About the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law
The uOttawa Advantage
The University of Ottawa offers unique advantages, thanks to our location in the National Capital. Ottawa is home to the Supreme Court of Canada, the federal government, many non-governmental organizations and a thriving high-tech community.
In addition to core legal studies, students have access to a variety of law-related internship and practicum opportunities across diverse fields, including government departments and beyond.
Ottawa also offers many opportunities to take advantage of the outdoors. The University is close to bicycle paths, ski hills, hiking trails in Gatineau Park and the longest skating rink in the world, the Rideau Canal.
Diverse Expertise
The Common Law Section is a national and global leader in a variety of fields, including:
- Law and Technology
- Health Law
- Environmental Law
- Public Law
- International Law (including Immigration and Refugee Law)
We are driven by our commitment to social justice and dedicated to reconciliation with the Indigenous peoples of Canada.
uOttawa is home to one of the best mooting programs in the country. Each year, our students bring home awards from the top mooting competitions in Canada and around the world.
We educate the legal leaders of tomorrow. Our alumni work as lawyers in private practice, government, in-house counsel and law-related fields, including business, technology, international organizations and the not-for-profit sector.
Real-world Experience
We offer hands-on learning opportunities at on-campus centres and clinics, where students can earn course credits or undertake internships while working on real legal cases. Clinic opportunities include:
- The University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic
- The uOttawa-Ecojustice Environmental Law Clinic
- The Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic
- The Human Rights Research and Education Centre
- The Refugee Hub
- The Ticket Defence Program
Degrees
Our Faculty consists of 2 sections:
Common Law Degree – Juris Doctor (JD)u003cbru003e(formerly referred to as a Bachelor of Laws or LLB)
Common Law is the system of law practiced and followed in all Canadian provinces and territories, except for Quebec. Other Common Law jurisdictions include England, Australia and the United States.
Graduates of the JD program are eligible to write any provincial or territorial bar exam in Canada (except Quebec) and, upon successful completion, will be eligible to practice law in that jurisdiction.
We offer options to study Common Law in English or French and have several partnerships with other faculties and institutions, giving you a wide range of combined programs to choose from.
Civil Law Degree – Licentiate of Laws (LLL)
Civil Law is based on a legislated civil code and is practiced and followed in Quebec and much of the non-English speaking world. Graduates of the LLL program will be eligible to write the Quebec bar exam and, upon successful completion, will be eligible to practice law in Quebec.
The Civil Law program is offered only in French.
If you wish to apply to a program leading to the LLL, you must use the OUAC Undergraduate Application and not the OLSAS application.
Program Information
JD Program
Overview
The English Common Law Program is open to anglophone and bilingual applicants, and the Programme de common law en Français is open to francophone and bilingual applicants. Applicants to the Programme de common law en Français may be asked to take a French language proficiency test at a cost of $115, which is payable by the applicant.
Students enrolled in either program are welcome to enroll in courses in both the English and French sections.
Graduates of the Programme de common law en Français are not eligible to write the Quebec bar exam. If you are interested in writing the Quebec bar exam, refer to the Civil Law program.
JD Combined Programs
Juris Doctor (JD)/Master of Arts (MA) in International Affairs
The Common Law Section of the University of Ottawa and the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA) at Carleton University offer a combined 4-year program resulting in a JD degree and an MA (International Affairs).
The JD/MA program is designed for students with a strong interest in international law and international affairs. The degree provides an excellent foundation for a career in government or the private sector, or for advanced studies in international affairs and international law.
By pursuing the 2 degrees jointly, you have the opportunity to combine your research interests in law and international relations. You are also able to tap into the extensive work on international affairs and law conducted at our National Capital Region institutions.
In addition to submitting your application to our Faculty of Law through OLSAS, you are required to apply to NPSIA at Carleton University. If you do not apply to Carleton University, you will not be considered for this combined program. To enroll in the combined JD/MA program, you must be admitted to both NPSIA and the Faculty of Law.
