About Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School, founded in 1889, is among Canada’s oldest, largest and most distinguished law schools. Our commitment to excellence, professionalism, ethics, experiential education and our tradition of leadership in legal education and research make us a truly outstanding law school.
Our internationally recognized, full-time faculty members are the strongest in the country. They are joined by a large group of adjunct professors, primarily practitioners drawn from the Toronto Bar, who offer a relevant, practical perspective for students. They promote a positive, inclusive and supportive learning environment through interaction inside and outside the classroom.
Our program is unparalleled in Canada in terms of range, coverage and diversity of perspectives. We lead the way in creating innovative learning opportunities and offering students the flexibility to chart their paths based on their unique interests and goals.
Osgoode students can participate in:
- Extensive array of clinical programs
- Skills-based praxicum courses
- Financially supported summer internships
- International exchange programs
- Research opportunities
- Community engagement
Our diverse and talented students embody a variety of academic, social, cultural and work experiences that add to the richness of our Juris Doctor (JD) program and the engaged, vibrant community for which Osgoode is known.
We are particularly committed to supporting access to legal education. For those who might find a traditional full-time program of study to be a barrier to attending law school, our Extended-Time Program offers students the opportunity to design a more flexible schedule that meets their unique needs and challenges.
In addition, our Income Contingent Loan Program (ICLP) enables selected students to pay no tuition while in law school. Instead, their tuition is covered by a combination of bursary and loan funding. The loan portion is repayable after graduation, over a 10-year period, on an income-contingent basis.
We also offer a range of services and accommodations to students who face challenges because of physical, medical, sensory, mental health or learning disabilities.
We encourage our students, as part of their education, to be critically aware of, and intimately involved in, access to justice and the advancement of the public interest. Through diverse career paths, our students develop into leaders in all areas of professional and public life.
We take enormous pride in the accomplishments of our approximately 15,000 alumni, who include:
- Chief Justices
- Judges
- Cabinet members
- Legal professionals and academics
- Business and community leaders
Our graduates personify the spirit of service to society articulated in our motto, “Through Law to Justice”.
Program Information
First-year Programs
JD Program
The JD program invites you to think differently. To ask tough questions. To consider problems from less obvious angles. To learn from diverse points of view. And to connect legal solutions to ethical principles. Once you are grounded in the fundamentals, you choose your own path, gaining practical experience as you expand your career horizons and grow personally.
Through instruction by our influential faculty and by collaborating with your peers, you will soon see the kind of difference you can make in your community, in the legal profession and in the progress of justice – whether in local neighbourhoods or across the world.
We are committed to helping students understand, plan for and navigate the financial side of law school – from accessing scholarships and bursaries to reducing debt after graduation. Our Student Financial Services Office is available to help current and prospective students with all aspects of their law school investment.
More about the:
JD/MBA Joint Program
The Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration Program offers students the benefit of degrees from 2 of Canada’s top-ranked professional schools: Osgoode Hall Law School and the Schulich School of Business. By combining a JD and an MBA, students will graduate well equipped with the skills and connections to pursue careers in various business and law fields.
JD/MES Joint Program
The Juris Doctor/Master in Environmental Studies program is the first and only program of its kind in Canada, bringing together Osgoode and the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. Through cutting edge, interdisciplinary teaching and research in Law and Environmental Studies, the program provides insight into the ways in which humans define, manage and transform their environments, and equips students with the knowledge and tools to participate in that process.
JD/MA in Philosophy Joint Program
The combined Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in Philosophy (JD/MA) program, offered by Osgoode Hall Law School and the Department of Philosophy at York University, provides students with the opportunity to develop skills and acquire knowledge at the intersection of the naturally related disciplines of law and philosophy. The program is ideal for students who wish to pursue either further post-graduate study and ultimately an academic career, or opportunities in a variety of careers in legal practice.
Extended Time Program JD
Osgoode is committed to enhancing the accessibility and flexibility of the JD Program to accommodate a wide range of students. The Extended Time Program (ETP) lets students whose life circumstances – including, but not limited to, parenting or other caregiving responsibilities, financial hardship, illness or disability — prevent them from engaging in a full-time study program, to reduce their courses to approximately half the required course load.
