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.

Black applicants are individuals who self-identify as members of the Black community. The Faculty of Law recognizes that such individuals are not represented adequately within the legal profession and strongly encourages applications from members of this group.

Applications from Black candidates will be reviewed holistically, informed by the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Candidates may use the optional essay to discuss lived experiences, which will be given additional weight during the review process. We are striving to have all applications in this category assessed by at least one Black reviewer (among two reviewers).

The Faculty of Law recognizes that First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples are underrepresented within the legal profession and strongly encourages applications from Indigenous students.  A minimum of three years of full-time (or equivalent, defined as 30 semestered courses) undergraduate university study is required.

Applications are reviewed holistically by the Faculty of Law Admissions Committee and are informed by the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization and accessibility.

Affirmation Process

Under Western University’s Policy 1.58 – Affirming Declarations of Indigenous Citizenship or Membership, Indigenous applicants are required to submit a declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership to Western’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives by providing: (1) two documents demonstrating proof of citizenship or membership to the Indigenous Nation claiming them, and (2) a statement of relational positionality.  Your submission is processed through this website and should be completed when you apply to Western Law. This is separate from – and in addition to – the application you will submit through the Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS).

• For guidance on approved documentation and writing your statement of relational positionality, please visit this webpage.
• For more information about the affirmation process, including Frequently Asked Questions, please visit the Office of Indigenous Initiatives website.
• Questions may be directed to affirmation@uwo.ca.

Once you have submitted your declaration and supporting documents, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives will review your submission and provide the Faculty of Law with its decision. When your application is complete it will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.  

Optional Essay – OLSAS Application

You may use the optional essay in the OLSAS application to speak to your lived experiences, goals or community involvement, which will be given additional weight during the review process. While the Statement of Relational Positionality for Western’s affirmation process (above) and the optional essay in the OLSAS application serve distinct purposes, you may choose to incorporate elements from your optional essay into your Statement, if relevant.

First-year Property Law Option

The Indigenous Law Centre (ILC) at the University of Saskatchewan offers a first-year Property Law course from May through July for incoming (1L) Indigenous law students.  Visit the ILC website for further details.  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 Support 

In addition to our entrance scholarships, financial assistance for Indigenous students is available through a variety of federal programs. For Métis and Non-Status First Nations students, the Legal Studies for Indigenous People Program through the Department of Justice Canada provides financial support. Additionally, the Post-Secondary Student Support Program offered through Indigenous Services Canada provides funding for eligible First Nations and Inuit students.  We encourage students to explore these and other funding opportunities to support their legal education.

To learn more about Indigenous supports and community at Western, please visit the Office of Indigenous Initiatives  and Indigenous Student Centre websites.

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.

Please visit this link to learn more about the mature candidate experience of one of our students from the Class of 2026.

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 $150.00 (by cheque or money order payable to the University of Western Ontario, or by credit card using PurplePay).

The application and supporting documents may be sent via email to: lawapp@uwo.ca

Offical trasncripts must be sent directly to:

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