Academic Calendar 2021-2022

Admissions

This is an archived copy of the 2021-2022 calendar. To access the most recent version of the calendar, please visit https://queensu-ca-public.courseleaf.com.

Full information regarding the admissions process is available on the Faculty of Law website at: https://law.queensu.ca/admissions/jd/admissions-process.

Admissions Philosophy

The Admissions Committee takes a holistic approach to applications. They consider a number of factors in addition to grades and LSAT results. Queen’s Faculty of Law endorses the goal that the geographic, ethnic, cultural, racial and socio-economic diversity of the Canadian population be reflected in the ranks of those granted access to legal education.

The academic rigour of the JD degree program requires that students who are admitted have a strong aptitude for legal reasoning, demonstrated academic ability and good potential for success in studies at this level. The Admissions Committee considers other attributes such as intellectual curiosity, avid interest in law, social commitment, reasonable judgment and insight, leadership potential, teamwork skills, creative ability and innovative endeavours, self-discipline, time management skills and maturity. The Admissions Committee reviews personal statements, letters of reference and the autobiographical sketch to obtain information about these attributes.

Our Faculty is enriched by the skills, knowledge and experience of students who have been community leaders, excelled in extracurricular activities and enjoyed success in careers prior to the pursuit of a legal education as much as we benefit from students with inquiring minds who have excelled consistently in a broad range of academic disciplines. Such outstanding applicants are encouraged to apply to the relevant category of admission.

JD First Year

Admission Categories

There are three major categories of admission into first year: the General category, the Indigenous category and the Access category. The first-year class consists of about 200 students. Most students are admitted in the General category.

General Category

All applicants in the General category must have successfully completed three full years of coursework in a degree program at a postsecondary institution. See the Senate Policy on the Basis of Admission for Advanced Study: https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/basis-admission-advanced-study.

The Admissions Committee reviews the nature and content of the undergraduate and graduate programs undertaken. Full-time enrolment, scholarships and awards received, consistency and improvement in academic performance, and successful completion of graduate work are weighed positively.

The applicant’s academic record and LSAT score are weighed most heavily in this category. The other Admissions Philosophy criteria are weighed carefully in making distinctions between applicants who are equally competitive on these bases:

  • Competitive applicants should have at least an “A-” average (GPA 3.7) in their best two years of their undergraduate degree program at a full course load along with an LSAT score of at least 157.
  • For a student who does not have two years at full course load (i.e., at part-time load), more emphasis will be placed on their CGPA, as calculated by OLSAS, which should be at least a 3.3.

An applicant who meets the minimum criteria for admission is eligible for consideration but is not guaranteed admission.

Indigenous Category

Queen’s Faculty of Law is committed to the goal of increasing Aboriginal representation within the legal profession and therefore welcomes applications from Canadian Aboriginal people.

Applications will be considered based on the applicant’s interest in and identification with his or her Indigenous community as well as other factors including academic performance, results of the LSAT, employment history, letters of reference and a personal statement. This material will form the basis upon which the Admissions Committee will judge whether or not the applicant will be able to undertake the JD degree program successfully. Applicants should have successfully completed at least three years of postsecondary education at a recognized institution. To satisfy the basis of admission to any advanced- entry professional or graduate degree program at Queen’s University, it is expected that previous academic credentials will be from an institution providing an academic environment and education that prepares students for potential success in advanced study. If there is strong evidence of academic ability in the application, an exception might be made to the standard requirement of three years of full-time academic work at a recognized institution. An applicant who meets the minimum standards is eligible for consideration but is not guaranteed admission. The personal statement submitted in support of the application should explain the applicant’s interest in and identification with his or her Aboriginal community. A copy of the applicant’s status card can be submitted to establish the applicant’s identification with and connection to an Indigenous community. Alternatively, a non-academic letter of reference may be provided to corroborate the basis of the claim to Aboriginal status. In addition, applicants are required to provide an academic letter of reference.

The Admissions Committee may admit applicants to the Indigenous category unconditionally or subject to successful completion of the Native Law Centre Summer Program offered each summer at the University of Saskatchewan. Queen’s Faculty of Law fully endorses this program and considerable weight is placed upon the evaluation of the applicant submitted by the Director of the program. The Admissions Committee will endeavour to make decisions on completed applications early in the admissions cycle for this category to allow time for those with conditional offers to apply for admission to the NLC Program, provided that the applicant has written the LSAT by the January test date.

Application forms and further information are available: www.usask.ca/nativelaw/programs/plsnp/

Black Student Applicant Category

Queen’s Faculty of Law is committed to increasing Black representation within the legal profession, and supporting Black students who choose Queen's.

Applications will be considered based on any personal or professional experiences that may allow an applicant to contribute to the law school community and further the law school’s goal of building a representative and diverse class cohort, as well as other factors including academic performance, results of the LSAT, employment history, letters of reference and a Personal Statement. This material will form the basis upon which the Admissions Committee will judge whether an applicant is able to undertake the JD degree program successfully.