Incoming first-year students can apply to the ETP soon after they receive their offer of admission but can also apply up until the start of the fall term or in the summer before their second or third year. To apply, submit a written request and supporting rationale(s) by email to the Assistant Dean, Students.
Upper-year Programs
Transfer and Letter of Permission (LOP) Applicants
Osgoode accepts applications from students who wish to:
- Transfer to the second year of the JD Program from another common law school
- Spend 1 year studying at Osgoode on a LOP, with their courses being counted toward their degree at their home school
- Study at Osgoode and are currently registered at 1 of our exchange partner institutions
National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) Applicants
Applicants whose law studies and experience were assessed by the NCA may apply to complete selected courses in the JD program to meet the Canadian JD equivalency requirement(s) set out in their NCA letter.
People who hold international law degrees and wish to become licensed to practise law in Canada in accordance with the requirements of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada’s NCA may consider several options.
Juris Doctor/Bachelor of Law (Civil)
The Osgoode-Université de Montréal JD/LLB (Civil) program trains students in 2 of the world’s most important and widespread private law systems. Knowledge of both common law and civil law systems is increasingly valuable in today’s environment of frequent cross-border transactions and global clientele. Dual credentials are also valuable when applying for a judicial clerkship at the Supreme Court of Canada.
After 4 years combined study, students graduate with a Juris Doctor in common law from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Bachelor of Law (Civil) from the Université de Montréal, Faculté de Droit. After completing 3 years in their home faculty, students in the combined program are granted 2 years advance standing at the other law school and are able to complete their second law degree in 1 year.
Applicants apply for admission to the program during their third year at their home faculty. Admitted students take a combination of first-year and upper-year courses at the second school.
Admission Requirements and Supporting Documents
First-year Admission
Eligibility Requirements
You must successfully complete a minimum of 3 full years of study (90 credit hours of study) at a recognized university in a program leading to a degree to be eligible for consideration.
Applicants with Fewer Than 3 Years of University
We welcome applications from individuals who have demonstrated, through the length and quality of their non-academic experience, an ability to successfully complete the JD program.
If you have not attended university or have completed fewer than 3 years of university (as of June 1 of the admission year), you are eligible to apply if you meet the following conditions (as of September 1 of the admission year):
- you are at least 26 years of age and
- you have a minimum of 5 years of non-academic experience.
Joint Programs
You must apply separately to, and satisfy the entrance requirements of, each program. Indicate your interest in the joint program on both applications.
Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
You are required to take the LSAT. We consider your highest result, as reported by the Law School Admission Council in the application. LSAT scores for the past 5 years (i.e., back to and including June 2019) may be used.
To apply to enter the program in September 2024, you must complete the LSAT by January 2024.
English-language Proficiency
You must provide proof of English-language proficiency if one of the following applies to you:
- English is not your first language or
- you have not completed at least 1 year of full-time study at an accredited postsecondary institution in a country (or institution) where English is the official language of instruction.
These requirements are for eligibility purposes only. Meeting them does not guarantee admission.
The testing centre should send English-language scores directly to Osgoode at:
Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
1012 Ignat Kaneff Building
4700 Keele Street
Toronto ON M3J 1P3
Email us if the testing centre will not send scores directly to us.
Upper-year Admission
Application Components
A complete upper-year application package includes:
- An OLSAS application
- An upper-year Supplemental Information Form
- An upper-year Personal Statement
- A transcript of law grades
- The home law school’s current grading practices (where available)
- Undergraduate transcripts (Transfer applicants)
- A valid LSAT score (Transfer applicants)
- Note: Scores back to, and including, June 2019 are accepted (see LSAT).
- A current academic letter of reference from a law professor who has taught you (Transfer and LOP applicants only)
- Corroborative documents (where applicable)
- An LOP from your home law school (LOP applicants only)
- An NCA assessment report
- An NCA report of challenge exams (where available)
LSAT Requirements for Upper-year Applicants
Upper-year (Transfer) applicants must provide an LSAT score. If you are an upper-year Transfer applicant and have not written the LSAT, you must do so by March in the year you apply.