The deadline to submit your application to the MA program at NPSIA is January 31, 2024.
Contact NPSIA directly for more information on their application process and admissions criteria:
Norman Paterson School of International Affairs
Carleton University
Colonel By Drive
Ottawa ON K1S 5B6
Telephone: 613-520-6655
Juris Doctor (JD)/Master of Business Administration (MBA)
The Common Law Section offers a combined JD/MBA program in partnership with the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa. The JD/MBA program is designed to be completed within 4 years.
Students interested in the JD/MBA program apply to our regular JD program in French or English and will have the opportunity to make an application to the MBA program during their first year of study in the JD program.
Contact the Telfer School of Management directly for more information on their application process and admissions criteria:
Telfer School of Management – Graduate Office
55 Laurier Avenue East, Room 4160
Ottawa ON K1N 6N5
Telephone: 613-562-5884
Email: graduate@telfer.uOttawa.ca
Dual Canadian/American JD Program
The Common Law Section offers a combined Canadian/American JD program in conjunction with our partner institution in the United States. The Dual JD program is a 4-year program, where the first 2 years of study take place in Ottawa, and the final 2 years of study take place with our partner institution in the United States.
Students interested in the Dual JD program apply to our regular JD program in French or English and have the opportunity to make an application to our American partner school during their second year of study in the JD program.
Any studies completed in the United States will be in English.
Studying Common Law and Civil Law – Concurrently or Consecutively
Knowledge of both legal systems ensures access to national and international markets in the era of globalization.
A graduate with training in both of Canada’s legal systems can be licensed to practice law anywhere in Canada. They also gain the knowledge to work internationally and are well suited for the federal public service.
If you wish to obtain a Civil Law degree and a Common Law degree, you have 2 options:
The Concurrent Stream: Programme de droit canadien
In this 3-year combined program, you will learn Common Law and Civil Law concurrently. There are 20 positions in this stream. The course of study includes several courses designed specifically for Programme de droit canadien students.
This combined program is offered in French only. A high-level of proficiency in French is expected and you must be fluent enough to understand lectures and readings in French, and to write examinations and legal papers in French.
The Consecutive Stream: National Program
This is an accelerated course of study for students who already hold a Civil Law Degree from a Canadian university. Students are expected to have a high level of proficiency in both French and English, as the program is bilingual.
You can apply to the National Program after completing a civil law degree or during the final year of your civil law studies.
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is not required for admission into the National Program.
Note: If you completed your LLL at the University of Ottawa’s Section de Droit Civil, you must apply by using the university’s internal application form in uoZone.
Our Civil Law Section offers a parallel program for Common Law graduates who wish to obtain an LLL degree in an accelerated timeframe.
The National Program is fully bilingual. Applicants are required to have high levels of proficiency in both French and English. Individual courses will be fully conducted in French or English. Therefore, applicants must be fluent enough to understand lectures and readings, and write examinations and legal papers, in either language
Admission Requirements and Supporting Documents
Application Components
All applications to our Faculty of Law Common Law Section must include the following:
- OLSAS profile details
- LSAT Score
- LSAT Writing Sample
- All postsecondary transcripts
- Personal Statement
- 2 reference letters (minimum of 1 from an academic referee)
- Autobiographical Sketch
- List of verifiers with names, roles and contact information
Exceptions:
- The LSAT is not required for applicants applying to French-language programs.
- Mature candidates who cannot reasonably obtain an academic reference letter will be permitted to provide 2 non-academic reference letters.
Some applications to our Faculty of Law must also include:
- Curriculum vitae (CV) (Mature applicants, Indigenous applicants)
- Supporting documentation, where applicable (Access & Equity applicants and General – Special Circumstances applicants)
- Proof of Indigenous identity (Indigenous applicants)
- World Education Services (WES) Certificate (for applicants in any category who obtained a degree or degrees outside of Canada or the United States)
All information provided will be considered in a manner consistent with the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Explanation of Application Components
Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
The LSAT is required if you are applying to the first year of any English Common Law program, without exception. For test dates and registration, visit the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).