To be competitive in the admissions process, an applicant should have at least a “B+” average (GPA of 3.5) in the top 2 years of their undergraduate degree program at a full course load, along with an LSAT score of at least 155. Other evidence of academic ability in the application may be considered holistically alongside these academic standards.

The Admissions Committee will endeavour to make decisions on completed applications early in the admission cycle for this category

Access Category

Queen’s Faculty of Law is committed to enhancing diversity in legal education and the legal profession. To this end, the Faculty encourages applications from candidates whose backgrounds, qualities or experiences allow them to make unique contributions to the law school community, the legal profession and society in general.

The Admissions Committee will consider these factors:

  • disability
  • educational and financial disadvantage
  • membership in a historically disadvantaged group
  • age
  • life experience
  • any other factor relating either to educational barriers you faced, or to your ability to enrich the diversity of the law school community and the legal profession

You must demonstrate the following capabilities:

  • that you have strong potential to complete the JD program
  • that you have the ability to reason and analyze
  • that you can express yourself effectively orally and in writing, and
  • that you possess the skills and attributes necessary to cope with the demands of law school

Traditional measures of academic performance and LSAT scores may be given comparatively less weight in this category, while non-academic experience and personal factors confirming your special circumstances or unique qualities may be given comparatively more weight.

  • Competitive applicants should have at least a “B+” average (GPA 3.3) in their best two years of their undergraduate degree program at a full course load along with an LSAT score of at least 154.
  • For a student who does not have two years at full course load (i.e. at part-time load), more emphasis will be placed on their CGPA, as calculated by OLSAS, which should be at least a 3.0.

Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

All first-year applicants are required to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). LSAT scores for the past five years may be used. The Faculty engages in a rolling admissions process commencing after the OLSAS admissions deadline at the beginning of November. The February test score is the latest score accepted for admission in the current admission cycle. The Admissions Committee will rely on the highest score achieved at the time of the admission decision.

Language Proficiency and TOEFL

An excellent command of spoken and written English is essential for success in law school. A TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score is required for applicants who are not fluent in English. Applicants in any category who have completed at least three years of full-time study at a recognized university, taking courses for which English is the official language of instruction, may request exemption from the TOEFL requirement. Such a request for exemption must be supported by an academic letter of reference attesting to the applicant’s fluency in written and spoken English.

Test results from the new iBT TOEFL are preferred. Under the old TOEFL scoring system, no applicant with a TOEFL score of less than 600/250 and a TWE of less than 5.0 was considered. Standards for the new TOEFL iBT are a minimum total score of no less than 100, with a minimum of 24 on the Writing section, no less than 22 on the Speaking section, no less than 24 on the Reading section and no less than 20 on the Listening section.

For further information, please see the TOEFL website at www.ets.org/toefl/.

Part Time Studies

A maximum of five persons may be admitted on a part-time basis to the first-year JD degree program in each admissions cycle. Such applicants must meet the admissions standards required of applicants for full-time study and are assessed for admission using the same criteria. The Admissions Committee will consider the reasons provided for studying on a part-time basis and the competitive strength of the application in the category of admission claimed. Applicants accepted as part-time students are expected to complete the JD degree program within six years. The JD program is not offered by distance education and it is not recommended for students who would be commuting long distances on a regular basis to attend class.

JD Upper Year

Admissions Process and General Requirements

Full information about the upper-year application and admission process is available here: https://law.queensu.ca/admissions/jd/admissions-process/upper-years.

All upper-year applicants are required to have both a sound academic record and good personal or academic reasons for wanting to study at the Faculty of Law of Queen’s University.

It is the responsibility of applicants to ensure that all documentation is submitted to OLSAS. Incomplete applications will not be considered for admission. Transcripts, confidential letters of reference and NCA letters of recommendation must be received no later than the end of June to be considered. Transcripts submitted in support of an application become the property of Queen’s University, may be subject to verification/authentication and are not available for copying.

Admissions Standards

Applicants who have attained at least a “B” average in their previous years of study in law will be considered for admission in all upper-year categories. An applicant who has failed one or more courses in law school or in the NCA process will not be considered for admission. At least one academic letter of reference must be provided from a law professor who can comment on the applicant’s academic abilities.

For transfer and letter of permission applicants, a letter is required from the Dean or Associate Dean Academic of the current law school attesting that the applicant is in good standing and has not been the subject of any disciplinary sanction on academic or non-academic grounds nor otherwise been found to have engaged in misconduct.

Provided that the application is competitive on academic factors, priority will be given to the admission of transfer or letter of permission applicants who are seeking to return to their home province from a Canadian law school outside Ontario and to applicants seeking to transfer between Ontario law schools.

Curriculum-related grounds and career-path reasons supporting the application will be considered. Consideration will be given to compelling compassionate or personal grounds supporting the application. Documentation corroborating the grounds should be provided to support the application.

Language Proficiency and TOEFL

See JD First Year Requirements.

