OLSAS – Program Requirements Overview
Note: This application guide contains information for fall 2022 admission. University program information changes regularly. View the application for the most up-to-date details.
Quick Links
- Bora Laskin Faculty of Law (Lakehead University)
- Lincoln Alexander School of Law (Ryerson University)
- Osgoode Hall Law School (York University)
- University of Ottawa
- Queen’s University
- University of Toronto
- Western University
- University of Windsor
This web page contains an overview of the requirements for law school programs. Refer to each university’s information page in the Application Guide for full information.
Bora Laskin Faculty of Law (Lakehead University)
First-year class size in 2020: 65
Number of first-year applicants in 2021 academic year: 780
Part-time, half-time, extended-time: N/A
Minimum undergraduate academic requirements: 3 years or more; undergraduate program completion is preferred.
LSAT: Test must be taken on, or after, June 2017; no minimum LSAT score; highest score used – the weight given to the LSAT varies depending on the fulfillment of other elements of the application.
Academic minimums: Competitive applications have an overall academic standing of “B+”/75% with an “A-”/80% in the last 2 years of study at the undergraduate level.
School Submissions: Required from all applicants.
Referee forms (letters of reference): 2 letters of reference are required (1 academic and 1 may be non-academic).
Programs:
- JD
Categories: General, Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit), Access, Mature
Other:
- Applicants applying under the Indigenous category are required to submit a letter of status from either a band council or Indigenous organization to support their application under this category.
- Applicants applying under the Access category must submit corroborative documents.
- Applicants applying under the Mature category must submit an up-to-date resumé.
Read more about Bora Laskin Faculty of Law of Lakehead University.
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Lincoln Alexander School of Law (Ryerson University)
First-year class size in 2020: 150
Number of first-year applicants in 2021 academic year: 2,521
Part-time, half-time, extended-time: None
Minimum undergraduate academic requirements: 3 years or more in an undergraduate degree program at a recognized university is required, except as noted in Requirements.
LSAT: Earliest test accepted is June 2017; latest test accepted is January 2022, including LSAT Writing. No minimum LSAT score, highest score is used.
Academic minimums: No minimum GPA is required. All applications are reviewed holistically.
School Submissions: Required from all applicants.
Referee forms (letters of reference): 2 letters of reference required; 1 academic reference is strongly recommended.
Programs:
- JD
Categories: General, Indigenous
Other:
- Online interview required for all applicants.
- Indigenous applicants must include in their Personal Statement an outline of their relationship and connection to their community, which could include the impact of colonization on their family, or their connection to Indigenous culture. One of the reference letters could also corroborate interest in, and identification with, their Indigenous community.
Read more about the Lincoln Alexander School of Law at Ryerson University.
Osgoode Hall Law School (York University)
First-year class size in 2020: 290
Number of first-year applicants in 2021 academic year: 3,360
Part-time, half-time, extended-time: Extended-time
Minimum undergraduate academic requirements: JD – requires 3 years or more at a recognized university in a program leading to a degree, with exceptions as noted in “Other”; JD/MA (Philosophy) – Requires the completion of a 4-year honours undergraduate degree in Philosophy.
LSAT: Earliest acceptable score is June 2017; latest acceptable score for entry in 2022: January 2022; highest score.
Academic minimums: Most successful applicants have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of “A-”.
School Submissions: Required from all applicants.
Referee forms (letters of reference): 2 required; at least 1 academic reference is strongly recommended.
Programs:
- JD
- JD/MBA
- JD/MES
- JD/MA (Phil)
- JD (Common Law)/LLB (Civil)
- JD/Extended
Categories: General, Indigenous
Other:
- You must complete the online Financial Statement to be considered for entrance scholarships and to apply to the Income Contingent Loan Program.
- If you are at least 26 years of age and with fewer than 3 years of university studies, refer to Eligibility Requirements to determine your eligibility.
- If you are applying in the Indigenous category, you are required to submit corroborative documentation to support your Indigenous status.
- If you are applying to a joint program, you must apply concurrently to the partner faculty.
Read more about Osgoode Hall Law School of York University.
University of Ottawa
First-year class size in 2020: 280
Number of first-year applicants in 2021 academic year: 3,274
Part-time, half-time, extended-time: Half‑time
Minimum undergraduate academic requirements: 3 years or more; undergraduate program completion is strongly encouraged.
LSAT: June 2017 onward; highest score; no minimum LSAT score. Most successful candidates have at least 157. The LSAT is not required for French programs.
Academic minimums: Most successful applicants have a cumulative GPA of “A-” or 80%.
School Submissions: Required from all applicants.
Referee forms (letters of reference): 2 required by all; at least 1 from an academic source.
Programs:
- JD
- JD/MA
- JD/MBA
- PDC (Combined JD/LLL)
Categories: General, Special Circumstances, Access, Mature, Indigenous
Other:
- Indigenous applicants must also submit a proof of Indigenous status and an up-to-date resumé or curriculum vitae (CV).
- Mature applicants must also submit an up-to-date resumé or CV with the School Submission; therefore, applicants should not use the School Submission as a CV.
- The weight given to the LSAT will vary according to other elements of each applicant’s file.
Read more about the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law.