The LSAT is not a requirement for application to French programs, as the test evaluates a candidate’s capacities for logical reasoning and written comprehension in English.
Our Faculty of Law does not set a minimum LSAT score requirement, but most successful applicants have a score of 158 or higher. The weight given to the LSAT varies according to the other elements in your file. If English is not your first language, the LSAT, while relevant, may carry less weight in the Admission Committee’s evaluation of your application.
You may write the LSAT multiple times if you wish. We will take into consideration only your highest score.
We strongly recommend that you write the LSAT by November 2023.
If you have already written the LSAT and you intend to write it for a second or subsequent time in January 2024, and your file is otherwise complete, we may review it prior to January. The Admissions Committee cannot guarantee holding your file until your January score is received.
If you decide to write the LSAT on a date other than the one indicated on your application, please amend your OLSAS application as soon as possible.
The March 2024 LSAT will not be accepted, as these scores are released in mid-April.
Applications that remain incomplete after April 1, 2024, are subject to cancellation without further notice.
LSAT results are valid for only 5 years. Therefore, results from an LSAT taken prior to June 2019 will not be accepted.
LSAT Writing Section
The LSAT consists of 2 portions:
- a multiple-choice portion (which is scored) and
- a writing portion (which is not scored).
Both portions must be completed and processed for your score to be released to OLSAS.
If you are a first-time test taker, you should complete the LSAT writing prompt as soon as possible.
If you have a valid LSAT writing sample on file and you will be retaking the LSAT, you do not need to complete the LSAT writing prompt again (although you may choose to do so).
Reference Letters
Applicants must provide at least 2 letters of reference. At least 1 of the 2 reference letters must be from an academic referee. An academic referee is someone who has taught and evaluated you in an educational context at a postsecondary institution (e.g., a professor, a teaching assistant, a research supervisor). Ideally, an academic referee should indicate your performance relative to the rest of the class.
High school or elementary school teachers or principals are not considered academic referees. Coaches or tutors are not academic referees. Contact us if you are uncertain whether a referee meets our definition of an academic referee.
While you are only required to submit 1 academic reference letter, you may submit 2 academic reference letters if you wish.
Choose your referees carefully:
- These individuals should be able to speak to your skills and abilities as they pertain to your success as a future law student. This may include your ability to write clearly and persuasively, think critically, conduct research, work in groups, work independently, manage your responsibilities and organize your time.
- A non-academic referee must be someone who knows you in a professional or community context. Examples of suitable choices for non-academic referees include employers, managers, co-op placement supervisors, internship supervisors, mentors, coaches, tutors and volunteer coordinators.
- Family members, friends, peers, friends-of-the-family and romantic partners are not suitable choices.
Personal Statement
The Personal Statement is a critical part of your application. You can think of it as a professional interview on paper. Committee members assess Personal Statements on the following considerations:
- Capacity for critical, creative and original thinking
- Communication skills, including written skills
- Evidence of capacity to manage workload and time
- Ability to make a meaningful contribution to the law school environment and to the profession and the public it serves as demonstrated by, among other things:
- A record of extracurricular activities and community involvement
- Career experiences and achievements
- Personal success in dealing with challenges
- Diverse social, economic, ethnic or cultural experiences and perspectives
- Awareness of and interest in specializations and other strengths of the Faculty’s program of legal education
- Specific career aspirations
- Commitment to upholding ethical standards and to treating all university members with respect
- For French programs: A French-language academic history and the reasons for wanting to study Common Law in French at the University of Ottawa.
Do not simply reiterate the information contained within your Autobiographical Sketch. Instead, reflect on the 5 parameters and decide what you would like us to know about you.
You can also review our Faculty’s Top 10 Tips for a Great Personal Statement.
If you are applying in the General – Special Circumstances category or the Access & Equity category, dedicated forms are provided for you to explain your reasons for applying in that category. You do not need to use your Personal Statement for this purpose, though you may choose to do so.
