About Queen’s Law
Location
Queen’s University is situated on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory. To acknowledge this traditional territory is to recognize history that predates the earliest European colonies and its significance for the Indigenous peoples who lived, and continue to live, upon it.
Queen’s University is located in the historic city of Kingston, midway between Toronto and Montreal. Our compact campus borders residential neighbourhoods and Lake Ontario. Kingston’s vibrant downtown is within walking distance.
Queen’s Faculty of Law provides upgraded teaching facilities with:
- wireless internet access,
- audio/visual equipment,
- full accessibility,
- a modern moot court room,
- a video conference facility and
- a student lounge with a kitchenette and fireplace.
Academic Excellence
Queen’s Law represents a long tradition of commitment to academic excellence, community spirit and service to society. We offer our students innovative instruction, interdisciplinary combined-degree programs, superb clinical programs and a strong broad curriculum informed by global perspective.
We are renowned for the strength of our curriculum in public law, criminal law, family law, clinical programs and mooting, and our more recent hiring has built strength in international law, business law, employment and labour law, and legal theory.
International Study
We are the only law school in Canada that offers its own study abroad facility. Each May and June, Bader College at Herstmonceux Castle in Sussex, England, offers 2 international law certificate programs. Students can choose to apply to a program for either public international law or international business law.
In addition, we offer international exchange opportunities with some of the world’s leading law schools.
Extracurricular Opportunities
Our Faculty of Law is legendary for its vibrant and diverse range of student activities, organizations, initiatives and clubs.
Law students are integral to faculty governance as members of Faculty Board Committees and as Faculty Board representatives.
Many law students also gain leadership positions in the Society of Graduate and Professional Students and serve on Senate sub-committees as student representatives.
Law students interested in athletics and fitness may join a variety of intramural teams and use the Queen’s Centre, which offers superb aquatic, athletic and recreational facilities.
Program Information
First-year Combined Degree Programs
Master of Industrial Relations/Juris Doctor (MIR/JD)
The Master of Industrial Relations/Juris Doctor is a 3.5-year combined degree program that merges graduate training in human resources management and employment and labour policy with a professional degree in law.
You may complete the combined degrees in 3 years if you are selected to complete an International Law Program at the Bader International Study Centre (BISC) in the spring term of your graduate registration year.
Most MIR/JD registrants choose to complete the combined program in 3 years.
MIR/JD Admission Requirements
- You must apply to the JD degree program through OLSAS by November 1, 2023.
- You must also apply separately and concurrently to the School of Industrial Relations as a graduate student in the MIR program by January 15, 2024.
Up to 3 candidates may be admitted to the MIR/JD program each year.
To be admitted, you must meet the admission requirements for both programs, including writing the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). You must accept offers of admission issued by each program separately to be considered for admission into the combined program.
Master of Public Administration/Juris Doctor (MPA/JD) Combined Degree Program
Queen’s Master of Public Administration/Juris Doctor is a 3.5-year combined degree program.
You may complete the combined degrees in 3 years if you are selected to complete an International Law Program at the BISC in the spring term of your graduate registration year.
The MPA/JD is an excellent choice if you seek to combine advanced skills in policy analysis and management with training in law for successful policy development and implementation.
The School of Policy Studies has a strong reputation for advanced education in policy studies in the areas of:
- Health policy
- Global governance
- Social policy and public policy in the voluntary sector of not-for-profit, community-based, non-governmental organizations
MPA/JD Combined Degree Program Admission Requirements
- You must apply through OLSAS by November 1, 2023, for admission to the JD degree program.
- You must also apply separately and concurrently to the School of Policy Studies at Queen’s for admission as a graduate student in the MPA degree program by January 15, 2024.
Up to 3 candidates may be admitted each year.
To be admitted, you must meet the admission requirements for both programs, including writing the LSAT. You must accept offers of admission issued by each program separately to be considered for admission into the combined program.
Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration (JD/MBA) and Graduate Diploma in Business with JD
The Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration combined program couples the internationally acclaimed, intensive 12-month MBA degree offered by the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University with the rich program in business law offered by Queen’s Faculty of Law.
Once admitted to the combined program, you have 2 options to complete it in 3.5 years:
- As a combined JD/MBA student, you are eligible to apply for, and be selected to participate in, the International Business Law Program at the BISC to earn 9 upper-year JD credits.
