Students in a LAWS high school class

How do I apply to law school?

Law is a second-entry program, meaning that you must first complete some years of undergraduate university education before you can apply to law school. Most successful applicants have completed their degree by the time they begin law school. So your first priority is to apply to university for a bachelor's degree program, in any subject of your choosing.

Most law schools in Canada now require the completion of at least three years of your degree or a completed degree before you can be accepted into law school. Even if the law school you are applying to does not require it, your application will be more competitive if you have completed your undergraduate degree. At the University of Toronto almost all of the law students have completed at least a four-year degree.  In recent years, approximately five applicants a year have been admitted without a four-year undergraduate degree.

To find out more about the application process, see the Admissions section of our website.

What courses should I take in high school and university if I want to apply to law school?

There are no prerequisites or recommended courses for law school. You can keep your options open - any university degree is good preparation for law school. There are people at U of T law school who have degrees in engineering, biochemistry, English literature, political science, economics, music etc. If you aren't sure what you want to do, don't let anyone tell you that one subject is better than another for getting into law school.

What marks do I need in high school if I want to apply to law school?

Your high school marks will not be considered in your application to law school, only your university marks. You should concentrate on getting into the undergraduate university program of your choice.

What is the JD degree?

J.D. stands for Juris Doctor. It is a law degree that is typically granted to students who receive a legal education after they have completed an undergraduate degree. The LL.B., on the other hand, is typically granted in most Commonwealth countries to students who complete their legal education directly following graduation from high school. The J.D. degree designation is intended to distinguish the U of T program, which is almost always a second degree, from these first degree law programs.  This designation brings the law school up to the growing international standards for second degree law programs.