As with information in all application components, information contained in personal statements will be considered in a manner consistent with the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Transcripts
You must provide all transcripts from your postsecondary institutions. This includes undergraduate, graduate and college transcripts.
International Transcripts
All transcripts for undergraduate and graduate degrees obtained outside of Canada and the United States must be assessed through WES. Your institution must send an official copy of your transcripts to WES for assessment and certification. WES must then send your transcripts and their assessments directly to OLSAS for consideration.
You must obtain a course-by-course WES evaluation of all undergraduate transcripts. If you provide a transcript for an international undergraduate degree without a course-by-course WES evaluation, your application will remain incomplete and the Admissions Committee will not assess it.
World Education Services
Telephone: 1-800-361-6106
Transcripts from Study Abroad Programs or Exchange Programs
If you studied abroad temporarily while completing a degree from a Canadian institution or an American institution, you are not required to provide a WES evaluation. However, you must have your exchange institution send an official copy of your transcript to OLSAS.
Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) Calculations
Undergraduate academic performance is a significant factor in the evaluation process. Most successful applicants have a CGPA of A- or above.
CGPA calculations are based on undergraduate grades. The calculation does not include graduate-level grades or grades from college programs. However, we will review transcripts during the file assessment process to account for academic achievement in graduate and college programs.
Transcripts from institutions outside of Canada and the United States cannot form the basis of your CGPA. However, your file will still be assessed and your transcripts will be reviewed.
Responses to the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Questionnaire
At the Common Law Section of the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion.
To ensure we are recruiting and selecting a class that is representative of the Canadian population and addressing any barriers to legal education, Ontario law schools are inviting applicants to answer questions that identify their ethnic or cultural origin(s), race, religion and/or spiritual affiliation, disability and sexual orientation.
Your answers will be used to inform Ontario law schools on the makeup of the applicant pool and to help begin to address any barriers that particular groups may face in accessing a legal education. The information we obtain from candidate responses will inform future initiatives aimed at improving our policies, program, services and outreach efforts.
At the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, your individual answers will not be shared with the person(s) who reviews your application but may be used in the admission process, for example, to provide you with information about available scholarships or services, and to perform statistical analysis on the number of applicants, offers, and acceptances from candidates with various characteristics.
There is no obligation to respond to the Diversity Census questions. If you prefer, you may select the “Prefer not to answer” response option available for each question. No program, service or benefit will be withheld if you choose “Prefer not to answer”.
Application Components for Various Applicant Types
Summary: What do Applicants in Each Category Need to Submit?
Applicants must submit the following, plus a WES evaluation if they obtained their degree outside Canada or the US.
General
- LSAT Score
- LSAT Writing
- Postsecondary Transcripts
- Personal Statement
- Autobiographical Sketch
- List of Verifiers
- 2 Reference Letters (minimum 1 academic)
General – Special Circumstances
- LSAT Score
- LSAT Writing
- Postsecondary Transcripts
- Personal Statement
- Autobiographical Sketch
- List of Verifiers
- 2 Reference Letters (minimum 1 academic)
- Supporting Documentation (if desired)
Access
- LSAT Score
- LSAT Writing
- Postsecondary Transcripts
- Personal Statement
- Autobiographical Sketch
- List of Verifiers
- 2 Reference Letters (minimum 1 academic)
- Supporting Documentation (if desired)
Mature
- LSAT Score
- LSAT Writing
- Postsecondary Transcripts (if candidate attended a postsecondary institution)
- Personal Statement
- Autobiographical Sketch
- List of Verifiers
- 2 Reference Letters (minimum 1 academic)
- The inclusion of an academic reference letter is preferred but not mandatory.
- CV
Indigenous
- LSAT Score
- LSAT Writing
- Postsecondary Transcripts
- Personal Statement
- Autobiographical Sketch
- List of Verifiers
- 2 Reference Letters (minimum 1 academic)
- The non-academic reference letter should speak to the connection you share with your Indigenous community.