Categories of Admission

Transfer

  1. From a common law LLB or JD program at a Canadian Law School: An applicant who has completed the first year of a common law LL.B. or JD degree program at a Canadian law school may apply to transfer into the second year of the JD degree program at the Faculty of Law of Queen’s University. If accepted, such students will be expected to satisfy the JD degree requirements after two years of full- time coursework. Upon successful completion of the degree requirements and adherence to all academic regulations, students will be eligible to receive a Queen’s University JD degree. Such students will have transfer credits recognized for first-year courses that are substantially similar to the first-year curriculum of the JD degree program at Queen’s University, but will be required to complete any first-year courses that were not part of the first-year curriculum of the degree program of the current law school from which they seek to transfer.
  2. From a common law LLB or JD degree program at a law school outside Canada: Applicants must outline in the personal statement the courses for which they are seeking recognition for transfer credit and the reasons for that claim. Transfer credit will be recognized for first-year courses that are substantially similar to the first-year curriculum of the JD degree program at Queen’s University but transferees will be required to complete any first-year courses that were not part of the first-year curriculum of the degree program at the home law school from which they seek to transfer. The Admissions Office will determine if previously earned credits will be recognized for transfer to the Queen’s University JD degree. Upon admission, students will be expected to satisfy the JD degree requirements after successful completion of at least two years of full-time coursework. Upon successful completion of the degree requirements and adherence to all academic regulations, students will be eligible to receive the JD degree from Queen’s University.

Letter of Permission

An upper-year law student may apply to study as a visiting student at the Faculty of Law for a single term or for one academic year on a letter of permission basis. Students admitted on a letter of permission are not eligible for transfer into the Queen’s JD degree program. Academic work completed at Queen’s Faculty of Law will be credited toward satisfaction of the degree requirements of the home law school. The home law school will reserve the right to approve course load and course selections. A letter of permission student will be subject to the academic policies and regulations of Queen’s University and of the Faculty of Law for the duration of the registration as a visiting student.

National Committee on Accreditation (NCA)

The NCA was established by the Canadian Council of Law Deans and the Federation of Law Societies of Canada to conduct assessments of the equivalency of legal credentials and experience. For further details and contact information, please see the Working in Ontario and Federation of Law Societies of Canada websites. Applications for admission in the NCA category must be supported by a letter of recommendation from the NCA concerning the conditions upon which a Certificate of Qualification would be issued by the Committee. The Certificate of Qualification is needed for entry into a provincial licensing process. NCA applicants should note that interviews for articling placement in Ontario generally take place during the summer, one full year prior to the start of the placement. Applicants are advised to contact the Law Society of Upper Canada to confirm the procedures and deadlines for the licensing process. A letter of recommendation and any subsequent correspondence relating to completion or attempts of required courses must be received by Queen’s Faculty of Law by June 30. A Queen’s University JD degree is not conferred upon applicants admitted under the NCA category.

Combined Degrees

The admissions policies and procedures for the JD apply to admissions to the JD portion of all combined degrees, except for the Civil-Law Common Law Combined degree.

Civil Law-Common Law

Full information about admission to the Civil Law-Common Law program is posted on the Faculty of Law website at https://law.queensu.ca/programs/combined-degrees/civil-common.

The application deadline is May 1 for civil law students and graduates from other Quebec law schools.

Students in their final year and graduates of the civil law degree program at University of Sherbrooke may apply to take an intensive fourth year of studies at full courseload following graduation to obtain a common law JD degree conferred by Queen's University. Applicants from University of Sherbrooke are encouraged to apply before March 1st.

If space is available, students in their final year and graduates from other Quebec civil law degree programs may be considered for admission to the combined degree program in accordance with the admissions standards applied to the Sherbrooke applicants.

Admissions Policies

Personal Information and File Retention

Applicant files are kept for one year after the initial application in the event that an applicant should re- apply. Thereafter, the files of applicants who do not register are destroyed, unless information regarding misconduct in the application process is received. Applicant information provided in electronic format and remitted by OLSAS is collected in our admissions database. This information will be saved in our admissions database for 10 years to permit longitudinal or statistical studies, reports or queries pertinent to recruitment, admissions, diversity of the applicant pool and registrant populations, enrolment management, retention and academic progress. Information pertaining to admitted applicants who register at Queen’s may be used for the purpose of participating in correlation studies conducted by the Law School Admission Council to assess the predictive value of the LSAT score and grades at the time of admission in relation to performance in first-year law. The application documentation submitted on admission is retained as part of the electronic student file for students who are admitted and register at Queen’s Faculty of Law.

Non-Discrimination

It is the policy of Queen's University that no applicant will be denied admission to any program on the basis of age, ancestry, colour, creed, marital status, place of origin, race, sex or sexual orientation.

In addition, the Queen's University Code of Conduct defines and prohibits certain infringements upon the rights of members of the university community. These infringements include discrimination or harassment based, among other grounds, on ethnicity, gender, disability, national origin, race, religion or sexual orientation.

Further, the Faculty of Law has adopted a Commitment of Principle Relating to Equality Issues to identify and address historic and current inequalities among groups of persons in our society.

Misrepresentation

Provision of false or misleading information or failure to provide material information will invalidate the application and will result in immediate rejection or in the revocation of admission and/or registration.