We consider your highest result, as reported by the Law School Admission Council in the application. LSAT scores for the past 5 years (i.e., back to and including June 2019) may be used. To apply to enter the program in September 2024, you must complete the LSAT by March 2024.
English-language Proficiency Requirements for Upper-year Applicants
As an upper-year applicant, you must provide proof of English-language proficiency unless:
- English is your first language or
- You completed at least 1 year of full‑time study at an accredited postsecondary institution in a country (or institution) where English is the official language of instruction.
The testing centre should send English-language scores directly to Osgoode at:
Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
1012 Ignat Kaneff Building
4700 Keele Street
Toronto ON M3J 1P3
Email us if the testing centre will not send scores directly to us.
Transfer Applicants
You must have completed at least 1 year of a common law program that the Admissions Committee judges to be the substantial equivalent of Osgoode’s first-year program.
If you have not yet completed 1 or more of our first-year courses, you will be required to do so as part of the upper-year program at Osgoode.
In addition, if you have not already done so in your first year of law school, you will have to complete the Indigenous and Aboriginal Law Requirement.
You will receive the JD degree from Osgoode Hall Law School upon successfully completing all pertinent requirements.
Letter of Permission (LOP) Applicants
If you are currently studying at another law school, you may apply to enroll for a maximum of 1 year at Osgoode Hall Law School on an LOP basis.
Although you would be studying at Osgoode, your work would be credited toward your law degree at your home law school. The law school giving the LOP would reserve the right to approve your program of study with regard to course load and content.
If you are admitted on an LOP basis, you are not eligible to transfer into Osgoode’s JD program.
National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) Applicants
Successful applicants are admitted to upper-year courses offered at the Law School, subject to space availability, to meet the Canadian JD equivalency requirement as set out in their NCA assessment report.
We do not offer any first-year courses to NCA students.
Admission Categories
First Year
If you are applying to the first-year JD, you have the option to apply in 1 of 2 categories:
1. Indigenous Applicants
Osgoode is committed to improving representation of Indigenous people in the legal profession and encourages applications from Indigenous candidates. Anyone applying under the Indigenous category must provide documentation corroborating their identification with, and connection to, an Indigenous community. This can include a demonstration of service, involvement or leadership within the community, on Indigenous issues or within Indigenous circles.
If the Admissions Committee determines that insufficient documentation has been provided, your file will be reviewed as an application in the General category.
2. General Applicants
If you do not qualify to apply in the Indigenous category, you must apply in the General category.
Upper Year
If you are currently studying at a common law school and wish to attend Osgoode, you have the option(s) to apply as a Transfer student or attend as a visiting student on an LOP.
If you are an internationally trained lawyer and wish to practice law in Canada, you will apply in the NCA category.
1. Transfer Applicants
Apply to the second year of the JD Program at Osgoode and complete the remainder of your degree here. Upon successful completion of all pertinent requirements, including any unmet required first-year courses, transfer students receive the JD degree from Osgoode.
2. LOP Applicants
Apply to spend a maximum of 1 year studying at the Law School on an LOP, with your courses being credited toward towards your JD degree at your home law school.
3. NCA Applicants
We are prepared to admit a limited number of applicants as non-degree students when their law studies and experience are assessed by the NCA.
We do not offer any first-year courses to NCA students.
Admission Information
Our Holistic Admission Policy
Our admission policy and procedure stress excellence and equity. We admit an outstanding class of students whose academic abilities, varied experiences and sustained engagement make a continuing social and intellectual contribution to the Law School, the legal profession and the community.
Our admission policy identifies a diverse and exceptional group of students with a commitment to excellence, demonstrated through academic and other contributions to society. Together with our renowned faculty and dedicated staff, these students form a vibrant intellectual community that contributes to Osgoode’s international reputation for leadership in legal education, thoughtful and creative scholarship, and promoting social justice.
Osgoode’s historical and contemporary role in diversifying and reshaping the legal profession is second to none. Our admission policy recognizes, fosters and celebrates excellence and equity.