- CV
- Demonstration of Indigenous Identity
Upper-year Applicants
The deadline for upper-year applicants seeking to study at the University of Ottawa as a transfer student or on a letter of permission is May 1, 2024. Files are not assessed until they are complete and all required documents have been submitted. As the number of spaces available is limited, any delay in completing an application can prejudice the likelihood of admission. Files that are incomplete as of August 1, 2024, will be cancelled without further notice.
Upper-year applicants are not required to select an applicant category.
Transfer Applicants
Transfer applications, for students seeking admission directly to the second year of the JD program, will be accepted only from students who have successfully completed the first year of a Canadian Common Law program. If you have undertaken legal studies outside of Canada, you cannot apply as a transfer applicant.
If you are applying as a transfer applicant, please explain why you wish to study at the University of Ottawa. You should use your Personal Statement to describe the personal, academic or professional reasons why you wish to continue your legal studies in Ottawa. Priority consideration will be given to applicants who have compelling circumstances that require their presence in Ottawa (e.g., family responsibilities, spousal relocation, financial challenges).
You must also submit:
- your official law school transcripts,
- 2 letters of reference, including at least 1 from a professor at your current law school and
- a letter from the Dean of your current law school attesting that you are in good standing and have not been subject to any disciplinary actions.
We do not require LSAT results from transfer applicants.
Letter of Permission
You can apply to study on a Letter of Permission if you wish to complete 1 semester or 1 full year of your law studies at the University of Ottawa as a visiting student, with the permission of your law school.
You should use your Personal Statement to describe the personal, academic and professional reasons why you wish to study at the University of Ottawa. We will give priority consideration to applicants who have compelling circumstances that require their presence in Ottawa (e.g., family responsibilities, spousal relocation, financial challenges).
You must also submit:
- your official law school transcripts,
- 2 letters of reference, including at least 1 from a professor in law school and
- a letter of permission from the Dean of your current law school attesting that you are in good standing and have not been the subject of any disciplinary actions.
We do not require LSAT results from Letter of Permission applicants.
National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) Applicants
If you have already completed a law degree in a foreign jurisdiction or in Quebec, and you now wish to practice law in a Canadian Common Law jurisdiction, you may apply for an assessment of your legal studies by the NCA. The NCA was established by the Committee of Canadian Law Deans and the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.
For further information, write directly to the NCA:
Federation of Law Societies of Canada
World Exchange Plaza
1810-45 O’Connor Street
Ottawa ON K1P 1A4
Telephone: 613-236-7272
Email: info@flsc.ca
If you have received advanced standing from the NCA, you may apply to the Faculty as an NCA applicant. If the NCA has not granted you advanced standing, you must apply as a first-year student and complete the full 3-year JD program to be eligible to practice law in Canada. Email us if you are unsure whether you qualify as an NCA candidate.
If you are applying to do course work required by the NCA, use the Personal Statement to explain why you wish to complete your courses at the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa. Your application must include a copy of the NCA assessment, which must be sent directly by the NCA, and 2 letters of reference, 1 of which should come from an academic referee. If an official NCA assessment is provided, you are not required to send original transcripts from outside Ontario.
We do not require LSAT results from NCA applicants.
An English proficiency test may be required, the fee for which will be payable by the applicant.
If you are an NCA applicant, and we do not receive your NCA assessment and your final grades from your last year of law studies by August 1, 2024, your application will be cancelled without further notice.
Applicant Categories
Admission to our JD program is highly competitive, with the Common Law section receiving thousands of applications for approximately 360 first-year spots. Applicants must, at minimum, have completed 3 years of full-time undergraduate studies (equal to 90 credits or 30 half-year courses) at an accredited university, prior to beginning law school. We also invite applications from those who have completed their undergraduate degree at an accredited college.
Applicants in the Mature category are exempt from the 90-credit requirement but are strongly encouraged to have completed some university education to be competitive in our admissions process.
