Contact Information and FAQ'sSee below for frequently asked questions. If you cannot find what you are looking for on this page, please contact us at 604-822-6303 or admissions@law.ubc.ca. Frequently Asked QuestionsLSAT
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I would like an Admissions Guide mailed to me. How do I get one? Please email us at admissions@law.ubc.ca with "Calendar Request" as the subject line. Please be sure to include your mailing address. An electronic version of our Admissions Guide can also be found at: http://www.law.ubc.ca/files/pdf/admissions/ubc-law_jd-program.pdf When is the application deadline? The application deadline for First Year Law is December 31st. The deadline for those applying in the Upper Level Categories is April 30th. How much is the application fee? The Application Fee is $80.00 and is non-refundable. How much does it cost to attend law school? Tuition fees for all programs can be accessed through the link below: • Tuition What Undergraduate course should I take to ensure I get into UBC Law? There is no specific educational background that will guarantee admissions into UBC Law. We suggest that you study in a field that you are interested in and in which you will excel. The majority of applicants have a B.A., however, we have accepted applicants from a variety of programs including Science, Engineering, Forestry, Architecture, International Relations, Commerce, Criminology etc. How many credits do I need to be eligible to apply in the Regular Category? To be eligible to apply, prospective students must either: 1. have obtained an undergraduate degree in an approved course of studies from an approved university. Diploma or Certificate programs are ineligible. Approved courses of studies are those leading to standard university degrees; or, 2. have successfully completed the first three years (minimum 90 credits) or more of an approved course of studies leading to an undergraduate degree or completed the equivalent at an approved university. A full compliment of third year level courses must be completed by the end of the Spring Semester. Applicants completing their third year at the time of the application deadline are eligible under this second option; however, an offer of acceptance will be conditional on the maintenance of the academic average obtained in the first two years of studies. The third year of studies must be completed by the end of the Spring Semester of the year of admission. (Spring Semester runs from January to April.) Do I have to have a four year undergraduate degree prior to applying to law school? A To be considered for admission applicants must have successfully completed three years (minimum 90 credits) of an approved course of studies leading to an undergraduate degree at an approved University no later than the end of April in the year of entry. However, prospective applicants should be aware that almost all of our students have completed a four year degree. In recent years approximately five applicants a year have been admitted without a four-year undergraduate degree. Does studying a paralegal program help my application? Taking a paralegal will enable you to explore the field of law. Please note, however, that we do not offer any transfer credits from a paralegal program. No, you do not need to take Law 12. You should, however, ensure that the courses you take and the marks you receive in high school fulfill the requirements of the undergraduate program in which you wish to enter. Do you look at all my marks? Do you eliminate any credits? We consider all complete courses leading to your first undergraduate degree. If you are currently enrolled in your final year, those courses will not be included in the calculation of your GPA. We do, however, exclude 12 of your worst credits if you have a four-year degree, (the equivalent of 4 semester courses or two year long classes). If you are in your third year when you apply we will exclude 6 of your worst credits. If I apply early, does it increase my chances of being given an offer? If we receive a file that is complete and is highly competitive, an offer could be given as early as November. However, we honour the December deadline as well as the December writing of the LSAT, therefore, we cannot and do not fill all our spots early. Applying early does not increase an applicant's chance of being given an offer; it simply allows us to begin evaluation as soon as possible. Do I need to write the TOEFL exam? No you do not. You are, however, required to sit the LSAT test (more info at www.LSAC.org ) What is the minimum GPA I require to apply to UBC Law? What about LSAT? There is no specific minimum LSAT score or GPA that is required to apply. The higher the score, however, the more competitive your application will be. In general, applicants should have an LSAT score of at least 160 (80th percentile) and a CGPA of at least 82% (approximately 3.8 on a 4.33 scale). However, because we weigh the GPA and LSAT evenly there is a range of possible combinations. For example, an applicant could be competitive with an LSAT score of 170 and a CGPA of 78% or with an LSAT score of 158 and a CGPA of 86%. Please note this applies to the Regular Category only. My marks are given