How do I apply to UCalgary Law?
All the information you need to apply to JD programs at UCalgary Law.
Before you start:
First-year law school applicants need the following minimum qualifications:
1. The minimum academic prerequisite for the JD program is the completion of 60 credits/units towards a program of study leading to a bachelor’s degree. See academic prerequisites for first-year JD program for further details.
2. An LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) score.
Before you apply
Ready to apply to law school? Identify the admission category that applies to you and follow the steps below.
Apply online
To access the online application, an eID is required.
Current and former UCalgary students/applicants: Use your previous eID, which is typically firstname.lastname.
New applicants: you must create an eID before starting your application.
For help with creating an eID or with recovering a previous eID/password, please contact the IT Support Centre.
Prepare required documents
You must write the LSAT by January 31st and upload your unofficial transcripts through your My UCalgary Student Centre by February 15.
When considering your application, the Admissions Committee will use the highest attained LSAT score on your LSAC report.
After you apply
Read more about the confirmation email, uploading supporting documents, as well as how to check the status of your application.
First-Year JD Admissions Dates & Deadlines
For important dates for LOP and Transfer applicants, visit the Upper-Year Admissions page.
1. Identify the admission category
Please note UCalgary Law does not offer mature or other discretionary admission categories.
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Complete your undergraduate degree
- GPA based on a minimum of the last 60 units (credits) of your undergraduate and/or graduate studies (if applicable), up to December 31 of the year you submit your application, from a post secondary institution in Alberta or its equivalent. See academic prerequisites for first-year JD program for further details.
- Courses towards a diploma or certificate are not recognized towards meeting the minimum unit qualification unless they have been recognized towards an undergraduate degree program from an accredited post-secondary institution and appear as such on a student’s transcript.
- There are no preferred or required "pre-law" programs.
- There are no mature student or other discretionary admissions categories other than the Indigenous Student Admission Process.
- GPA based on a minimum of the last 60 units (credits) of your undergraduate and/or graduate studies (if applicable), up to December 31 of the year you submit your application, from a post secondary institution in Alberta or its equivalent. See academic prerequisites for first-year JD program for further details.
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Write the LSAT
- Applicants are encouraged to write the LSAT no later than January.
- When considering your application, the Admissions Committee will use the highest attained LSAT score on your LSAC report.
- See the Law School Admission Council website for test dates, registration and fee waiver information.
- Need help on the LSAT? Check out our free prep course for low-income students, our Indigenous LSAT prep course, or the free prep course offered by LSAC LawHub.
- Applicants are encouraged to write the LSAT no later than January.
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Submit your application
- To access the application system, an eID is required.
- Current and former UCalgary students/applicants: Use your previous eID, which is typically firstname.lastname.
- New applicants: you must create an eID before starting your application.
- For help with creating an eID or with recovering a previous eID/password, please contact the IT Support Centre.
- Submit your application between Sept 1 – Dec 1
- Pay your application fee:
- $145 for International Students
- $125 for Canadians or Permanent Residents
- To access the application system, an eID is required.
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Submit your supporting documents
- Supporting documents are due February 15
- See below for supporting document requirements
- Information for Indigenous students, students with a disability, and English language proficiency
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Check eligibility
- Only students who have completed their first year of study at a Canadian common law school may apply to transfer
- See the Upper-Year admissions page for more eligibility criteria
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Find two referees
- Ask law school instructors to be your referees.
- We will invite your referees to complete a reference form after you submit your application.
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Submit your application
- Create an eID prior to accessing the application system
- Submit your application between Feb 1 – May 15
- Pay your application fee:
- $145 for International Students
- $125 for Canadians or Permanent Residents
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Submit your supporting documents
- Supporting documents are due June 1
- View the requirements for supporting documents
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Check eligibility
- Students who have completed at least one year of study at a Canadian or US law school are eligible to apply for an LOP.
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Contact your referees
- Ask law school instructors to be your referees.
- We will invite your referees to complete a reference form after you submit your application.