- You may use cross-credits from approved MBA degree courses, equivalent to 6 upper-year JD credits.
In the Queen’s Law on-campus option, you may use approved MBA courses, equivalent to 12 upper-year JD credits, to complete both degrees in 3.5 years.
The Queen’s School of Business offers a Graduate Diploma in Business (GDB) option that allows students with a non-business undergraduate degree to complete most foundation courses for the MBA in the summer before starting the JD program or in the summer between first-year and second-year JD.
By successfully completing the GDB, you can build on the credits earned in the MBA program while registered in the JD program, or within a 10-year period after the GDB is complete.
For successfully completing the GDB, the Queen’s Faculty of Law will recognize 5 upper-year JD cross credits.
No General Management Admission Test (GMAT) score is required for admission to the GDB.
JD/MBA Admission Requirements
- You must apply through OLSAS by November 1, 2023, for admission to the JD degree program.
- You must apply separately and concurrently to the School of Business at Queen’s for admission as a graduate student in the MBA degree program.
- You are also eligible to apply to the MBA portion of the program while you are in your first year at Queen’s Law.
You must meet the following requirements for admission to the JD degree and the MBA programs:
- A 4-year undergraduate degree from a recognized university.
- Competitive applicants typically have a minimum cumulative B+ undergraduate average and an average of A- (roughly 80-84%) in the last 2 years of their undergraduate degree program.
- You must write the LSAT and the GMAT.
- To be considered, you should obtain a minimum score of 600 on the GMAT and a minimum score of 158 (75th percentile) on the LSAT.
- If applicable, you should receive an acceptable score on the iBT TOEFL test, as required by the Faculty of Law and the School of Business.
- A minimum of 2 years of full-time, post-degree professional experience is preferred, but the School of Business may waive this requirement. Internships and/or co-op placements may be considered as relevant work experience.
Selection for admission to the combined program is not guaranteed if you meet only the minimum criteria for admission.
Master of Arts in Economics/Juris Doctor (MA [Economics]/JD)
Queen’s Faculty of Law and the Department of Economics have partnered to offer a combined program that allows you to obtain both a Master of Arts (MA) in Economics and the Juris Doctor (JD) in 3 years.
The program provides highly focused interdisciplinary training for the many areas where law and economic analysis intersect, such as:
- International trade law and policy
- Corporate law and policy
- Competition law and policy
- Environmental and resource management
- Tax law and policy
Combined MA (Economics)/JD students will receive excellent training and gain a strong competitive advantage to pursue careers in specialized legal work that require knowledge of economic theory and social science methods.
MA (Economics)/JD Admission Requirements
- You must apply separately and concurrently, through OLSAS by November 1, 2023, to the Faculty of Law and Graduate Studies.
- You must indicate that you wish to be considered for the combined program in your MA application.
- We encourage early application. We may consider late applications.
We will admit a maximum of 5 students to the program per year.
To be admitted, you must meet the admission requirements of both the JD degree and the MA (Economics) programs. Selection for admission to the combined program is not guaranteed if you meet only the minimum criteria for admission.
The minimum requirements for admission to the combined program are:
- Completion of an Honours BA in Economics or a related field (e.g., Math, Physics).
- Most students admitted to the MA will have a minimum B+ average. Most successful JD applicants will have a B+ cumulative average and an A- average in the final 2 years of their undergraduate program.
- You must write the LSAT.
- If your previous degree is not from a Canadian or American university, you must submit the results from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
- If applicable, an acceptable score on an approved English facility test (e.g., TOEFL) is also required.
Upper-year Programs
Admission Process and General Requirements
All upper-year applications, including applications in the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) category, are due to OLSAS by May 1, 2024, for studies starting in September.
The number of openings in each upper-year category is dependent on the internal attrition rates at the Law School. Usually, the number of places available in each category cannot be known precisely until late June, when the Faculty ascertains how many of its students seek to study elsewhere, how many are taking an approved leave and how many are returning to study. The number of places is never large and occasionally there are no places at all.
There have been very few openings for the admission of NCA applicants. Typically, the Admissions Office receives many more applications from candidates that meet the minimum standards than there are places available.
As an upper-year applicant, you are required to have both a sound academic record and good personal or academic reasons for wanting to study at the Faculty of Law of Queen’s University.
If you are a graduate with a civil law degree from the province of Quebec, you are eligible to apply to our Civil Law – Common Law combined degree program directly through the Faculty of Law.
We typically make decisions on upper-year transfer, Letter of Permission and NCA applications in June and July. It is your responsibility to ensure that all documentation is submitted to OLSAS in a timely manner. Transcripts, confidential letters of reference and NCA letters of recommendation must be received by June 30, 2024, to be considered. We will not consider incomplete applications for admission.
You must complete an online transcript request through your OLSAS application for the institutions you have attended and/or are now attending. The transcript should be forwarded from the institution directly to OLSAS. Transcripts submitted in support of an application become the property of Queen’s University, may be subject to verification and/or authentication and are not available for copying.
Admission Requirements and Supporting Documents
First-year Requirements
Academic Requirements
The Admissions Committee uses a holistic approach to applications that considers several factors in addition to grades and the LSAT results.
We endorse the goal that the geographic, ethnic, cultural, racial and socio-economic diversity of the Canadian population should be reflected in the ranks of those granted access to legal education.
Our Faculty of Law is enriched by the skills, knowledge and experiences of students who have been community leaders, excelled in extracurricular activities and enjoyed success in careers prior to the pursuit of a legal education as much as we benefit from students with inquiring minds who have excelled consistently in a broad range of academic disciplines.
Eligibility Criteria
As an applicant, you must have successfully completed a minimum of 3 full years of coursework (or equivalent) in a degree program at a postsecondary institution that provides an academic environment and education that prepares you for potential success in advanced study at Queen’s.
The Admissions Committee reviews the nature and content of the undergraduate and graduate programs you have taken. They weigh the following positively:
- Enrollment at full course load
- Scholarships
- Awards and prizes received
- Level of degree obtained (i.e., honours vs. general)
- Consistency and improvement in academic performance
- Successful completion of graduate work
First-year Documentation
It is your responsibility to ensure that your application materials and supporting documents are complete. We will not consider incomplete applications.
Your application is due to OLSAS by November 1, 2023. Indicate in your application if you are writing the LSAT after the deadline.
Provide the following documentation in support of your application to first-year studies:
Transcripts
You must order and send official transcripts through OLSAS for all postsecondary institutions attended, including transcripts from studies as a visiting or exchange student.
Foreign and Private Universities
If you are completing undergraduate studies outside of North America, you must have your foreign transcript assessed by World Education Services (WES).
WES evaluations are not needed for coursework completed on exchange or Letter of Permission if transfer credits for such courses are recorded on your home university transcript.
If you have undertaken graduate studies outside of Canada and the United States, you are not required to have your foreign transcript assessed by WES, although such assessment may be requested.
Candidates from the NCA are not required to have their foreign transcripts assessed by WES.
Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
- You are required to take the LSAT.
- LSAT scores for the past 5 years may be used.
- The January test score is the latest score accepted for admission in the current admission cycle.
- The Admissions Committee will rely primarily on the highest score achieved at the time of the admission decision.
Personal Statement
The Personal Statement:
- allows you to highlight your academic, personal, professional and extracurricular accomplishments,
- allows you to highlight your interest in studying law at Queen’s,
- can be used to complement material included in your Autobiographical Sketch,
- must be authored entirely by you and
- must not exceed 6,000 characters in length, including spaces.
The Admissions Committee finds the Personal Statement to be helpful, along with letters of reference, the Autobiographical Sketch and verifiers, to identify scholarship prospects among applicants who are competitive based on grades and LSAT scores.
If you apply to the Access category, you will be required to submit a secondary mandatory statement (1,500-character limit). The statement will appear in your OLSAS application after you choose the Access category of admission. Use this statement to address the basis of your sub-category claim and upload corroboration of these circumstances through relevant supporting documentation.
Part-time studies applicants: Outline in the Personal Statement your reasons for wanting to study part time.
Letters of Reference
Provide 1 academic reference. No more than 3 letters of reference may be filed to support your application. All letters of reference are confidential and must be submitted by the referee directly to OLSAS.
Indigenous Peoples Category
Provide at least 1 academic reference and 1 letter of support from your Indigenous community (First Nation Band Council, First Nation community organization, Not-for-profit Indigenous organization, Métis Council, Friendship Centre, Native Women’s Local/Chapter).