Queen’s University
First-year class size in 2020: 208
Number of first-year applicants in 2021 academic year: 2,351
Part-time, half-time, extended-time: Part-time (up to 5 spaces available)
Minimum undergraduate academic requirements: 3 years or more; completion of undergraduate degree is preferred and is required for combined programs.
LSAT: Earliest acceptable test date: June 2017; latest test accepted: February 2022; highest score.
Academic minimums: Most successful applicants have an “A-” in the top 2 years of their undergraduate degree program.
School Submissions: Required from all applicants.
Referee forms (letters of reference): Please provide 1 academic reference. No more than 3 letters of reference may be filed to support an application.
Programs:
- JD
- JD Part‑time
- JD/MBA
- MIR/JD
- MPA/JD
- MA (Economics)/JD
Categories: General, Indigenous, Black Student Applicant, Access
Other:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) required for applicants who are not fluent in English.
- Indigenous and Access: Corroborative documentation required for basis of claim.
- Access applicants must provide an explanation for the basis of claim through a secondary statement.
- Combined program applicants must apply to OLSAS for JD admission and to the relevant graduate program for graduate admission. Read more about Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies admission.
Read more about Queen’s University Faculty of Law.
University of Toronto
First-year class size in 2020: 212
Number of first-year applicants in 2021 academic year: 2,780
Part-time, half-time, extended-time: Half-time
Minimum undergraduate academic requirements: 3 years; almost all admitted applicants have completed a 4-year degree.
LSAT: Earliest acceptable test date – June 2017; latest acceptable test date – January 2022; most successful applicants score 160 and above.
Academic minimums: Most successful applicants have a cumulative GPA of “A‑” or higher.
School Submissions: Required from all applicants.
Referee forms (letters of reference): References are not required.
Programs:
- JD
- JD Half‑time
- JD/MA (Criminology)
- JD/MA (Economics)
- JD/MA (English)
- JD/MA (European and Russian Affairs)
- JD/MBA
- JD/MGA (Global Affairs)
- JD/MI (Information)
- JD/MPP (Public Policy)
- JD/MSW (Social Work)
- JD/PhD (Criminology)
- JD/PhD (Economics)
- JD/PhD (Philosophy)
- JD/PhD (Political Science)
- JD/Certificate in Aboriginal Legal Studies
- JD/Certificate in Environmental Studies
- JD/Certificate in Sexual Diversity and Gender Studies
- JD/Collaborative Program in Jewish Studies
Categories: General, Mature, Indigenous
Other:
- Mature applicants are required to submit a resumé.
- We strongly recommend you submit an optional essay.
- For the Black Student Application Process (BSAP) option, you are required to submit the BSAP Essay.
- Interviews are not used; letters of reference are not requested.
Read more about the University of Toronto Faculty of Law.
Western University
First-year class size in 2020: 190
Number of first-year applicants in 2021 academic year: 2,779
Part-time, half-time, extended-time: Extended-time
Minimum undergraduate academic requirements: 3 years of full-time (or equivalent) undergraduate university study is required.
LSAT: Earliest test accepted: June 2017; latest test accepted: February 2022; scores above the 80th percentile are considered most competitive; highest score is used for admission purposes, although all scores are reviewed.
Academic minimums: Most successful applicants have a cumulative undergraduate average of “A‑” or 3.7 GPA.
School Submissions: Required from all applicants.
Referee forms (letters of reference): General, Access and Indigenous – 2 required (1 must be academic); Mature – 2 required.
Programs:
- Extended-Time JD
- JD
- JD/MBA
- JD/LLM (University of Groningen, The Netherlands)
- JD/LLB (l’Université Laval, Quebec)
- JD/MA (History)
- JD/MSc (Geology/Geophysics)
Categories: General, Indigenous, Access, Mature
Other:
- TOEFL required if your undergraduate program was not in English.
- Extended-Time JD: Include reason(s) for the request in your Personal Statement.
- Indigenous: Proof of Indigenous status or ancestry required.
- Access: Corroborative documents required.
- Mature: Resumé required.
- JD/MBA must apply concurrently to the Ivey Business School.
Visit Western Law for a full list of combined programs.
Read more about Western University’s Faculty of Law.
University of Windsor
First-year class size in 2020: 167 (JD); 88 (Dual JD)
Number of first-year applicants in 2021 academic year: 2,238 (JD); 534 (JD/JD)
Part-time, Half-time, extended-time: Half-time
Minimum undergraduate academic requirements: 3 years or more is preferred; most successful applicants have completed a 4-year undergraduate degree; Canadian & American Dual JD program requires the completion of a 4-year undergraduate degree by the beginning of August in the year of entry.
LSAT: November 2016 (earliest acceptable); highest score; no minimum LSAT score; the LSAT is 1 of 7 criteria considered.
Academic minimums: Refer to our 7 criteria.
School Submissions: Personal Profile is required from every applicant (found in the application under “School Submissions”).
Referee forms (letters of reference): 1 academic reference form and 1 non-academic reference form (preferably from a community engagement experience).
Programs:
- JD
- JD Half‑time
- Canadian & American Dual JD
- MSW/JD
- MBA/JD
- LLM
Categories: General, Indigenous
Other:
- A Supplemental Application Form (found in the online application under “School Submissions”) is required for the Canadian & American Dual JD program.
- The Half-Time program requires an additional application statement.