Applicant Categories

At least three-years of full-time (or equivalent) undergraduate university education is required, although the majority of admitted students will have a four-year degree. A competitive candidate will have an overall undergraduate average of A- (80-84%) (GPA 3.7), and an LSAT score above the 80th percentile. The Admissions Committee considers the highest LSAT score and cumulative undergraduate GPA (including grades obtained on academic exchanges) but will place greater weight on the last two years of full-time (or equivalent) undergraduate study in appropriate circumstances, typically where the cGPA falls below 3.7. Your “Last 2” years is defined as your most recent 20 semestered courses for which you were assigned grades (one year-long course counts as 2 semestered courses). Depending on your course load each semester, your “Last 2” may include more than 20 courses. 

The Admissions Committee considers factors other than undergraduate grades and LSAT scores, including employment, personal and professional achievements, extra-curricular engagement, volunteer activities, and other life experience. A full course load throughout the candidate’s undergraduate academic career, research and writing experience, and graduate work are also very positive factors.

Applicants who apply in one of three discretionary categories (Access, Indigenous, or Mature) must provide evidence confirming the basis of their application. Three years of full-time undergraduate university study (or equivalent, defined as 30 semestered courses) is required for candidates applying in the Access or Indigenous categories, and a minimum of two years of full-time undergraduate university study (or equivalent, defined as 20 semestered courses) is required for Mature candidates. The Admissions Committee may interview applicants in the discretionary categories.

Access applicants are those whose undergraduate academic performance was affected by a proven disadvantage that may include, but is not limited to, cultural, socio-economic, medical or physical barriers, or a learning disability. Candidates must describe how the disadvantage affected their undergraduate academic record and provide supporting documentation. Applicants with disabilities should provide full documentation from qualified professionals on their disability and its effect on their undergraduate academic record or LSAT score(s) and indicate whether they received accommodations during their program of study.

Candidates must show evidence of potential to succeed at law school. This requires at least one year of competitive grades among three years of full-time undergraduate university study. Special consideration for LSAT scores is given only where there is a causal connection between the disadvantage claimed and the LSAT performance.

The Faculty of Law recognizes that members of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities are not represented adequately within the legal profession and strongly encourages applications from these groups.

A minimum of three years of full-time (or equivalent, defined as 30 semestered courses) undergraduate university study is required. Applicants are also required to provide proof of Indigenous status or ancestry, or other ties to their Indigenous community.

The Indigenous Law Centre (ILC) at the University of Saskatchewan is offering a new legal curriculum with course offerings from May through July, aimed at incoming (1L) Indigenous law students and postsecondary students in general. Visit the ILC website for further details, including specific course offerings and the application process. As an incoming Indigenous law student, when you successfully complete the University of Saskatchewan ILC summer program you will receive credit for first-year Property Law at Western Law. You will also receive funding to subsidize the cost of the program.

Financial assistance is available for Métis and Non-Status Indians through the Department of Justice Canada's Legal Studies for Aboriginal People Program. Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)'s Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP) provides financial assistance to First Nation and eligible Inuit students who are enrolled in eligible post-secondary programs. Additional federal assistance is also available to indigenous students from several other sources.  For more information, visit Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada's Post-Secondary Student Support Program website.

Further information about Indigenous Initiatives at Western.

Mature candidates must have at least five years of non-university experience since leaving high school, which need not be consecutive. In addition they must have attended university for a minimum of two years (or equivalent, which we define as 20 semestered undergraduate university courses). Finally, an LSAT score is required.

Mature applicants are asked to provide a resumé as a supplementary document when filing their application, as we will give greater weight to the work and life experience of mature candidates in our holistic assessment.

We do not set a specific minimum or competitive threshold for Mature applicants, as the applicant pool may vary year to year, and mature applicants may have various skills and life experiences to offer.  Moreover, we have noted over time that the strongest mature applicants tend to have academic records and LSAT scores that approach the competitive level of general category applicants.

Medically released personnel from the Canadian Forces apply under the Canadian Forces Access Category directly to the Faculty of Law by November 1 for September admission the following year.

All other Canadian Forces personnel should apply in either the General category or the Mature category through the Ontario Law School Application Service.

Application documents required for Canadian Forces Access Category only:

1. Signed application form.
2. Official transcripts sent directly to Western Law from EACH university, college or other post-secondary institution you have previously attended.  You are not required to submit Western University grades, as we can retrieve those for you.
3. A Personal Statement of up to 8000 characters (including spaces).  There are three parts to the personal statement (Part C can be used to outline your medical release).  Please refer to this form for specific instructions and attach your statement to it.
4. Resumé.  (Include entries since high school only.)
5. A copy of the LSAT Score Report and LSAT Writing Sample. (We will retrieve these documents directly from LSAC on your behalf using your LSAC account number, as provided in your application form.)
6. Two reference letters with the accompanying Confidential Assessment Form signed and completed by each referee, sent directly to the Admissions Office by the referees. (If you have attended university within the last
   five years, one reference letter must be academic.)
7. Documentation confirming medical release from the Canadian Forces.
8. Application fee of $115.00 (by cheque or money order payable to the University of Western Ontario, or by credit card using PurplePay).

The application and supporting documents (including official transcripts) should be sent directly to:

Western University Faculty of Law
Admissions Office, Room 222
1151 Richmond St. 
London, Ontario  N6A 3K7