Simon Fraser University

Admission to Law School

Law schools welcome applications from anyone who holds a bachelor's degree, in any discipline, from a recognized Canadian university, or foreign equivalent, or who has completed at least three years towards that degree.  Admission is decided on a competitive basis by evaluating each applicant's GPA and LSAT score.  Weighting of the GPA and LSAT score is different for each law school.  Some schools also consider extra-curricular activities, community involvement, work experience and personal characteristics of the applicant.  Admission decisions are normally made by an Admissions Committee consisting of both faculty members and student representatives.  The Committee may be called upon to review over 1,000 applications for placement in the first year of the LL.B.

 

Students interested in legal study should make the most of their undergraduate education.  While no single curricular path is the ideal preparation for law school, you should choose courses that sharpen analytical reasoning and writing skills.  Law schools prefer students who can think critically, reason logically, who speak and write well, and who have some understanding of what shapes human experiences.  You can acquire attributes in any number of college courses, whether in the humanities, the social sciences, philosophy, or the natural sciences.  Some law schools may place greater emphasis on certain backgrounds than others; therefore, you should consult with the individual schools for additional information.  Your undergraduate degree should be filled with broad, diverse, and challenging courses.

 

High academic standards are important when selecting undergraduate courses.  Therefore, it is important that students major in a discipline in which they are interested.  Remember - what you enjoy most is usually what you do best.

 

Law school applicants should consider carefully the particulars of each school before making a decision.  The quality of a law school is certainly a major consideration; however, estimations of quality are very subjective.  Factors such as the campus atmosphere, the school's devotion to teaching and learning, and the applicant's enthusiasm for the school also are very important.

 

Research the programs and requirements of individual law schools.  Obtain a copy of the LSAT Registration and Information Book, and law school calendars, write to the school's admission office for further information, and talk to a representative of the school.  Use the Internet.  Links to the Web sites of most LSAC-member law schools is available from their website at http://www.lsac.org.   Also, be sure to submit applications to several law schools in order to avoid disappointment when selections are made.