If applicable, submit a copy of your Certificate of Indian Status (status card) to corroborate your identification as a Status member of a First Nation community.
Supplementary Documentation
Once your application has been submitted, you can upload supporting documentation using Secure Applicant Messaging (SAM). Log in to your submitted application to access SAM and follow the instructions provided.
Language Proficiency and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
An excellent command of spoken and written English is essential for success in law school. A TOEFL score is required if you are not fluent in English. Test results from the iBT TOEFL are preferred. Other tests of English-language fluency may be considered according to the Queen’s School of Graduate Studies and Research standards.
Upper-year Requirements
Upper Year: Academic Requirements
We will consider you for admission in all upper-year categories only if you have attained at least a B average in previous years of study in law.
If you have failed 1 or more courses in law school or in the NCA process, we will not consider you for admission.
At least 1 academic letter of reference must be provided from a law professor who can comment on your academic abilities.
Provided that your application is competitive on academic factors, we will give priority to the admission of transfer or Letter of Permission applicants who seek to return to their home province from a Canadian law school outside Ontario and to applicants seeking to transfer between Ontario law schools.
We will consider curriculum-related and career path reasons that support your application. We will also consider compelling, compassionate or personal reasons. For example, we will consider transfer and Letter of Permission applicants who suffer from ill health that necessitates closer proximity.
Upper-year Documentation
It is your responsibility to ensure that your application materials and supporting documents are complete. We will not consider incomplete applications.
Your application is due to OLSAS by May 1, 2024.
Upper Year: Transcripts
- Transcripts should:
- include academic records of all undergraduate programs and subsequent graduate work,
- specify the courses taken, grades, degree and standing obtained and
- provide a legend to the grading scheme.
- Official transcripts are required from all postsecondary institutions attended, including transcripts from studies as a visiting or exchange student.
- If you have undertaken undergraduate studies outside Canada and the United States, you must have your foreign transcript assessed by WES.
- If you have undertaken graduate studies outside of North America, you are not required to have your foreign transcript assessed by WES or an equivalent service, although we may request such an assessment.
- If you are a candidate from the NCA, you must have your NCA assessment sent directly from the NCA to OLSAS. If an official NCA assessment is provided, you are not required to send original transcripts from outside Ontario.
Upper Year: Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
- We require LSAT reports for those that have written the LSAT in the last 5 years.
- If you are an upper-year applicant who has never written the LSAT, you will not be required to take it.
Upper Year: Personal Statement
The Personal Statement:
- allows you to highlight your academic, personal, professional and extracurricular accomplishments,
- allows you to highlight your interest in studying law at Queen’s,
- can be used to complement material included in your Autobiographical Sketch,
- must be authored entirely by you and
- must not exceed 6,000 characters in length, including spaces.
The Admissions Committee finds the Personal Statement to be helpful, along with letters of reference, the Autobiographical Sketch and verifiers, to identify scholarship prospects among applicants who are competitive based on grades and LSAT scores.
If you apply to the Access category, you will be required to submit a secondary mandatory statement (1,500-character limit). The statement will appear in your OLSAS application after you choose the Access category of admission. Use this statement to address the basis of your sub-category claim and upload corroboration of these circumstances through relevant supporting documentation.
Part-time studies applicants: Outline in the Personal Statement your reasons for wanting to study part time.
Upper Year: Letters of Reference
You must provide at least 1, but no more than 2, confidential academic letters of reference from instructors at your current law school.
If you are an NCA applicant who has engaged in the practice of law, you may provide a non-academic reference.
Other Required Letters
Letter of Permission (LOP) and transfer students: You must provide a letter from the Dean or Associate Dean Academic attesting that you are in good standing and have not been the subject of any disciplinary sanction or investigation for misconduct on academic or non-academic grounds.
Letter of Permission applicants: You must provide a Letter of Permission from your law school, if you are seeking admission on LOP for 1 or both terms of third-year JD degree studies.
NCA applicants: You must provide a current letter of recommendation from the NCA that specifies the courses and conditions upon which a Certificate of Qualification would be issued and any subsequent correspondence with the NCA that pertains to progress in courses stipulated initially.
Other documentation and information as the Admissions Committee may request.
