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Legal education has attracted a wide range of students lately. The legal profession’s universality and prestige make law schools in Canada one of the most sought-after institutions in the country.
The Law Schools in Canada are considered excellent law schools worldwide by law students and experts.
From the standard common law and civil law programs to the upbeat space law or intellectual property law programs, these schools have been the favourites for both national and international students.
Here is a list of the ten best law schools in Canada according to the latest Canadian Law School Rankings:
1. Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Osgoode Hall Law School is the law faculty affiliated with York University and is considered one of Canada’s best law schools.
Established in 1889, this law school is the largest in Canada and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Osgoode Hall Law School ranked 51st in the 2018 QS World University’s Best Canadian Law School Rankings.
It was also ranked second in the Best Canadian Law School Rankings list by Maclean magazine.
It offers the standard LLM and Ph.D. degrees for its Common Law program and the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree that prepares students for experiential learning and brings diverse perspectives.
The LLM program offers a full-time research LLM degree for students interested in a common-law-only program and a part-time professional LLM degree for experienced professionals.
2. Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of BC
Peter A. Allard School of Law is the law faculty from the University of British Columbia.
Located near Vancouver, British Columbia, it is considered one of the best law schools in Canada. It was founded in 1945 and was formerly known as the Faculty of Law at the University of British Columbia till 2015.
The University of British Columbia Faculty of Law ranked 31st in the QS World University’s Canadian Law Schools Rankings 2016.
They secured the 5th position in Maclean magazine’s Canadian Law School Rankings. It offers a Juris Doctor degree specializing in business law, aboriginal law, environmental and natural resource law, and law and social justice.
It also offers internships and legal clinic programs to gain real-world practical knowledge in legal education.
3. Faculty of Law, Toronto University
The Faculty of Law of the esteemed Toronto University is one of the best legal institutions in the country.
It was established in 1887 and is situated right in downtown Toronto’s heart of the university. The faculty of law of Toronto University is renowned for its academic reputation for legal studies.
This law school was ranked the 14th Best Law College in the world by the Times Higher Education World in 2021 and ranked 1st for a record six consecutive times by Maclean Magazine in its Top Canadian Law Schools Rankings.
Toronto University’s faculty of law offers undergraduates a JD law degree. It also provides a combined common law degree for students interested in pursuing a business or corporate law.
They offer the Master of Laws degree (L.L.M.) specializing in Business Law, International Law, Criminal Law, Legal Theory, and Indigenous Law.
They also offer small firm practice internships as their law practice program to second and third-year students.
4. Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University
Schulich School of Law is the most premium law school in Canada.
Formerly known as the faculty of Law of Dalhousie University, and was renamed in 2009. It was established in 1883 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Dalhousie University has an esteemed list of alumni and is considered one of the best universities for studying law.
It was ranked among the top three in the Canadian Law School Rankings in the Knight’s School Survey 2011. Maclean magazine placed the Schulich School of Law in sixth place in the Best Canadian Law School Rankings.
This law school offers a special JD program that allows its law graduates to specialize in health law, business law/corporate law, marine and environmental law, or law and technology.
It also offers joint degree programs with an integrated practice curriculum for undergraduates, LLM for postgraduates, and various doctorate degrees.
5. Western Law, Western University
Western Law was formerly known as the law faculty of Western University before its re-branding in 2011.
It was founded in 1959 in London, Ontario, Canada, by Ivan Cleveland Rand, the former justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
He aimed to help the law school of Western University develop a habit of thinking in a broader sense in its students.
Western Law is an eminent law school in the state. It is known for its widely inclusive student experience and is among the favourite legal studies institutions for international students to study law.
The faculty of law of Western University was ranked 9th in the Best Only Common Law Schools in Canada by the University Magazine in 2019.
The school teaches common law programs with specializations in Constitutional, International, and Criminal law, to name a few.
They also offer various student-exchange programs to allow students to study abroad for a semester to develop practical skills. Western Law also offers law degrees of master levels, such as Master of Laws (LLM) and Master of Studies in Law (M.S.L.).
6. Faculty of Law, McGill University
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The law faculty of McGill University is the oldest law school in North America and is situated in Montreal, Quebec.
It accounts for more than 25% of the clerkship in the Supreme Court in Canada and is regarded as the best civil law-only law faculty in Canada.
It is considered the best law school for global civil law degrees and has consistently beaten the top primary civil law degree schools. Ranked 22nd in the QS World University’s Canadian Law School Rankings and 16th in the Times World’s Best Only Civil Law Schools in Canada.
It offers its undergraduates a JD in common law and a Bachelor of Civil Law degree (BCL). The Masters of Civil Law degree (MCL) for its master’s program and Doctorate in Civil Law (DCL) as its doctorate program are also offered.
7. Law Faculty, Montreal University
The law faculty of Montreal University is considered one of the largest bilingual universities in Canada and one of the oldest Canadian law schools.
It was officially founded in 1892 and is situated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The faculty of law of Montreal University is considered the best civil law institution in the country and widely popular globally for all civil law international students.
It was ranked 4th by Universal Magazine’s Best Canadian Law School Rankings in 2019.
Apart from its prestigious civil law programs for its undergraduates, the law faculty of Montreal University also offers a one-year Juris Doctor program in common law.
8. Faculty of Law, Ottawa University
Established in 1953, it is also considered among Canada’s most prestigious institutions for legal education. The faculty of law offered by Ottawa University is the largest bilingual university globally and is situated in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Maclean Magazine ranked this law school 10th in the Best Common Law Schools in the Canadian Law School Rankings and 3rd in the Best Civil Law Schools in the Canadian Law School Rankings.
It was also ranked 5th in the Best Canadian Law School Rankings list by the University Magazine in 2019. The law faculty is also popular for its moot courts globally.
This law school offers one of the best common law-only programs and civil law programs. It offers the JD degree to its comparative law students and the Licentiate in Law (LLL) degree to civil law students.
They also offer masters and doctorate degrees for common law and civil law-only students.
9. Faculty of Law, Thompsons Rivers University
he faculty of law of Thompson Rivers University was established in 2011 in the audience of Honorable Chief Justice Lance Finch.
It is situated on the picturesque campus of Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia, Canada. This law faculty has recently entered the Best Canadian Law School Rankings list.
This law school offers a three-year Juris Doctor degree which provides students with a well-researched curriculum of primarily common law in tune with the current times.
This degree was authorized by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and is recognized all over the physical Canadian borders.
10. Faculty of Law, Alberta University
Established in 1912, the faculty of law of Albert University is the oldest law school in Alberta and is situated in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
This law school was ranked 10th by the Maclean Magazine and 8th by the Universal Magazine in the top Canadian Common Law Schools of 2019.
The Faculty of Law of Alberta University offers three-year Juris Doctor law degrees and a four-year dual degree JD MBA program in collaboration with the Faculty of Business.
They also offer a one-year Master of Laws program and a three-year research Doctorate program for its students.
This legal institution also offers a unique Internationally Trained Lawyers Pathway program for foreign lawyers who want to practice law in Canada.
Closing Thoughts
According to the latest Canadian Law School Rankings, these were some of the top law schools and institutions for starting your legal professional career journey.
We believe all these valuable and respected law schools offer important additions to a student’s life.
Through an enriched faculty of legal professors, a rich library full of knowledge, and diversified connections to broaden your perspective or a job of your dreams.
From age-old proven institutions like the law faculty of McGill University to young, upbeat, and modern institutions like the law faculty from Thompson Rivers University, These law schools have proven their metal with every successfully graduated batch.
They are rightfully a part of the Best Canadian Law School Rankings.
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty
