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

We offer 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 we conduct a holistic review of your application, we give priority to these factors:

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

Foreign Transcripts

If you have undertaken undergraduate studies outside of Canada and the United States you must have your 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.

Second Year Recruitment Process

A 2L summer position is an important pathway to legal employment in Canada and can often lead to an articling position following graduation. Recruitment for 2L summer positions typically begins in the summer between 1L and 2L. Toronto applications are generally due on the third Monday in July, while applications for Vancouver and Calgary are typically due in early to mid-August.

Sometimes these deadlines pass before your application to Western Law has been processed (for example, if we are waiting for transcripts from your home institution or waiting for your LSAT score).  Thus, if you are interested in pursuing opportunities in Toronto, Vancouver, or Calgary, you should apply for 2L summer positions as a student from your home institution.  Most employers advertise their 2L summer positions and collect applications through the viLaw Portal.

If you are subsequently admitted to Western Law, you will be eligible to participate in Western Law’s virtual On-Campus Interview (OCI) programs for these recruitment centres. This provides you with an opportunity to continue the recruitment process through Western Law once your admission is confirmed.