Admission Information
First-year Admission Information
We will begin considerations immediately following the November 1 deadline. The bulk of our file review will take place in January and February, and we will continue to make offers until our class is full.
We make offers of admission on a rolling basis, as files are completed and are considered by the Admissions Committee. Decisions are based on the assessment of documentation only.
In June, when all the places in the class are filled, we will establish a wait list to fill vacancies as they occur. We will email you about any acceptance or rejection.
The first-year class consists of about 216 students. Most students are admitted in the General category. Recently, up to 10% of students admitted to the first-year class have been from the Indigenous and Access categories.
There are 4 major categories of admission into first year:
General Category
Your academic record and LSAT score are weighed most heavily in this category. The other Admissions Philosophy criteria are weighed carefully in making distinctions between applicants who are equally competitive on these bases.
To be a competitive applicant, you should have at least an A- average (grade point average [GPA] of 3.7) in the top 2 years of your undergraduate degree program at a full course load and an LSAT score of at least 157.
Indigenous Peoples Category
Our Faculty of Law is committed to increasing Indigenous representation within the legal profession and therefore welcomes applications from Indigenous Peoples, including First Nation (Status and Non-Status), Inuit and Métis.
We will consider applications based on several factors, such as:
- Identification with your Indigenous community
- Academic performance
- LSAT results
- Employment history
- Letters of reference
- Personal Statement
The Admissions Committee uses this material to judge whether an applicant can undertake the JD degree program successfully.
If there is strong evidence of academic ability in the application, an exception might be made to the academic standards.
Black Student Applicant Category
Our Faculty of Law is committed to increasing Black representation within the legal profession and supporting Black students who choose Queen’s.
We will consider applications based on any personal or professional experiences that allow an applicant to contribute to the law school community and further the law school’s goal of building a representative and diverse class cohort. We will also consider other factors, such as:
- Academic performance
- LSAT results
- Employment history
- Letters of reference
- Personal Statement
The Admissions Committee uses this material to judge whether an applicant can undertake the JD degree program successfully.
To be competitive in the admission process, you should have at least a B+ average (GPA of 3.5) in the top 2 years of your undergraduate degree program at a full course load and an LSAT score of at least 155. We may consider other evidence of academic ability in addition to these academic standards.
The Admissions Committee will endeavour to make decisions on completed applications early in the admission cycle for this category.
Access Category
Our Faculty of Law is committed to enhancing diversity in legal education and the legal profession. To this end, we encourage applications from candidates whose backgrounds, qualities or experiences allow them to make unique contributions to the law school community, the legal profession and society in general.
The Admissions Committee will consider these factors:
- Disability
- Educational and financial disadvantage
- Membership in a historically disadvantaged group
- Age
- Life and lived experience
- Any other factor relating either to educational barriers you faced, or to your ability to enrich the diversity of the law school community and the legal profession
You must demonstrate the following capabilities:
- That you have strong potential to complete the JD program.
- That you have the ability to reason and analyze.
- That you can express yourself effectively orally and in writing.
- That you possess the skills and attributes necessary to cope with the demands of law school.
Traditional measures of academic performance and LSAT scores may be given comparatively less weight in this category, while non-academic experience and personal factors confirming your special circumstances or unique qualities may be given comparatively more weight.
To be a competitive applicant, you should have at least a B+ average (GPA of 3.5) in the top 2 years of your undergraduate degree program at a full course load and an LSAT score of at least 155.
Upper-year Admission Information
We will begin considerations immediately following the May 1 deadline. The bulk of our file review will take place in June and July, and we will continue to make offers until all available upper-year seats are filled.
We make offers of admission on a rolling basis, as files are completed and are considered by the Admissions Committee. Decisions are based on the assessment of documentation only.
We will email you about any acceptance or rejection.
Upper-year applicants must apply through one of the following categories:
Transfer
From a Common Law LLB or JD Program at a Canadian Law School
If you have completed the first year of a common law LLB or JD degree program at a Canadian law school, you may apply to transfer into the second year of the JD degree program at the Faculty of Law at Queen’s University.
If admitted, you will be expected to satisfy the JD degree requirements after 2 years of full-time coursework at Queen’s.