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Submit your application
- Create an eID prior to accessing the application system
- Submit your Fall application between Feb 1 – May 15
- Submit your Winter application between Sep 1 – Oct 1
- Pay your application fee:
- $145 for International Students
- $125 for Canadians or Permanent Residents
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Submit your supporting documents
- Supporting documents are due:
- Jun 1 for fall applications
- Oct 15 for winter applications
- View the requirements for supporting documents
- Supporting documents are due:
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Speak with your UH advisor
- The University of Houston Law Centre will let us know who has been approved to apply for the IELP.
- If you are not currently a law student at UH, refer to the first-year applicant process.
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Find two referees
- Ask law school instructors to be your referees.
- We will invite your referees to complete a reference form after you submit your application.
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Submit your application
- Applications are accessible by invitation only, from May 15-June 1
- Pay your application fee:
- $145 for International Students
- $125 for Canadians or Permanent Residents
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Submit your supporting documents
- Supporting documents are due Aug 1
- View the requirements for supporting documents
International students applying for first-year JD admissions must follow the same steps listed for first-year JD applicants listed above.
Transcripts that are not in English require a WES transcript.
All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency to be considered for admission. See information about English language proficiency below.
The fee to apply for international students is $145 CAD.
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Check eligibility
- Check with the Study Abroad Office site to confirm that your school has an official exchange agreement with UCalgary.
- Review additional details about application requirements, English competency, and course restrictions.
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Find two referees
- Ask law school instructors for reference letters
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Submit your application and supporting documents
- Applications are submitted through the Study Abroad Office.
- The Study Abroad Office will collect your supporting documents and forward your completed application to the Faculty of Law.
UCalgary Law now offers a foreign-trained lawyers program for applicants with an international law degree or a civil law degree. The one-year program will allow you to satisfy the educational requirements of the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA).
If you have an international law degree or a civil law degree from Quebec and wish to complete the full 3-year JD program, you may apply for admission as an ordinary first-year applicant, as per the instructions outlined above.
Academic prerequisites for first-year JD program
The minimum academic prerequisite for the JD program is the completion of 60 credits/units towards a program of study leading to a bachelor’s degree.
- Your GPA is based on a minimum of the last 60 units (credits) of your undergraduate and/or graduate studies (if applicable), up to December 31 of the year you submit your application, from a post secondary institution in Alberta or its equivalent. No exception is made for any admission category.
- It is rare that an applicant is admitted without completing their full bachelor's degree – please refer to the statistics on our Five Year Comparison chart.
- Courses to be considered must be completed prior to December 31 of the year in which the application is submitted.
- Courses towards a diploma or certificate are not recognized towards meeting the minimum unit qualification unless they have been recognized towards an undergraduate degree program from an accredited post-secondary institution and appear as such on a student’s transcript.
- There is no specific "pre-law" program. JD students come from a variety of academic degree programs.
- There is no mature or discretionary admission category other than the Indigenous Student Admission Process.
Indigenous Students
In the application, all Canadian applicants are asked to indicate if they self-identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit. If you answer yes to that question, you’ll be eligible for the Indigenous admissions review process.
View more information about Indigenous admissions, supporting documentation, the assessment process, and Indigenous student life.
Black Students
In the online application, all applicants are asked to indicate if they self-identify as Black. If you answer yes to that question, you are eligible for the Black applicant review process.
View more information about the Black Student Equitable Admissions Process, the assessment process, and Black student life.
Accessibility
Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply and, once admitted, we will accommodate you in accordance with university policy. More information about accessibility services available to UCalgary students can be found on the Student Accessibility Services website.
English Language Proficiency
English is the official language of instruction at the University of Calgary. All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency to be considered for admission to an undergraduate program. English Language Proficiency for the JD program is met by either:
- Successful completion of at least two years of formal, full-time study in English at an accredited or recognized post-secondary institution in Canada or a University of Calgary approved English-speaking country; OR
- Successful completion of an approved English language test/program, as set for undergraduate programs at the University of Calgary.
Official test results must be sent by mail to the following address:
Law Admissions, MFH 2380
University of Calgary
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, AB T2N 1N4
See the University of Calgary Calendar for more information.
2. Online application
To access the online application, an eID is required.
