Upper-Year Applicants (from within and outside of Canada)
General
Is it difficult to secure an upper-year position?
Admission to second or third year in any admission category is extremely competitive. The likelihood of admission is highly dependent on the number of upper-year places that become available for that year, the strength of the applicant pool with which you are competing, and the strength of your own application (particularly the strength of your law school grades which ideally should be a B average or higher).
What is the application deadline?
May 1 for Fall admission. Please be aware this is a firm deadline in that the online OLSAS system locks at midnight. Your application must be complete and payment made before then. Because law school applications take time, please begin the process early.
Where do I find all the details about how to apply?
Please see the OLSAS Application Guide. Be sure to read all the general instructions in detail, as well as the "University Requirements" for each law school to which you intend to apply, as policies and procedures can change year to year and vary from school to school. Please also see the information on our First-Year Applicant FAQ page regarding OLSAS applications, as much of it applies to upper-year applicants as well.
How will I know that you received my application?
You will receive an acknowledgement email from Western Law by the third week of May. Please ensure that your email account is configured so that email from Western does not land in your spam or junk folder. When you receive that email, please follow the instructions in it to activate your Western identity. This is an important step in the application process.
I have tried to activate my Student Center account but am having problems. What can I do?
Please visit the Student Center Access Guide online and follow the instructions there. If you continue to have problems please contact the Western Technology Services Helpdesk at 519-661-3800.
When are upper-year admission decisions made?
They are typically made in early July, but could be made as late as August.
Applicants From Within Canada
I am currently in my first year at another Canadian law school. Am I able to transfer to Western Law to complete my JD?
You may be considered for admission as a transfer student to the second year of our JD program. Transfer students who successfully complete the last two years of the program will receive a JD degree from Western University.
I am currently enrolled at another Canadian law school but wish to study for one year at Western Law. Is this possible?
Yes. You can apply to study for one academic year at Western Law on a Letter of Permission prescribing a program of approved courses from your current law school. If you successfully complete the year at Western, you do not receive a JD degree from Western. Rather, you receive your law degree from your home institution.
What is weighed most heavily in your admission decision?
First-year law school grades.
Applicants From Outside of Canada
I am currently in my first year at a law school outside of Canada. Am I able to attend Western Law to complete my JD?
If you have completed part or all your legal education outside of Canada, you may be considered for admission with advanced standing. This means you will get credit for some, but not all, of your first-year law courses. Except in extraordinary circumstances, students will not receive more than one year’s advanced standing. If admitted, you will then have two years of law school to complete in order to receive a JD from Western University. When applying through OLSAS, be sure to select the “Advanced Standing” applicant category.
What courses am I unlikely to receive credit for?
Students coming from a law school outside of Canada need the following Canadian law courses: Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Civil Procedure, Indigenous Law, and Ethics & Professionalism. This means you will not receive credit for courses in these subject areas taken in another jurisdiction.
What courses am I likely to receive credit for?
You will likely receive credit for Torts, Property, Contracts, and Legal Research and Writing if those courses were part of your first-year curriculum abroad. Decisions about other courses are made on a case-by-case basis.
Is an LSAT score required?
Yes. If you did not write the LSAT prior to law school abroad or wish to rewrite to improve your score, we will accept a June score. Please register early.
What do you consider to be a competitive LSAT score?
A score above the 80th percentile is most competitive.
What is weighed most heavily in your admission decision?
First-year law school grades. Grades of B or higher are considered most competitive.
Are you willing to consider unofficial grade reports until my official transcript is delivered?
No. An official transcript is required, and it must be sent directly to OLSAS.
What if the official transcript from my institution is not issued until July or August due to my classes finishing late in the spring?
Potentially that could be a hurdle to your admission, as the few upper-year positions available will likely be filled by that time given the nature of our rolling admissions process. We encourage you to take all steps available to ensure your transcript arrives as early as possible.