Through our admissions process, we strive to create a vibrant and diverse academic environment and to prepare skilled and compassionate professionals for legal workplaces. We review our admissions files in a holistic manner to ensure that our student body represents the full range of social, economic, ethnic and cultural perspectives in our society, and includes students from a wide range of educational backgrounds.
The Admissions Committee is composed of professors, staff, third-year law students and admission officers.
Overview of Applicant Categories
There are 5 applicant categories:
General Category
The General category is the most common category and is the correct choice for any applicant who does not meet the eligibility criteria for any of the other categories.
Applicants in the General category must include all components listed in the Application Components section.
General – Special Circumstances Category
The General – Special Circumstances category is for candidates who would otherwise be General category applicants but who experienced a significant, negative one-time event that had a short-term, adverse effect on their studies and that does not persist now.
If choosing this category, indicate which academic term(s) were affected by the adverse event and provide supporting documentation, where appropriate.
Examples of a special circumstance include:
- serious short-term illness or injury,
- a seriously ill or injured family member or
- the death of a loved one.
Applicants in the General – Special Circumstances category must include all components listed in the Application Components section, plus any supporting documentation relevant to the special circumstance that applicants wish to include.
Mature Category
In this category, special consideration is given to non-academic experiences.
To be eligible to apply as a Mature applicant, you must, by the application deadline:
- have at least 5 years of non-academic experience since finishing your undergraduate studies; or
- have at least 10 years of non-academic experience since finishing high school.
We recognize that if 5 years (or more) have elapsed since completion of your undergraduate studies, it might not be possible to obtain an academic reference letter from an undergraduate professor.
Accordingly, if 5 (or more) years have passed since you completed your undergraduate studies, you are exempt from providing an academic reference letter. Mature applicants are strongly encouraged to choose non-academic referees who can speak to your proficiency in skills that are relevant to law school, such as the ability to:
- Write clearly and persuasively
- Conduct research
- Think critically
- Analyze information
- Work in groups
- Work independently
- Manage your time effectively
Exception: If you have, within the past 5 years, been enrolled full time or part time in any of the following types of programs, you must provide an academic reference letter, regardless of when you completed your undergraduate degree:
- Master’s program (including MBA)
- PhD program
- Professional program
- College diploma or certificate program
If you have never attended an undergraduate program, you are eligible to apply to our program as a Mature applicant, provided you are at least 10 years removed from high school.
While previous undergraduate study is not mandatory for Mature applicants, our Admissions Committee looks for evidence of an applicant’s ability to succeed in meeting the significant academic demands of law school. This evidence usually requires the satisfactory completion of at least some undergraduate courses.
If you have not completed any undergraduate studies, you are exempt from providing an academic reference letter and are strongly encouraged to choose non-academic referees who can speak to your proficiency in the previously listed skills.
Applicants in the Mature category must include all components listed in the Application Components section. Applicants must also submit an up-to-date resumé or curriculum vitae (CV) to OLSAS via Secure Applicant Messaging (SAM).
Indigenous Category
Persons who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis may apply in this category.
Proof of Indigenous identity must be provided. It can take different forms. Consult the University of Ottawa’s policy on admissions streams and scholarships intended for First Nations, Inuit and Métis applicants [PDF].
If you choose to apply in the Indigenous category, we encourage you to use your Personal Statement to describe your connection to your Indigenous community, including the extent to which you are involved in your Indigenous community, if applicable.
Applicants in the Indigenous category must submit all components listed in the Application Components section. They must also submit proof of Indigenous identity, a Personal Statement and a reference letter in support of their community connection. Applicants in this category must submit their resumé or CV to OLSAS via SAM.
Access u0026amp; Equity Category
Applicants who are members of historically excluded communities and/or who have experienced systemic inequality or identifiable social or economic barriers to education may apply through the Access & Equity category.
Factors supporting candidacy in this category are based on the Ontario Human Rights Code, which states:
Every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to services, goods and facilities, without discrimination because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status or disability.