Current and former UCalgary students/applicants: Use your previous eID, which is typically firstname.lastname. If you forgot your password, find out how to reset it.
New applicants: you must create an eID before starting your application.
For help with creating an eID or with recovering a previous eID/password, please contact the UCalgary IT Support Centre.
**Please ensure you choose "Law" and not "Law & Society" when you start your application.
The online application includes:
- Acknowledgement of Applicant Responsibilities
- Academic history: you must disclose every post-secondary institution you have attended
- Academic and/or other honours
- LSAT results and LSAC account number (e.g., L12345678)
- Employment history
- Other non-academic pursuits
- Statement of Purpose and Perspective (new for 2024)
- Note: Re-applicants must provide a new Statement of Purpose and Perspective
A non-refundable application fee must be paid online when submitting your application.
- $125 for Canadians or Permanent Residents
- $145 for International Students
We will only consider the information that you provide in the online application. No updates will be accepted after your application is submitted.
Statement of Purpose and Perspective
NEW FOR 2024
The Statement of Purpose and Perspective replaces the Special Facts and the Statement of Interest from past admission cycles. Applicants are required to choose three (3) essay topics, each with a maximum length of 300 words for a maximum total of 900 words, from a list of nine (9) topics. The sum of your essay choices will constitute your individual Statement of Purpose and Perspective.
There are no essay choices or combinations of essay choices that are preferable to any others. You should choose essay topics that best allow you to demonstrate your individual strengths, interests, and preparedness for law school.
Tell us about your interest in UCalgary Law, including specific academic interests, program offerings, and learning opportunities that resonate with you. Rather than simply listing UCalgary Law's strengths, please use this essay to illustrate your own law-related interests. Explain how studying at UCalgary would benefit you personally and how you would contribute to the UCalgary Law school community.
UCalgary Law values academic excellence, diverse capabilities and lived experiences that enrich perspectives, amplify learning, and foster a vibrant student body actively engaged in our learning community. These values guide our holistic admissions process. Please describe how your experiences, background, and interests have influenced you and will shape your involvement in the UCalgary Law community and the legal profession.
UCalgary Law strives to cultivate a student body with varied intellectual interests, perspectives, and motivations. Write about an idea or issue from your academic or non-academic pursuits, work, or lived experience that is of particular interest to you. The topic you choose does not have to be related to law. This essay is an opportunity for the Admissions Committee to learn more about your intellectual pursuits and interests.
UCalgary Law encourages and empowers students to advocate for meaningful change within both their own communities and those they serve. Describe a community that holds particular significance for you. Discuss what you have personally gained from your involvement in this community and describe what you have contributed. Use this opportunity to show how you demonstrated leadership, innovation, or influenced meaningful change.
To succeed in law school and legal practice, you must be able to demonstrate professional courtesy, candour, and civility, fostering respectful discussions across diverse experiences and viewpoints. Describe a time when your perspective on a significant issue evolved after engaging with someone you disagreed with or acquiring additional information. Discuss what you learned from this experience.
If you think that your academic record and/or LSAT performance does not accurately reflect your ability to succeed in law school, explain to the Admissions Committee why you believe this is true. Provide specific examples of your capabilities and experiences that demonstrate your potential for success in law school.
UCalgary Law values passion and persistence in realizing long-term goals and recognizes that these qualities are important to success both at law school and in the legal profession. Describe a significant obstacle, disappointment, or personal setback that you have encountered. Explain how you navigated this experience and what insights you gained from it.
It is important for law students to prioritize their well-being and that of others. Describe a time when you reflected on factors influencing your well-being and performance in academics, work, or your personal life. Explain the steps you took to support your own health and well-being, including seeking and accessing resources where available. Finally, outline how you would promote a healthy and respectful learning environment.
The Law Society of Alberta expects its members to understand the historical and current impacts that Canadian law has on Indigenous Peoples in Canada and how reconciliation can be incorporated into practice as part of the legal profession’s ongoing commitment to Truth and Reconciliation. Demonstrate your understanding, through your experience to date, of systemic discrimination and its intergenerational impacts on Indigenous principles, laws, culture, and perspectives. How could you incorporate the principles of Truth and Reconciliation into your legal studies and citizenship at UCalgary Law?
