Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is a one-year research degree program which enables law students, lawyers, and academics from related disciplines to hone legal expertise and conduct advanced research. LLM students will articulate and defend a thesis, demonstrating proficiency with relevant scholarship and an ability to make an original research contribution to their field of study.
Our LLM graduates have used their degrees to pursue doctorates, university teaching positions or professional careers in private practice, the civil service and the non-profit sector.
The Faculty of Law’s LLM program has produced some of Canada’s finest legal professionals. It offers a robust curriculum, an innovative learning environment and instruction from distinguished and diverse experts. With the support of our faculty members, students engage in legal research and scholarship in a way that is rigorous, impactful and vital to their education.
“Quality teaching and research are to the academia what strong advocacy is to litigation. My time as a student at the Law Faculty of the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ was enriched by quality teaching and research. Professor Timothy Caulfield, my LLM supervisor of immense renown, and Prof Frederick DeCoste (of blessed memory) are two of the erudite scholars whose pedagogical skills helped shape my approach to the practice of the law. I am a better lawyer today because of the time I was fortunate to spend learning from the professors at the Law Faculty.”
Program Length
The period required to complete the LLM degree can vary. Some students may wish to complete the program in one academic year, while others may wish to extend the length of their study. LLM students must complete the program requirements within four years.
Tuition + Fees
- Canadian students: $5,570
- International students: $9,250
- Estimated living expenses: $23,000 - $28,000
For more information, visit the GPS site: Tuition & Fees Estimates
Curriculum
Students registered within the LLM program must complete graduate-level courses, a thesis, as well as ethics and professional development training to complete degree requirements.
Students enrolled in the LLM program must successfully complete graduate-level courses (9 credits) including LAW 696: Graduate Seminar (3 credits) and two additional graduate-level courses (6 credits)
Course selected is determined in consultation with the student's academic supervisor and the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies. Students may enrol in graduate-level courses offered by other academic departments at the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ with the written approval of the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, after consideration of the student's experience, needs and course availability.
Students are required to produce approximately 80 to 100 pages, or 24,000 to 33,000 words, exclusive of tables of cases or statutes and bibliography. The thesis topic must be approved by the student's academic supervisor and the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies.
Starting in September 2021, new LLM students are required to complete the FGSR Ethics and Academic Citizenship Requirement for master's students. It is a six-hour, zero-credit, online course: INT D 710: Ethics and Academic Citizenship.
The course registration is in Beartracks. Once registered, students are added to eClass where they will complete the course material in a self-paced format. The course must be completed during the first semester of the student's program. Successful completion of the course will appear on the student's official transcript record. For further information on the mandatory Ethics and Academic Citizenship Requirement »
The Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies requires students to complete eight hours of professional development (PD) activities that are inspired by a career plan document completed by the student called the Individual Development Plan (IDP). The IDP maps the student's career goals and competencies. The PD activities must: contribute to the acquisition of skills, knowledge or mindset; support the career goals or competencies identified in the IDP; comprise formal training or active learning with an assessment component; and fall outside or research methods training or the thesis.
For full details, see the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies PD web page.
Full-time LLM students must complete their IDP and have it reviewed by their supervisor within 12 months of the start of their program. The eight hours of PD activities must be approved by their supervisor and completed by the time of degree completion.
LLM Theses, ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Collection
- Lorrie Adams:
- Travis Lovett:
- Hadley Friedland:
- Solomon Amoateng:
- Terry Adido:
Admissions
Each year, the Graduate Studies Committee admits a select number of students to the Master of Laws program. Students are selected on the basis of their ability to complete a self-directed research project commensurate with the standards of post-graduate scholarship.
Requirements
All applicants for the LLM program must hold a JD, LLB or equivalent university degree from the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ or an institution recognized by the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥.
While successful completion of the LLM degree is relevant for determining suitability for admission to the PhD program, it does not guarantee admission. Students wishing to pursue a doctorate must submit a formal application for admission to the PhD program.
The minimum grade point average for the graduate program is a 3.0 on the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥'s 4-point scale. However, the competitive GPA for the PhD program usually satisfies or exceeds 3.5 or the international grade equivalent.
Applicants whose first language is not English must fulfil one of the following :
- TOEFL: minimum 100, 25 minimum on each skill area (internet) or 600 (paper-based)
- IELTS: minimum overall 7.0, minimum 6.0 on each band
- PTE: minimum overall score of 68
Documentation
Copies of all academic transcripts from all post-secondary institutions in the official language of instruction, accompanied with a translation (if applicable).
Official hard copies of transcripts, which are to be sealed, stamped and sent from your previous institution, will eventually be required. Further instruction will be given to successful applicants.
Chronological resumé or curriculum vitae describing your academic history, scholarly achievements, and employment history.
Three reference forms and letters of recommendation completed and uploaded by referees directly to the online portal.
Two-to-five page description of proposed research project, outlining the relevant legal issues, preliminary arguments, and the proposed research methodology. The proposal should include footnotes and a bibliography highlighting relevant academic sources.
Please explain in one to two pages your motivations for applying for a law graduate program at the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥. This may include:
- your reasons for wanting to undertake graduate studies in law in general and the LLM program in particular;
- the reasons why you want to undertake graduate studies at our Faculty of Law at the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥;
- your specific area(s) of academic interest;
- your future career plans; and
- any other information that the Graduate Studies Committee might find relevant.
International students require appropriate visa approvals for admission and study in Canada.
An LLM does not entitle the holder to practise law in Canada. For information about the accreditation of your foreign law degree, contact the .