List of law schools in Canada
Encyclopedia
This is a list of law school
s and law faculties in Canada
.
Canada
is mostly a common law
jurisdiction. However, the province of Quebec
uses the civil law
system for private law matters. As a result, Quebec's French language
law schools are exclusively civil law schools.
Schools teaching civil law
Schools teaching common law
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
s and law faculties in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
is mostly a common law
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
jurisdiction. However, the province of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
uses the civil law
Civil law (legal system)
Civil law is a legal system inspired by Roman law and whose primary feature is that laws are codified into collections, as compared to common law systems that gives great precedential weight to common law on the principle that it is unfair to treat similar facts differently on different...
system for private law matters. As a result, Quebec's French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
law schools are exclusively civil law schools.
Schools teaching civil lawCivil law (legal system)Civil law is a legal system inspired by Roman law and whose primary feature is that laws are codified into collections, as compared to common law systems that gives great precedential weight to common law on the principle that it is unfair to treat similar facts differently on different...
- McGill UniversityMcGill UniversityMohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, Faculty of Law/Faculté de droit - Université de MontréalUniversité de MontréalThe Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
, Faculté de droitUniversité de Montréal Faculty of LawThe Faculty of Law at Université de Montréal was officially founded in 1892. It has consistently been in first position in Maclean’s magazine’s Canadian civil law schools rankings, until 2010. In addition to its civil law degree , the Law School offers a one-year J.D... - Université du Québec à MontréalUniversité du Québec à MontréalThe Université du Québec à Montréal is one of four universities in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-Basic facts:The UQAM is the largest constituent element of the Université du Québec , a public university system with other branches in Gatineau , Rimouski, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec City, Chicoutimi, and...
, Département des sciences juridiques - Université de SherbrookeUniversité de SherbrookeThe Université de Sherbrooke is a large university with campuses located in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada and Longueuil, a suburb of Montreal approximately west of Sherbrooke. It is one of two universities, and the only French language university, in the Estrie region of Quebec.In 2007, the...
, Faculté de droit - Université LavalUniversité LavalLaval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
, Faculté de droit - University of OttawaUniversity of OttawaThe University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
, Faculté de droit civilUniversity of Ottawa LawThe University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, sometimes colloquially known as U of O Law, is the law school of the University of Ottawa, located in Ottawa, Ontario. The University of Ottawa Law School is one of Canada's most influential, having produced lawyers throughout French and English Canada...
Schools teaching common lawCommon lawCommon law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
- Dalhousie UniversityDalhousie UniversityDalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
, Schulich School of Law - McGill UniversityMcGill UniversityMohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, Faculty of LawMcGill University Faculty of LawThe Faculty of Law is a constituent faculty of McGill University, in Montreal, Quebec. Its graduates obtain both a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Civil Law , concurrently, in three to four years, allowing them to practice in both the Canadian, U.S... - Queen's UniversityQueen's UniversityQueen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
, Faculty of LawQueen's Faculty of LawThe Queen's University Faculty of Law is a professional faculty of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada and is regarded as one of the most prestigious institutions of legal education in Canada.... - Thompson Rivers UniversityThompson Rivers UniversityThompson Rivers University is a comprehensive university located in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. It offers students a broad range of courses, career streams, and the ability to ladder credits from diploma programs into full degrees...
, TRU Faculty of Law - Université de MonctonUniversité de MonctonThe Université de Moncton is a French language university located in Moncton, New Brunswick serving the Acadian community of Atlantic Canada...
, École de droitUniversité de Moncton École de droitFounded in 1978, the Université de Moncton Faculté de droit is the only law faculty in Canada offering a common law legal education taught entirely in French. Other universities such as the University of Ottawa and McGill offer some courses in French... - University of AlbertaUniversity of AlbertaThe University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
, Faculty of Law - University of British ColumbiaUniversity of British ColumbiaThe University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
, Faculty of LawUniversity of British Columbia Faculty of LawThe University of British Columbia Faculty of Law is one of the largest English language legal programs in Canada, with over 600 law students. The school offers a three-year Juris Doctor program and the graduate degrees of Master of Laws , Master of Jurisprudence and doctorate degrees... - University of CalgaryUniversity of CalgaryThe University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
, Faculty of LawUniversity of Calgary Faculty of LawThe Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary was officially opened in 1976 with a first-year class of sixty students and nine faculty members. Currently, there are 21 faculty and approximately 300 students in total, giving the school one of the smallest class sizes of the Canadian law schools.... - University of ManitobaUniversity of ManitobaThe University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
, Faculty of Law - University of New BrunswickUniversity of New BrunswickThe University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
, Faculty of LawUniversity of New Brunswick Faculty of LawThe University of New Brunswick Faculty of Law is a Canadian law school which offers a bachelor of laws degree . It is located in New Brunswick's capital city, Fredericton, and is one of two law schools located in the province . The current Dean of the Faculty is Ian Peach... - University of OttawaUniversity of OttawaThe University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
, Faculty of Common LawUniversity of Ottawa LawThe University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, sometimes colloquially known as U of O Law, is the law school of the University of Ottawa, located in Ottawa, Ontario. The University of Ottawa Law School is one of Canada's most influential, having produced lawyers throughout French and English Canada... - University of SaskatchewanUniversity of SaskatchewanThe University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
, College of LawUniversity of Saskatchewan College of LawThe College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan is the university's law school. Located in Saskatoon in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, the College of Law was established in 1912 and is the oldest law school in Western Canada.... - Université de SherbrookeUniversité de SherbrookeThe Université de Sherbrooke is a large university with campuses located in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada and Longueuil, a suburb of Montreal approximately west of Sherbrooke. It is one of two universities, and the only French language university, in the Estrie region of Quebec.In 2007, the...