(R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19, s.1; 1999, c.6, s.28 [1]; 2001, c.32, s.27 [1]); 2005, c. 5, s. 32 (1); 2012, c. 7, s. 1.
In addition to the protected grounds listed in the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Admissions Committee considers significant economic hardship to be a barrier to education, which would confer eligibility to apply in this category.
If you wish to be considered in the Access & Equity category, you are required to explain the reasons for applying in this category. Provide this explanation in the application screen identified for this purpose. You may also refer to the reasons for applying in this category in your personal statement, if you wish to do so.
If you wish to have your academic profile or LSAT performance assessed in relation to the reasons for applying in the Access & Equity category, we encourage you to provide an explanation and supporting documentation. We will review the application in the context of the supporting documentation and other information you provide.
Applicants in the Access & Equity category must include all components listed in the Application Components section, plus any documentation in support of the access and equity claim.
Multiple Applicant Categories
Applicants are welcome to apply in multiple applicant categories, as appropriate to their circumstances. You do not need to choose between several relevant categories. If you apply under multiple categories, be sure to include the required components for each category. If you apply under multiple categories, your file will be assessed only once.
Additional Information
Deadlines
- The deadline to apply for English programs commencing in fall 2024 is November 1, 2023.
- The deadline to apply for French programs commencing in fall 2024 is March 1, 2024.
Note: Files are not assessed until they are complete. - Incomplete applications will be cancelled without further notice, as of these dates:
- April 1, 2024 (English programs)
- June 1, 2024 (French programs)
Late Applications
Plan your time carefully. It is your responsibility to meet all relevant deadlines. Application deadline extensions are granted only in exceptional circumstances. Requests to submit late applications must be made in writing to the Admissions Committee and must include the reason for the request, along with any applicable supporting documentation.
Fee Waivers
You may request a waiver for the $115 University of Ottawa application fee if you are in financial difficulty. The basic criterion for granting a waiver is an inability to pay.
We will only assess requests submitted through our fee waiver application form. To obtain a waiver form, email the Common Law Section’s Recruitment and Admission Office.
No waivers will be granted retroactively.
If you wish to apply to have the LSAT sitting fee waived, contact the Law School Admissions Council directly.
Tuition, Scholarships and Financial Aid
Tuition
You can use our online Tuition Fee Table to determine the amount owed.
Scholarships
The Common Law Section offers several scholarships and bursaries for first-year students. While some require an application, others are offered automatically.
Consult these links for more information about admission scholarships and bursaries for the:
Financial Aid
Financial aid for law students is available from a variety of sources.
For complete information about financial aid and applications, contact the Financial Aid and Awards Service:
University of Ottawa
55 Laurier Avenue East, Room 3156
Ottawa ON K1N 6N5
Email: loansandawards@uottawa.ca
Residence and Housing
If you are admitted to the Faculty of Law and must relocate to Ottawa, you can choose to apply for on-campus housing, off-campus housing, or search independently.
More about:
Equity and Student Success
We are committed to increasing the participation of persons from communities that have been historically excluded from the legal profession.
We offer a variety of academic supports to assist those students whose life experiences may make the transition to law school more difficult.
We encourage students to contact the Common Law Section’s Equity and Student Success Counsellor to discuss academic accommodations and available supports to ensure that students have every opportunity to participate in the academic and social activities offered at the Faculty of Law.
Studying Law Part-time
We do not offer a part-time program. However, part-time study may be considered as a reasonable accommodation in compliance with the University’s obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
After receiving your offer of admission, you may write to the Admissions Committee to request permission to enroll in part-time studies. You must provide the reasons for your request and supporting documentation may be required.
In accordance with the Faculty’s Academic Regulations, you must complete the JD program within 6 years of admission.
Contact Information
The University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law, Common Law Section
Telephone: 613-562-5800, ext. 3270
Fax: 613-562-5124
Email: comlaw@uottawa.ca