Admissions - Upper Year

Thank you for your interest in Western Law! We look forward to receiving an application from you. For information on the Application Process, visit this website. 

Categories of Applicants

There are three categories of applicants for admission to upper year: Transfer, Advanced Standing and Letter of Permission. The Faculty of Law does not admit National Committee on Accreditation candidates.   

Transfer

If you are currently enrolled in first year at another Canadian law school you may be admitted to the second year of Western's JD program. If you successfully complete the last two years of our program you will be eligible to receive the Juris Doctor degree from Western University.

Advanced Standing

If you have successfully completed part or all of your legal education outside Canada you may be considered for admission with advanced standing. Except in extraordinary circumstances, you will not receive more than one year's advanced standing. If you successfully complete the last two years of our program you will be eligible to receive the Juris Doctor degree from Western University.

A Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score is required. Please visit www.lsac.org for more information and to register for the LSAT. June LSAT scores are accepted for upper-year applicants.

Letter of Permission

If you are currently enrolled at a Canadian law school  you can apply to study for one academic year at Western Law on a Letter of Permission prescribing a program of courses approved by your current law school. You would receive your Juris Doctor degree from your home law school. 

Admission Considerations

While a holistic review of all applications is undertaken, the following are major considerations in upper-year admissions decisions:

  • the availability of places in second and third year courses;
  • compassionate grounds, if applicable; and
  • academic performance in law school (a competitive upper-year applicant will generally have a B average, or higher, in law school to date).

Foreign Transcripts

Applicants who have undertaken undergraduate studies outside of Canada and the United States must have their foreign transcript(s) assessed by World Education Services, or an equivalent credential evaluation service.  This is not required for studies undertaken in the United Kingdom or graduate studies, although an assessment may be requested.