We consider:
- Academic and LSAT results
- Significant achievements
- The ways in which social inequality affects students with a demonstrated capacity who wish to pursue a legal education
Our admission policy encourages students to identify any barriers they face in seeking to enter the legal profession. We place a priority on opening doors to communities that were traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession.
In creating each class, we look for those who can demonstrate intellectual achievement and a passion for learning and service. We welcome applications from individuals who have demonstrated, through the length and quality of their non-academic experience, an ability to successfully complete the JD program.
First-year Applicants
Timeline for First-year Applicants
November 1, 2023: Deadline to submit application to first-year JD program.
January 2024: Last accepted LSAT for 2024 admission.
General Process
We are committed to helping students understand, plan for, and navigate the financial side of law school – from accessing scholarships and bursaries to reducing debt after graduation. Email our Student Financial Services Office for help with all aspects of your law school investment.
Admission decisions are made based on a holistic assessment of your entire file (in line with our admission policy objectives).
Successful applicants generally have at least a cumulative A- average (includes all years of undergraduate study) and an LSAT in the 85th percentile or better. Achieving these scores does not guarantee admission. Further, significantly stronger results on the LSAT or the cumulative grade point average (CGPA) may compensate for a less competitive LSAT or CGPA.
We make admission decisions on a rolling basis, with the majority of offers made between January through March. As such, we encourage you to take the LSAT by the November test date.
Note: We may make decisions before final transcripts are issued.
To be admitted to the joint program, you must be accepted separately to each program.
Indigenous Applicants
We are committed to increasing Indigenous representation in the legal profession and strongly encourage applications from Indigenous candidates.
To have your file reviewed as an Indigenous candidate, you must provide documentation that corroborates your identification and connection with your Indigenous community. More specifically, we will strongly consider your service and involvement or leadership within your community, on Indigenous issues or within Indigenous circles. In our experience, those markers of solidarity and ability to be supportive of others within your community correlate with academic and extracurricular success in law school.
If the Admissions Committee determines that insufficient documentation has been provided, you may be reviewed as a General applicant.
We are committed to Indigenous student success through initiatives and programming delivered by our Indigenous faculty members and our Program Manager, Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation, Lori Mishibinijima. For more information, email Lori Mishibinijima, Program Manager & Special Advisor, Indigenous & Reconciliation Initiatives at Osgoode.
Upper-year Applicants
Timeline for Upper-year Applicants
May 1, 2024 : All upper-year applications, including Transfer, LOP and NCA applications, are due. You must submit all documentation directly to OLSAS.
June 30, 2024: Third-party documents, including transcripts, confidential letters of reference and NCA recommendations, are due.
July 2024: We typically make decisions on Transfer, LOP and NCA applications in July.
The number of openings in each upper-year category is dependent on the internal attrition rates at Osgoode and is usually quite small.
Admission Decisions for Transfer and LOP Applicants
Ordinarily, you are considered for admission as a Transfer or LOP applicant only if you have obtained a minimum B average in your previous law study. In the past, successful Transfer students have typically had at least a B+ average in their first-year law studies.
An indication of class rank or standing should be included in at least 1 reference if it is not included on your law school transcript. At least 1 academic reference must be provided from a law professor who can comment on your abilities.
The Admissions Committee will consider your complete application, including:
- Undergraduate grades and LSAT (Transfer applicants)
- Quality of institution
- Grade distribution
- Reasons for the application and Osgoode’s ability to accommodate any required first‑year courses
The Admissions Committee will generally make decisions in accordance with the following priorities:
- Up to 50% of the available spaces will be offered to applicants based on the strength of their law school academic records to date. Therefore, it is critical that we receive an indication of your standing relative to the rest of your class.
- No less than 50% of the available spaces will be offered to applicants who demonstrate compelling, compassionate circumstances that require a transfer to Osgoode Hall Law School. Academic qualifications are not ignored in this subgroup; rather, we use them to aid in deciding between candidates who demonstrate comparable compassionate circumstances. Within this subgroup, we will give priority to:
- persons who must relocate to the Toronto area due to their own medical condition or that of an immediate family member,
- persons who demonstrate extreme financial hardship occasioned by study outside of the Toronto area and
- persons who would be separated from their dependants where separation to date has been extensive and commuting is not a viable option.