on a 4.33 scale, how do you convert them? We use the same conversion scale used by the UBC Registrar's Office. A 4.0 is an 86%, a 3.0 is a 73%, and a 2.0 is a 60%. What is the discretionary category? What are the requirements to apply? A limited number of positions in first-year law are available for discretionary applicants. Because of special factors in life, an applicant may not satisfy one or more of the requirements for regular applicants, but may have other relevant achievements and experience. The Admissions Committee has the discretion to respond to this type of situation by taking into account factors such as disability or special needs, financial disadvantage, age (generally for applicants over 30 years of age), membership in a historically disadvantaged group and any other factors that the applicant wishes the Admissions Committee to consider. These factors will be considered in the context of the applicant's other achievements, work experience and/or volunteer work for community or charitable organizations. Discretionary applicants are required to have completed the first two years of an approved course of studies leading to an undergraduate degree at an approved college or university. Two letters of reference are required, and, where appropriate, documentation such as medical reports should be submitted. Decisions in this category are usually made in mid to late May. Do you take my best LSAT score or an average? We take your best LSAT score. What is the latest LSAT score you will accept? Normally, the latest LSAT score we will accept is the December writing. However, we have decided to accept the February LSAT scores for the 2012-2013 admissions cycle. What is the format for reference letters? How many should I send in? We do not require reference letters for applications in the Regular Category. They will not be reviewed if they are received. Two reference letters are required in all other categories. There is no specific form or format required. Reference letters should be mailed directly to our office by your referee. They should sign the back of the envelope. Referees may also e-mail letters of reference directly to admissions@law.ubc.ca. Please ensure that your full name is used in your reference letter so we are able to match it with your file. How often can I take the LSAT? You can write the test no more than 3 times in a 2 year period. How do I get more information about the LSAT? You can go to: or contact them at: Law School Admission Council How do I submit my Personal Statement? You can send your Personal Statement as an e-mail attachment to admissions@law.ubc.ca with "Personal Statement" in the Subject line. Alternatively, you may send it to: Law Admissions, 1822 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1. Please make sure you include your full name in the document. How many students are accepted? How many applicants apply? The Faculty of Law will admit 180 students to first year law to produce a total population in the JD program of approximately 600 students. Generally, we receive a total of 2,000 applicants. Typically we make 400+ offers to fill the 180 positions. Will I be required to attend an Interview? Interviews are not part of the admissions process. What should my personal statement include? Generally, the purpose of the personal statement is to provide the Admissions Committee with any information an applicant considers relevant to the consideration of her or his application. The Admissions Committee would like to see several kinds of information from you in order to make its decision. First, if your academic performance in some limited period was affected by a short-term medical condition or other circumstances, information about this should be provided, along with supporting documentation. Second, a personal statement should also highlight those aspects of your personal history that enhance your application. For example, a personal statement should set out the relevant information about: academically related extra-curricular activities, community involvement, work (both paid and volunteer) experience, parental or caregiver responsibilities, and relevant personal characteristics and attributes. And lastly, the Admissions Committee is particularly interested in you telling us why you want to study law, what makes you well-suited to the study of law (e.g., the particular skills, interests and/or experiences you have), and what contributions you think you would make to the UBC Faculty of Law. Do you offer a part time program? Yes we do. To be eligible for the part-time program, students must demonstrate special needs resulting from such factors as family responsibilities or financial or health problems. Applicants must include an additional letter outlining their request and demonstrating their need to study part time. A maximum of ten students per year will be admitted on this basis. Students in this program must complete, at a minimum, half of the normal course load for fulltime students in each academic year. Students may be permitted to take up to 80% of the normal full-time number of credits per year. Students who have completed more than 50% of the first-year program in their first year may be permitted to take in their next year