University of Victoria Faculty of Law
The information on this page was provided by the law school.
Official Guide to Canadian JD Programs
We acknowledge and respect the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples on whose traditional territory the university stands and the Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.
UVic Law is one of Canada's leading law schools, known for the strength of our academic program, approach to experiential learning and our commitment to community engagement and social justice. UVic Law is academically rigorous, animated by a spirit of inquiry and committed to the law in action. The Faculty has special strengths in indigenous law, environmental law, constitutional law, international law, criminal law, legal theory, and economic regulation. Our research units explore the foundation of law: the Indigenous Law Research Unit, Environmental Law Centre, Consortium on Democratic Constitutionalism, Centre for Asia-Pacific initiatives, National consortium for Indigenous Economic Development and Access to Justice Centre for Excellence.
All of our work - from faculty members' research, to our graduate programs, to the training of JD students - is shaped by our belief that the law must speak to all members of society, including those in marginalized communities. Through our research, teaching and clinical programs we're changing the legal landscape to advance equality and diversity in our communities, across Canada and abroad. Within the Faculty of Law at UVic we promote substantive equality for all members of the Faculty of Law community; ensure that the processes and criteria of admission and recruitment to the Faculty of Law reflect fully the Faculty’s commitment to equity, diversity, fairness and respect; establish and maintain an institutional environment that is safe, inclusive, welcoming and supportive to all individuals especially those from historically disadvantaged groups; provide all members of the Faculty of Law community with the opportunity to participate fully and equally in the life of the community and work to remove systemic barriers to their equal participation and success; promote respect for groups that have suffered and continue to suffer systemic discrimination; ensure that graduates of the Faculty of Law understand the diversity of Canadian society and the important contributions made by historically disadvantaged groups to Canadian life; promote respect for Indigenous cultures and ways of learning; and, work with the legal profession in British Columbia and throughout Canada to secure these objectives in legal education, and in the profession and the practice of law. Additionally, our JD students benefit from one of the best financial aid programs and some of the lowest tuition rates in the country.
We are global in scope, with strong links to transnational institutions, Asian legal systems, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand and Indigenous people worldwide. We are a constituent partner in the Centre for Asia-Pacific initiatives, which undertakes conferences, workshops, and research initiatives on Asian law, organizes student internships, and maintains close links with leading Asian law schools. We have active exchange programs with leading law schools worldwide.
The heart of any law school is its students. Ours are amazing, and they continually inspire us. We have diverse, engaged, and critical students from across Canada and around the world. They are intellectually vibrant and bring with them an extraordinary breadth of experience. Student life here is exciting and our graduates are changing the world!
Our professors are leaders in their fields, stimulating scholars, critically engaged; setting the agenda for the law of the future. Faculty and staff provide strong student support. Our ground-breaking Amicus program combines academic, cultural, and counselling assistance- a model for programs across the country. We are, in short, dedicated to each student's success. That dedication, together with our collaborative and community-engaged learning environment, sets us apart.
The JD Program
UVic is situated in the territory of the Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples and sits on the site of an old lək̓ʷəŋən village. Respect for the land's traditional stewards has inspired us to become leaders in environmental law, Indigenous law issues and public policy initiatives.
We are committed to teaching law within its wider social, political, historical and economic contexts. Our outstanding professors and exceptional students come together to create a vibrant learning experience that is based on collaboration and civic responsibility. You'll find an environment that is academically rigorous, progressive, intellectually challenging and personally enriching.
Our curriculum builds a strong base of legal knowledge in first year while allowing you to shape your own program of study to suit your individual interests in second and third year. Through our many clinical programs and co-op program you’ll get practical, hands-on experience in a legal environment. Through our research, teaching and clinical programs, we’re changing the legal landscape to advance equality and diversity in our communities, in Canada and abroad.
We are proud of our collaborative, inclusive and accessible learning environment. Our small class sizes allow us to build a community and form relationships that continue throughout law school and beyond. One of our greatest strengths is the variety of social, cultural, ethnic and educational backgrounds of our students. At UVic, you will learn in an atmosphere of diversity and openness.
UVic Law has developed a student support program that is now a model for universities across the country. The Amicus program is a unique UVic Law student support initiative that plays an active role in engaging, advising and supporting you during your law school journey. These services are in place to provide you with financial, academic, cultural and personal support. Our commitment to equity is supported by programs and policies that ensure a safe and open environment for all students.
We are a world leader in Indigenous legal education and we recognize the urgent need within the Canadian legal community for a broader understanding of Indigenous legal issues.
We invite prospective students to apply under our Indigenous admissions category. Through our Amicus program we offer academic and cultural support as a complement to the support provided by UVic's First Peoples House.
We have a constantly growing range of courses dedicated to Indigenous law and legal issues, as well as opportunities to get involved with the Indigenous Law Students Association, Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Camp and the National Kawaskimhon Aboriginal Moot.