NCA
The primary criterion for assessing applications is the perceived likelihood that the applicant will successfully complete the required program of study as set out in the NCA recommendation letter.
The Admissions Committee will consider an applicant’s complete application, including the results of their NCA Challenge Examinations and our ability to accommodate their placement in upper-year courses.
We give preference to applicants who:
- are required to complete upper-year courses that we have availability in and
- were unsuccessful in meeting such course requirements by way of NCA Challenge Examinations.
If you are an NCA applicant, be advised that interviews for articling placement in Ontario generally take place during the summer, 1 full year prior to the start of the placement.
You are advised to contact the Law Society of Ontario, Office of the Registrar, to confirm procedures and deadline dates, by calling 416-947-3315.
Note: Osgoode Professional Development offers specific programs for internationally trained lawyers, including a Canadian Common Law LLM designed to meet the NCA requirements.
More about Osgoode Professional Development programs for internationally trained lawyers, including the programs’ eligibility requirements, application process and deadlines.
Additional Information
Housing
As an Osgoode student, you will have access to convenient on-campus housing options at York University.
In particular, you will have the benefit of applying to live in Osgoode Chambers, a comfortable and affordable home away from home, located minutes from the Law School and reserved for law and graduate students.
In addition to establishing great friendships and professional relationships from the start, this residence allows access to upper-year mentors who offer invaluable support and guidance as you begin your legal studies at Osgoode.
Suites are allocated to incoming JD students on a first-come, first‑served basis. You may apply for housing once you have firmly accepted Osgoode’s offer of admission. We encourage you to apply to Osgoode Chambers as early as possible. Pending availability, applying by June 1 will highly increase your chances of securing a unit.
You may choose to remain in your apartment for the entire 3 years of your program or for 1 or more semesters only. You are required to provide 60 days written notice to vacate.
Deferral of Admission
We encourage you to apply in the year you wish to enroll in.
Deferrals are granted in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Assistant Dean, Students, and the Manager, Admissions and Student Financial Services. A very limited number of deferrals are granted per year. We encourage you to submit your request as early as possible.
Email the Admissions Office for more information on our current deferral policy, including the deadline for submitting your request.
Interviews
We primarily assess you based on application documentation. The Admissions Committee may, on occasion and by invitation, interview applicants to assist in the selection process. You may not request an interview.
Reconsiderations
The Admissions Committee may reconsider an application only in the case of a procedural anomaly in the administrative process. To request a reconsideration, you must email the Admissions Office within 10 days of the decision date.
Note: Reconsideration of a file is based solely on the information available at the time of the original decision.
Fee Waivers
Email the Admissions Office to obtain an application for a waiver of the Osgoode portion of the application fee ($115). You must demonstrate financial hardship and provide corroborative documentation.
You must make your request well in advance of the November 1, 2023, application deadline to ensure a timely application.
Previous Applications
If you are a repeat applicant, you must re-apply for admission through OLSAS and re-submit all required documentation, including current letters of reference.
Late Applications
All application materials are due to OLSAS by November 1, 2023. The Admissions Committee strongly believes that adhering to the deadline (with exception only for compelling and extenuating circumstances corroborated by documentation) is the best way to ensure fairness among all applicants.
Direct requests for late applications to the Admissions Office.
False or Misleading Information
Providing false or misleading information or failure to provide material information will invalidate your application and will result in immediate rejection or in the revocation of an offer of admission and/or registration.
Contact Information
Direct all OLSAS-related inquiries to OLSAS (e.g., inquiries about application submissions or the receipt of documents) using Secure Applicant Messaging (SAM) in your application.
Direct Osgoode-specific admission and application inquiries to Osgoode Hall Law School.
Osgoode Hall Law School York University
1012 Ignat Kaneff Bldg
4700 Keele Street
Toronto ON M3J 1P3
Telephone: 416-736-5712
Fax: 416-736-5618
Email: admissions@osgoode.yorku.ca
For More Information
Visit our website for information about Osgoode’s Fall Open House and upcoming events.
To connect with a student ambassador or arrange an advising appointment, email the Student Recruitment Coordinator.