, Faculté de droit (programme de 2e cycle en Common law et Droit transnational) - University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoThe University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, Faculty of LawUniversity of Toronto Faculty of LawEstablished in 1887, the University of Toronto Faculty of Law is one of the oldest professional faculties at the University of Toronto. The Faculty of Law is particularly renowned in the areas of corporate law, international law, law and economics, and legal theory.The law school has been... - University of VictoriaUniversity of VictoriaThe University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
, Faculty of LawUniversity of Victoria Faculty of LawThe University of Victoria Faculty of Law is a law school at the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The school grants JD, LLM, and PhD degrees in law.-Reputation:... - University of Western OntarioUniversity of Western OntarioThe University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, Faculty of LawWestern Law SchoolWestern Law is a public law school located at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1959, its first Dean was former Supreme Court of Canada justice, the Honourable Ivan Cleveland Rand, who saw the school as developing "in the minds of its students the habit of... - University of WindsorUniversity of WindsorThe University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
, Faculty of LawUniversity of Windsor Faculty of LawThe University of Windsor Faculty of Law, located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, was opened in 1969, and places particular focus on trans-border legal issues, and access to justice.... - York UniversityYork UniversityYork University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
, Osgoode Hall Law SchoolOsgoode Hall Law SchoolOsgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
Schools offering dual degrees or choice of system
- McGill UniversityMcGill UniversityMohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, Faculty of LawMcGill University Faculty of LawThe Faculty of Law is a constituent faculty of McGill University, in Montreal, Quebec. Its graduates obtain both a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Civil Law , concurrently, in three to four years, allowing them to practice in both the Canadian, U.S...
- Integrates both components in a 3, 3.5 or 4 year (at the student's option) study called the Trans-Systemic Programme. This is a development of the National Program that is still offered at the University of Ottawa.
- University of OttawaUniversity of OttawaThe University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
, Faculty of LawUniversity of Ottawa LawThe University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, sometimes colloquially known as U of O Law, is the law school of the University of Ottawa, located in Ottawa, Ontario. The University of Ottawa Law School is one of Canada's most influential, having produced lawyers throughout French and English Canada...
- Complete an additional year to complement either degree with the other program.
- Université de MontréalUniversité de MontréalThe Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
, Faculty of LawUniversité de Montréal Faculty of LawThe Faculty of Law at Université de Montréal was officially founded in 1892. It has consistently been in first position in Maclean’s magazine’s Canadian civil law schools rankings, until 2010. In addition to its civil law degree , the Law School offers a one-year J.D...
- Complete an additional year to earn a J.D. in common law.
- University of WindsorUniversity of WindsorThe University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
, Faculty of LawUniversity of Windsor Faculty of LawThe University of Windsor Faculty of Law, located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, was opened in 1969, and places particular focus on trans-border legal issues, and access to justice....
- Complete the requirements for the Canadian LL.B. and the ABA approved, American J.D. through a unique, 3-year program in partnership with the University of Detroit MercyUniversity of Detroit MercyUniversity of Detroit Mercy is a private, Roman Catholic co-educational university in Detroit, Michigan, United States, affiliated with the Society of Jesus and the Sisters of Mercy. Antoine M. Garibaldi is the president. With origins dating from 1877, it is the largest Roman Catholic university...
School of Law. Graduates have the choice of practising in Canada or the United States, or both.
- Complete the requirements for the Canadian LL.B. and the ABA approved, American J.D. through a unique, 3-year program in partnership with the University of Detroit Mercy
- York UniversityYork UniversityYork University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
, Osgoode Hall Law SchoolOsgoode Hall Law SchoolOsgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
- York offers the Osgoode/New York UniversityNew York UniversityNew York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
Juris Doctor program with New York University School of LawNew York University School of LawThe New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
. Both schools offer joint-degree programs where students can earn an American J.D. (ABA-Approved) and Canadian LL.B. Osgoode also offers a joint M.B.A./J.D. program with the Schulich School of BusinessSchulich School of BusinessThe Schulich School of Business is York University's business school located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and is an internationally-ranked business school. Schulich offers undergraduate and graduate programs in business administration, finance, public administration and international business as...
at York University, and a combined J.D. and Master of Environmental Studies degree. Osgoode also offers an English Canadian LL.B. and a Quebec LL.L. degree in conjunction with the Université de Montréal.
- York offers the Osgoode/New York University
Intermittent Law Schools
- Akitsiraq Law SchoolAkitsiraq Law SchoolAkitsiraq Law School is a legal education program designed to increase the number of lawyers in Nunavut and the Canadian Arctic, including a program leading to a Bachelor of Laws Degree in Iqaluit, Nunavut....
operates intermittently with the goal of enhancing Inuit and Nunavut participation in the Legal Profession in Nunavut and other Inuit regions of Canada. Its initial cohort, administered jointly by the University of Victoria Faculty of LawUniversity of Victoria Faculty of LawThe University of Victoria Faculty of Law is a law school at the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The school grants JD, LLM, and PhD degrees in law.-Reputation:...
and Nunavut Arctic CollegeNunavut Arctic CollegeNunavut Arctic College is a Crown corporation that is funded by the Government of Nunavut and has several campuses and centres spread out throughout Nunavut, Canada.-History:...
graduated 11 students with LLBs in June 2005.
- There are currently plans to proceed with a second student cohort in 2012 in conjunction with the University of OttawaUniversity of OttawaThe University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
, Faculty of Common LawUniversity of Ottawa LawThe University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, sometimes colloquially known as U of O Law, is the law school of the University of Ottawa, located in Ottawa, Ontario. The University of Ottawa Law School is one of Canada's most influential, having produced lawyers throughout French and English Canada...
.