Upon successfully completing the degree requirements and adhering to all academic regulations, you will be eligible to receive a Queen’s University JD degree. You will have transfer credits recognized for first-year courses that are substantially similar to the first-year curriculum of the JD degree program at Queen’s University. However, you will be required to complete any first-year courses that were not part of the first-year curriculum of the degree program of the law school you wish to transfer from.
From a Common Law LLB or JD Degree Program at a Law School Outside Canada (Advanced Standing Transfer Applicants)
Advanced standing applicants are transfer applicants who seek to be admitted to the Queen’s JD degree program from a law school outside Canada offering a common law LLB or JD degree. To be eligible to transfer into the Queen’s JD program, a student from a law school outside Canada that offers a common law LLB or JD degree will be required to have successfully completed at least 2 years of postsecondary education at a recognized University.
Generally, we do not accord more than 1 year’s advanced standing and students transferring from non-Canadian law schools will be required to take our first-year courses in Canadian Public Law, Constitutional Law and Criminal Law from the first-year curriculum.
Transfer credit may be recognized for first-year courses that are substantially similar to the first-year curriculum of the JD degree program at Queen’s University. However, you will be required to complete any first-year courses that were not part of the first-year curriculum of the degree program at the law school you wish to transfer from.
The Admissions Office will determine whether previously earned credits will be recognized for transfer to the Queen’s University JD degree.
Upon admission, you will be expected to satisfy the JD degree requirements after successful completion of at least 2 years of full-time coursework. Upon successful completion of the degree requirements and adherence to all academic regulations, you will be eligible to receive the JD degree from Queen’s University.
Letter of Permission
As an upper-year law student, you may apply to study as a visiting student at the Faculty of Law for a single term or for a maximum period of 1 academic year on a Letter of Permission basis.
Note: If you are admitted on a Letter of Permission, you are not eligible for transfer into the Queen’s JD degree program.
Academic work completed at Queen’s Faculty of Law will be credited toward satisfying the degree requirements of the home law school. The home law school will receive the right to approve course load and course selections.
A Letter of Permission student will also be subject to the academic policies and regulations of Queen’s University and of the Faculty of Law for the duration of the registration as a visiting student.
National Committee on Accreditation (NCA)
If you have completed a law degree from a foreign common law jurisdiction and wish to be admitted to the practice of law in a Canadian common law jurisdiction, you must apply to the NCA.
The NCA was established by the Canadian Council of Law Deans and the Federation of Law Societies of Canada to conduct assessments of the equivalency of legal credentials and experience.
You must support your application for admission in the NCA category with a current letter of recommendation from the NCA concerning the conditions that the Committee would issue a Certificate of Qualification on and any subsequent correspondence with the NCA about progress in the recommended courses.
You need a Certificate of Qualification for entry into a provincial licensing process. As an NCA applicant, you should note that interviews for articling placement in Ontario generally take place during the summer, 1 full year prior to the start of the placement. We advise you to contact the Law Society of Upper Canada to confirm the procedures and deadlines for the licensing process in Ontario.
The Admissions Committee relies on the NCA’s recommendation and gives preference to applicants who are required to take examinations in fewer than 8 subjects to earn a Certificate of Qualification. Queen’s Faculty of Law must receive a letter of recommendation and any subsequent correspondence relating to completion or attempts of required courses by June 30, 2024.
A Queen’s University JD degree is not conferred upon applicants admitted under the NCA category.
Additional Information
Work Study Program
If you demonstrate financial need, you will receive priority for certain part-time work available on campus. You may earn up to $2,000 over the fall and winter terms.
Indicate on the Queen’s Law Admission Bursary Application if you wish to be considered for the Work Study Program.
Professional Student Line of Credit
The main Kingston branches of the Royal Bank of Canada and the Bank of Nova Scotia offer professional student lines of credit geared to the needs of law students, with favourable interest rates and guarantor requirements.
For questions about financial assistance and advice, contact the Queen’s Student Awards Office:
Student Awards Office
Queen’s University
74 Union Street
Gordon Hall, Room 225
Kingston ON K7L 3N6
Email: awards@queensu.ca
Telephone: 613-533-2216
Fax: 613-533-6409
Personal Information and File Retention Policy
Your files are kept for 1 year after the initial application in the event that you re-apply.
Thereafter, if you do not register, your files are destroyed, unless we receive information about misconduct in the application process. Applicant information provided in electronic format and remitted by OLSAS is collected in our admission database.
