Applications - Programs with Exchange Partners

Western and l’Université Laval offer you the opportunity to obtain both the common law degree and civil law degree in four years of study at both institutions: three years at the home university (which must include one semester on exchange at the partner university) and one additional year at the partner university. Not only do you have the opportunity to develop your skills in the other official language and increase your knowledge of another legal system, you also have access to membership in both the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Barreau du Québec.

Application documents required for Laval students:

1. Application Form: Please contact lawapp@uwo.ca for the proper form.
2. Statement of interest (one page)
3. Letter from Laval confirming academic standing in the top 50% of your year.
4. Application fee of $150. This fee may be paid by cheque or money order to “The University of Western Ontario,” OR by credit card online using PurplePay.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the program you must have:

1. completed either a JD (Western) or an LLB (Laval) while standing in the top 50% of your year (based on the aggregate of your grades from all years);
2. participated in the Laval/Western Law Exchange Program (one semester) during your three-year law program; and
3. demonstrated the ability to learn law in the other language.

Typical Timeline:

Year 1 - First year of law school at the home institution.

Years 2 & 3 - During year 2 or 3, you must spend one semester on exchange at the other institution. The remaining three semesters in years 2 and 3 are spent at your home university.  You will earn a JD or LLB, as the case may be.

Year 4:  Final year of law school at the other institution.  You will earn the second credential: an LLB or JD, as the case may be.

Program of Study

For Western Students at Laval

You must complete the following courses:

• Obligations I: Contrat (DRT-1001)
• Droit des biens (DRT-1003)
• Droit des personnes physiques et de la famille (DRT-1004)
• Obligations II: Responsabilité (DRT-2000)
• Procédure civile I (DRT-1006)
• Obligations III: Exécution et extinction (DRT-2002)
• L'entreprise et ses principaux contrats (DRT-2004)
• Droit du travail fondamental (DRT-2003) (unless a Laval equivalent has been or is taken)

You must also complete one course in each of the two blocks (critical and methodology). Legal Ethics and Professionalism satisfies the critical block and Legal Research, Writing and Advocacy satisfies the methodology block.

The following optional courses are suggested:

• Sûretés réelles et publicité des droits (DRT-2250)
• Contrats de vente, de louage et d'entreprise ou de service (DRT-2251)
• Droit de la famille (DRT-2252)
• Procédure civile II (DRT-2450)
• Courses in Québec private law

You must select other courses from the optional curriculum to complete a total of 45 credits at Laval, including the 15 credits completed during your Laval Exchange term. The optional courses selected cannot be equivalent to the ones completed at Western. A list of equivalents is available from Laval's Faculty of Law Student Mobility Coordinator.

Evaluation

You must follow the regular schedules and methods of examination at Laval. You may write examinations and papers in English.

You are required to provide proof of proficiency in French before admission to the program after year 3 and again directly before convocation from Laval in year 4.

For Laval Students at Western

http://www.fd.ulaval.ca/etudes/mobilite-internationale  

Students must complete the following courses:

• Contracts (5 credits)
• Torts (5 credits)
• Property (5 credits)
• Civil Procedure (4 credits)

You must also complete or have completed, either at Laval or Western, the following courses or their equivalent, as approved by the Associate Dean (Academic Affairs) at Western:

• Corporate Law (4 credits)
• Legal Ethics and Professionalism (4 credits)
• Administrative Law (4 credits)

Additionally, you will select electives from a wide range of courses offered at Western so that you complete 29-31 credits in your final year.

You cannot select Western courses that are considered equivalent to courses you have already taken at Laval, except with the approval of the Associate Dean (Academic Affairs). A list of equivalents is available from Western Law's International Programs Office.

Unless granted an exemption by the Associate Dean (Academic Affairs), you must also satisfy Western's writing requirements.  This can be done in one of two ways:

(1) by completing two research essay requirements; or

(2) by completing one research essay and one legal writing requirement. 

To satisfy a research essay requirement, you must take an upper-year course that requires a written essay worth at least two credit hours.  To satisfy a legal writing requirement, you must take an upper-year course (or courses) requiring a legal writing assignment (or assignments) worth at least two credit hours.

Evaluation

You must follow the regular schedules and methods of examination at Western. 

If your first language is not English you may be given extra time to write examinations.  The amount of extra time permitted shall be determined by the Associate Dean (Academic Affairs).