Student Life
Career Placement and Bar Passage
Tuition and Aid
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition |
$10,371.10
|
| Fees |
$1,194.00
|
| Expected Cost of Attendance |
$11,565.10
|
Incoming and currently enrolled University of Victoria (UVic) Law students are eligible for a number of awards made available through contributions from donors as well as from the Faculty's operating budget. Every year we award numerous awards and scholarships based on academic merit, as well as other accomplishments such as leadership and community service. Awards range in value and our most prestigious entrance award is $10,000, renewable over three years.
Additionally, the UVic Faculty of Law is pleased to offer a variety of programs to offset the tuition expenses, living expenses, and emergency expenses of students. In an average year, the Faculty of Law awards approximately $350,000 in bursaries to both our incoming and current students. Typically, law students receive a similar amount from the general University’s bursary fund. Between the two bursary programs, we are generally able to meet 100% of students’ financial need, as we calculate it. For students with extraordinary or emergency expenses, the Faculty of Law maintains a variety of assistance programs made possible by generous donations from alumni and community members and organizations.
Admission Decisions: Beyond the Numbers
The Law (JD) program that our Faculty offers is a post-degree professional program. As such, students must complete an undergraduate degree or three years leading towards that degree at an accredited institution prior to commencing law school.
It does not matter what major you pursue for your undergraduate degree. We accept students each year from a wide variety of programs, everything from fine arts to computer engineering. The largest group of our applicants comes from traditional arts degree programs such as political science or history. However, we do not discriminate between applicants on the basis of the degree program or majors they have completed.
Your grade point average (GPA) is far more important than the degree field you have chosen. Admission to law school is very competitive and GPA is one of the primary criteria we use to evaluate applicants, so it is important that you maintain an excellent GPA in your university studies. We recommend that students take a degree program they are passionate about, because if you are passionate about a subject, you are much more likely to do well in that subject.
Other than achieving high grades, it is important that you develop excellent time management, study habits and exam writing skills during your undergraduate degree. I also encourage students to include courses in their program that will develop their research, writing and analytical skills, all of which are essential for success in law school.
In addition to the academic requirement, you must write the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). For information about the LSAT, including study guides and future test dates, please visit the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website at www.lsac.org. We consider LSATS that are up to five years old. The last LSAT we will consider for September entry is the January sitting of the year for which you are applying to enter law school.
We admit a relatively small first-year class to the Juris Doctor (JD) program each fall and strive to ensure that the student body is representative of all peoples living in Canada. The number of applications we receive exceeds the number of spaces available for each program.
We have three first year admission categories: Regular, Discretionary and Indigenous.
- Regular: Admission decisions are primarily determined by an applicant’s pre-law academic record and Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score. An applicant’s personal statement may also be considered. If you are competitive in the first round of assessment (GPA & LSAT calculation ONLY), then you will be made an offer of admission right away. If you fall within the competitive range, but do not meet the cut-off, your file will be forwarded to the Admissions Committee for a holistic review of your application and personal statement.
- Discretionary: To qualify within this category applicants must be able to provide evidence that their academic achievements have been significantly delayed, interrupted or adversely affected by:
- a medical condition or disability (physical, sensory, learning, addiction, mental illness, or similar condition or disability); or
- family or similar responsibilities and the consequent need to attend to these responsibilities or to maintain employment; or
- social, historic, political, economic or other factors
The Admissions Committee considers Discretionary applicants in a holistic manner, evaluating their academic achievements (GPA and LSAT score) and non-academic achievements in light of the reasons they have applied in the category, as well as in comparison to the rest of the Discretionary applicant pool. To be included in the shortlisted pool for this category, applicants must meet the criteria for inclusion in the category and their files must show evidence of potential to succeed in law school.
- Indigenous: Applicants are required to show a demonstrated connection or lack of connection with an Indigenous community or communities. We tend to interpret community fairly broadly because many Indigenous people may not have a direct connection to their community due to colonization. Connection to community may be demonstrated by being an active member of an Indigenous student organization at your post-secondary institutions, by working or volunteering at an aboriginal community organization such as a church or friendship Centre, by working for an Indigenous-owned business, by coaching or playing on an Indigenous sports team, by participating in traditional cultural and spiritual events, etc. If you have not had an on-going connection to an Indigenous community, the Admissions committee would like to know why this connection has not been possible thus far in your life and any steps you are undertaking to establish connections with Indigenous communities.
The application period opens September 1 and ends January 15. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications as early as possible.
All admissions to the Faculty of Law are at the discretion of the Admissions Committee.
Upper year admission information is available online at https://www.uvic.ca/law/admissions/upperyearstudents/index.php.
Please feel free to contact the Admissions Office at lclerk2@uvic.ca should you have any questions.