hand, the LL.B. is typically granted after completion of a legal education that is obtained following graduation from high school in virtually all Commonwealth jurisdictions. The JD degree designation is intended to bring the law school up to the growing international standards for second degree law programs.
Back to Top
The JD Student Body
- total enrolment is approximately 600 students
- 10:1 student/faculty ratio, the best in North America, matched only by Yale
- about 50 per cent of the student body are women
- about 30 per cent of the student body is composed of Aboriginal and visible minority students
- student body represents more than 40 undergraduate institutions worldwide
- approximately 30 per cent of the student body comes from outside the province of Ontario
Back to Top
First Year JD Class (2012-2013)
Applicants 1,915
Class Size 194
Graduate degrees 20.1%
Median LSAT 167 (94th)
Median GPA 86.7% (3.9 approx.) *based on best 3 years of 4-year program
- 56 undergraduate institutions represented from across Canada and the United States, and other countries
- Undergraduate majors include Sciences (Biology, Computer Science, Engineering, Life Sciences, Math, Psychology); Social Sciences (Economics, History, Political Science, Religious Studies); Humanities (Art History, East Asian Studies, English, Fine Arts, Music, Philosophy, Russian, Spanish, Theatre Arts); and professional majors (Architecture, Commerce, Accounting, Social Work), to name just a few.
Back to Top
Combined degree programs
Back to Top
Graduate Program
- 50-70 LLM students
- Approximately 35 SJD students
- International student body from North and South America, the United Kingdom, Australia, Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, Asia and the former Soviet Republic.
- Excellent opportunities for inter-disciplinary scholarship, including inter-disciplinary research centres in Innovation Law and Health Law.
- Our graduate program consistently produces superb scholars with a remarkable breadth of interests. Their graduate studies at the University of Toronto enable them to find rich and intellectually stimulating careers in teaching, research, policy and practice around the world.
Back to Top
Faculty
Back to Top
Of special interest
Back to Top
Legal clinics
Back to Top
Academic Journals and Publications
Back to Top
Employment
The law school's Career Development Office is dedicated to helping law students achieve the career of their choice.
Students who intend to practice in Canada must first "article" (10-12 month paid internship) to satisfy provincial Bar Admission Requirements.
- More than 90% of the third year class have secured articling positions by the time of graduation.
- Students article in large, mid- and small size law firms, public interest organizations, government agencies, in-house legal departments, and judicial clerkships, in cities such as Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, London, Halifax, New York and Boston.
- Students may also write the Bar Examination in New York State or Massachusetts immediately following their graduation.
Back to Top
Student organizations and activities
Students create and sustain a wide variety of organizations and activities at the Faculty of Law, including:
- Aboriginal Law Students' Association
- Advocates for Injured Workers
- Artists' Legal Advice Services (ALAS)
- Black Law Students' Association
- Business Law Society
- Canadian Constitution Foundation Club
- Christian Law Students' Association
- Criminal Law Students' Association
- East Asian Law Students' Association
- Environmental Law Club
- Feminist Law Students' Association
- Health Law Club
- International Law Society
- Intramural Sports
- In Vino Veritas
- JD/MBA Students' Association
- Jewish Law Students' Association
- Law Ball
- Law Follies
- Law Games
- Muslim Law Students' Association
- Out In Law (UTOIL)
- Peer Mentorship Program
- See Yourself Here annual open house
- South Asian Law Students' Association
- Sports and Entertainment Law Society
- Technology and Intellectual Property Group
- U of T Student Animal Legal Defense Fund
- Ultra Vires
- Women and the Law
Back to Top
About the University of Toronto
Back to Top
Profile of the Law School