3. Prepare required supporting documents
You are encouraged to write the LSAT no later than November of the year you submit your application, though LSAT scores from the following January will also be accepted.
- When considering your application, the Admissions Committee will use the highest attained LSAT score on your LSAC report.
- January LSAT scores will be added to applications in late February, so you may be at a disadvantage by writing the LSAT this late. If you opt to write or rewrite the LSAT in January, you should be aware that we may not receive your LSAT test results until after the Entrance Awards of Excellence recipients have been selected.
- We will use your LSAC account number to get your LSAT report directly from LSAC.
- You must have one writing sample on file with LSAC before LSAC will release your LSAT report to us. We encourage you to provide your writing sample to LSAC within two weeks after your test date, to ensure a timely release of your LSAT report. First-year applicants to UCalgary Law must submit an LSAT writing sample to LSAC no later than February 15 to allow LSAC time for processing.
- Refer to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website for information about the test, registration, locations, and study guides, and all questions about such information should be directed to LSAC.
- Any applicant who cannot afford the LSAT fee may apply for an LSAT fee waiver. LSAT fee waivers for Canadians are now assessed by LSAC without requiring prior approval from a Canadian law school.
Unofficial Transcripts must be uploaded by you to your My UCalgary Student Centre as one pdf document for each institution and must include the following:
- The institution name
- Your name
- Date printed/downloaded (cannot have a print date older than September 1, 2023)
- Credential received and date conferred (if degree completed)
- Some international schools may indicate degree conferrals on a separate document; if this is the case, please scan the two documents together in one file before uploading
- For those in the process of competing a degree, your grades and academic standing up to and including December 31, 2024. Transcripts dated earlier will not be considered.
- Transfer credits received
We will not accept as an unofficial transcript:
- Grade summary
- Screen shot or downloaded copy of your Student Centre
- List of courses
If your institution does not provide a digital unofficial transcript with the above listed requirements, you will have to have them mail you an official transcript to your home address which you can then upload.
The Admissions team is unable to upload transcripts for you. Please do not send official transcripts to us unless you are requested to do so. Only applicants who are offered a seat or are waitlisted will be required to provide Official transcripts.
Sign in to My UCalgary Student Centre to upload your documents
UCalgary Law does not require reference letters as part of your first-year JD application and they will not be accepted.
4. After you apply
Within a few days of submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation email with your student identification number (UCID). This email will go to your UCalgary email address if you already have one. If you don’t see your email within a couple days, check your spam folder, in case your email filtered the auto-generated email.
Rolling admissions
A form of rolling admissions is used, which means that some decisions are sent out before all the files have been read. Please note that this does not mean that your application will be necessarily read in the order it was submitted. Applications will start to be assessed as they become complete. This is one reason to have your application submitted and supporting documents in as early as possible.
Due to the nature of the assessment process, there is no typical timeframe in which you will receive a decision after your application becomes complete. You may receive a decision very quickly, or you might receive a decision later in the admission cycle.
All applicants will receive either an offer, regrets, or waitlist notification through your My UCalgary Student Centre no later than the end of June.
Waitlist
There are no rankings assigned to those who are on the waitlist. The committee will consider everyone on the waitlist to determine who will receive an offer at the time a spot becomes available.
This means that we cannot estimate how long it will take for each waitlisted applicant to receive a final decision; waitlisted applicants may receive their final decision as late as orientation week.
We want you to know that based on past experience, there are often changes to our class list throughout the application cycle. The final first year roster will likely include individuals whose application was waitlisted at some point.
Multiple commitments
Please be aware that If you accept an offer of admission from UCalgary law, we may disclose this information, as well as your name, gender and date of birth, to LSAC and/or other Canadian law schools for enrolment management purposes.
Your chances of being admitted will not be affected by applying to, or being admitted to, another law school; however, if you have accepted an offer at multiple schools, the Admissions Committee may set a deadline by which you must decide whether you will be attending UCalgary Law.