Academic Calendar 2021-2022

Juris Doctor (JD) Program

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.

The Juris Doctor (JD) is a second-entry professional degree in common law normally completed in three academic years of full-time study1. It is the basis of admission for registration in a licensing process for each province of Canada, except in the province of Quebec, which is governed by a civil law regime. Through partnership with the Faculty of Law at the University of Sherbrooke, it is possible to obtain a civil law degree in a single academic year, following graduation with the JD at Queen’s University.

Each student is responsible for becoming informed about all Faculty rules and regulations pertaining to degree requirements and determination of standing, regulations and policies regarding examinations and written course work, and course selection.

Part-Time JD Program

Part-time students are subject to all the rules and regulations of the JD degree program. Part-time students are expected to complete the JD program within six academic years.

Degree Requirements

First Years

Mandatory Course Requirements (36 credits)
LAW 135Introduction to Legal Skills4.00
LAW 140Public Law4.00
LAW 150Constitutional Law4.00
LAW 160Contracts6.00
LAW 170Criminal Law6.00
LAW 180Property6.00
LAW 190Torts6.00
Total Units36.00

Upper Years

Each upper-year student is required to complete successfully each of the degree requirements: Credit Requirement, Overall Residency Requirement, Mandatory Course Requirement, Substantial Term Paper Requirement, Practice Skills Requirement and Advocacy Requirement.

1 (a) Credit Requirement

A student must successfully complete a minimum of 59 upper-year credits to satisfy the course credit requirement for graduation. Details of the courses offered and their credit value are posted on the Faculty of Law website.

1 (b) Overall Residency Requirement

A Queen's JD degree will be granted to a student who successfully completes all first-year law courses and a minimum of 59 upper-year credits. The first-year courses and a minimum of 28 upper-year credits must be taken as Queen's JD courses in residence at Queen's Faculty of Law. The BISC Global Law Program is considered in residence at Queen's Faculty of Law.

Any combination of exchange credits, letter of permission credits or non-law courses cannot exceed the equivalent of one year of study (28-34 upper year credits).

Students who transfer into the Queen's Law program after successfully completing first year at another Canadian university must complete a minimum of 59 upper-year credits in residence at the Faculty of Law at Queen's.

1 (c) Mandatory Course Requirements

Students are required to complete LAW 225 Civil Procedure and LAW 440 Business Associations in their second year and LAW 334 Legal Ethics and Professionalism in one of their upper-years.

1 (d) Substantial Term Paper Requirement

During their upper years, students must write a substantial term paper that demonstrates their ability:

  1. to conduct advanced legal research;
  2. to write clearly and concisely;
  3. to articulate and develop a thesis; and
  4. to engage in sustained analysis of the law in a particular area.

Normally a substantial term paper will be a 25-30 page paper written in a course taught by a full-time faculty member. Upon completion of the paper, the student should notify the supervising faculty member of their intent to fulfill the requirement. The faculty member will confirm completion with Student Services. Satisfaction of the Substantial Term Paper Requirement will be indicated on a student's official academic record by a P (pass) notation in respect to LAW 299 Substantial Term Paper. This course number carries neither a credit value nor a credit weight.

Individual Supervised Projects (LAW 490 Individual Supervised Project): An Individual Supervised Project (ISP) must be supervised by a full-time faculty member with a research appointment. An ISP involves a student writing a research paper on a topic to be agreed upon with the faculty member. ISPs should be reserved for topics that are not otherwise offered as a course. Students must ensure the project and supervision are approved through the process set by the Associate Dean (Academic). As a rough guide, ISP papers are expected to be approximately 25-30 pages in length, and should involve comparable student workload input to the student taking a traditional 2 credit course (though exact page length and project expectations are to be worked out between the supervisor and student). An ISP typically counts for 2 credits. In exceptional circumstances, more ambitious projects for 3 credits may be approved by the Associate Dean (Academic). An ISP may satisfy the Substantial Term Paper Requirement, although this should be discussed by the student and faculty member when the arrangements are initially being made for an ISP. ISPs should not be earned or stacked in conjunction with other, different credit-earning activities (i.e. other courses, moots, journals or experiential activities). They are expected to be standalone research projects.

1 (e) Practice Skills Requirement

Students are required to successfully complete at least three credits in courses designated as Practice Skills courses. A Practice Skills course gives students significant opportunity to undertake legal research and to develop skills of drafting, client interaction, negotiation or mediation, or offers students a clinical legal experience. Examples include Negotiations, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Advanced Legal Research, Collective Agreements and Arbitration, Law Journals and Clinical Courses. Other courses may be designated by the instructor. A student may not satisfy both the Advocacy Requirement and Practice Skills Requirement in one course. Please check the Queen’s Law Website for the most up to date information.

1 (f) Advocacy Requirement

Students are required to successfully complete at least three credits in advocacy or a substantive course which involves participation in oral advocacy or mooting as certified by the instructor. Examples include Trial Advocacy, Estate Litigation, Appellate Advocacy and Clinical Courses. Other courses may be designated by the instructor. A student may not satisfy both the Advocacy Requirement and Practice Skills Requirement in one course. Please check the Queen’s Law Website for the most up to date information.