This information will be saved in our admission database for at least 10 years for the following purposes:
- longitudinal or statistical studies,
- reports or queries pertinent to recruitment,
- admission,
- diversity of the applicant pool and registrant populations,
- enrollment management and
- retention and academic progress.
Information pertaining to admitted applicants who register at Queen’s may be used for the purpose of participating in correlation studies conducted by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) to assess the predictive value of the LSAT score and grades at the time of admission in relation to performance in first-year law.
The application documentation submitted on admission is retained as part of the student file for students who are admitted and register at Queen’s Faculty of Law. Such information is held confidentially and used in accordance with the privacy and access to information policies of Queen’s University.
Personal information may be disclosed to regulatory authorities, law enforcement officials or other persons when authorized or required by law. Questions may be addressed to the Assistant Dean of Students in the Faculty of Law.
Deferrals
We may grant a deferral of admission for 1 year, by request. You must request a deferral in writing and on the prescribed form.
You may be granted a deferral if your application is competitive and if there are reasonable grounds to support your request. If you seek a deferral, you are required to provide a firm acceptance to Queen’s.
Fee Waivers
You must apply for a waiver of the Queen’s University portion of the application fee in writing and on the prescribed form. Granting of waivers is discretionary.
You must provide evidence of financial need and meet the minimum criteria for consideration.
You must apply for a fee waiver before the law school application deadline.
Late Applications
You must request permission to submit a late application in writing and on the prescribed form. Your request must include reasons for the late submission.
If you seek late admission, you must meet competitive standards for admission.
Language Proficiency and TOEFL
An excellent command of spoken and written English is essential to succeed in law school. A TOEFL score is required if you are not fluent in English. If you have completed at least 3 years of full-time study at a recognized university, taking courses for which English is the official language of instruction, you may request exemption from the TOEFL requirement.
You must support an exemption request with an academic letter of reference attesting to your fluency in written and spoken English.
Test results from the new iBT TOEFL are preferred. Standards for the new iBT TOEFL are a minimum total score of no less than 100, with:
- a minimum of 24 on the Writing section,
- no less than 22 on the Speaking section,
- no less than 24 on the Reading section and
- no less than 20 on the Listening section.
Under the old TOEFL scoring system, no applicant with a TOEFL score of less than 600/250 and a Test of Written English (TWE) of less than 5.0 was considered.
The institution code for Queen’s University is 0949.
Providing false or misleading information or failing to provide material information will invalidate the application and will result in immediate rejection or in the revocation of admission and/or registration. You may also be reported to the LSAC Misconduct and Irregularities in the Admission Process Subcommittee for further action.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Admission Scholarships and Law Admission Bursaries
You are considered for admission scholarships at the time an offer of admission is issued. No further action is required from you to be considered for the scholarships.
Other entrance scholarships are available by application after registration in September.
If you are seeking needs-based financial assistance, apply to the Law Admission Bursary Program.
Financial Aid: All JD Program Applicants
We are committed to ensuring a legal education remains financially affordable to qualified students. Each year our students benefit from approximately $6.3 million in financial assistance, including university bursary support, scholarships, government student loans and grants.
Merit-based Scholarships and Needs-based Bursary Assistance
Student financial assistance programs and services are administered by the Queen’s University Office of the University Registrar – Student Awards.
These programs and services include merit-based scholarships, awards and prizes funded through the generosity of our many donors, alumni, friends and law firms, and needs-based financial assistance through awards and bursaries. Bursaries are non‑repayable grants from the university based on documented financial need.
Financial need is based on:
- Accumulated educational debt (government student loans and interest on other debt, such as student lines of credit)
- Personal circumstances (dependants, medical expenses and other living expenses)
Law Admission Bursary Program
We were one of the first law schools to administer a law admission bursary program.
This money is a non-repayable grant provided by Queen’s University that will help finance your first academic year.
To qualify, you must:
- have accessed government student loans to finance your undergraduate education,
- show continuing eligibility for government student loans and
- have submitted a complete law admission bursary application showing accumulated educational debt.
Contact Information
Queen’s University Faculty of Law
Admissions Office
128 Union Street, Room 301
Kingston ON K7L 3N6
Telephone: 613-533-2220
Fax: 613-533-6611
Email: jd@queensu.ca