such credits from the upper-year offerings as may be required to bring the student's load up to 80% of the normal load. The choice of such additional credits is subject to the approval of the Associate Dean, Academic Affairs. Once they have completed all the requirements for first year, students in the program may transfer to full-time status or continue in the part-time program. Similarly, a full-time student in second or third year and in good standing may, for compelling reasons, be permitted to transfer to the part-time program. Students admitted in the categories of Advanced Standing, Transfer or Visiting (Letter of Permission) are ineligible for this program. Can I defer my studies for a year? We generally only offer deferments in extenuating circumstances such as medical or compassionate reasons. An applicant wishing to defer their studies should contact the admissions office outlining the reasons for which they are requesting a deferment. Where can I find more information about housing? You can explore UBC housing's website http://www.housing.ubc.ca/ for information about on-campus housing options. Or you can check out the Alma Mater Society website, http://www.amsrentsline.com, for information about off-campus housing. UBC also has housing boards in the Student Union Building where students post vacancy notices. Additional information can be found at offcampushousing101.com or myidealhome.com Note that the Faculty of Graduate Studies has two residential Colleges - Green College and St. John's College - devoted to providing housing for graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and visiting scholars, but Law students are also considered. See http://www.grad.ubc.ca/campus-community/residential-graduate-colleges. I am wondering what to do with the Ethnic Origins Survey. Do I fill it out and send it in anonymously, or do you need my personal information to be included? Will my application be incomplete if I do not send it in? You can mail your survey to us anonymously. If we receive your survey with other documentation we will separate it from your file. Because the surveys are sent anonymously, there is no way for us to know if someone has submitted it or not. As such, it has no bearing on whether a file is complete or not. What about awards, bursaries and financial aid? All accepted applicants are automatically considered for entrance scholarships based on academic merit. Applications for financial aid and bursary assistance are made through the UBC Awards and Financial Aid Office or in the student's home province. Please see the Awards and Financial Aid Office website at http://students.ubc.ca/finance/ . Additional awards are adjudicated by the Faculty of Law for accepted applicants. The deadline for Entrance Scholarship applications is December 31st. Information regarding these awards may be found here. Do you have an exchange program? Yes! We have an exchange program. Please see http://www.students.ubc.ca/global. You can search for partner universities here. Make sure to enter "Law" as the area of study. How do I update my address and/or phone number? Please email admissions@law.ubc.ca with "Address update" in the subject line. How do I check if all my documents have been received? Email us at admissions@law.ubc.ca with "Status Question" in the subject line. I've been accepted into First Year Law, how do I register for my courses? You don't! We register all first year students. I've been accepted as an Upper Level Student (Transfer, Letter of Permission etc.) how do I register? You can register for your classes using the UBC Student Service Centre website at https://ssc.adm.ubc.ca/sscportal/servlets/SRVSSCFramework. However, you cannot access the online registration services until we have received your deposit at the Law Faculty. A separate cheque must also be submitted to the UBC Enrolment Services in the amount of $100.00 or it can be made payable online through the Student Service Centre. I have special needs, whom should I contact? Let us know as soon as possible at admissions@law.ubc.ca so we can make arrangements to accommodate you to the best of our abilities. You may also wish to contact UBC Access & Diversity at 604-822-5844 or access.diversity@ubc.ca. I have a Law Degree from overseas. Can I practice in Canada? Your first step is to contact the National Committee on Accreditation. They will assess your foreign credentials and determine how many courses you must retake. Their website is http://www.flsc.ca/en/nca. For more information please see: http://www.law.ubc.ca/prospective/nondegree/ and http://www.law.ubc.ca/files/pdf/admissions/ubc-law_jd-program.pdf If I study at UBC can I practice in the States? The educational requirements vary from state to state. You can find information about individual state bar associations at http://www.abanet.org/legaled/baradmissions/bar.html. Can I transfer from a law school outside of Canada? Direct transfers are restricted to Canadian Law Schools. Can I attend for a term or year from a law school within or outside of Canada? Yes, this is called a Letter of Permission. Please see: http://www.law.ubc.ca/prospective/nondegree/ and http://www.law.ubc.ca/files/pdf/admissions/ubc-law_jd-program.pdf for more information. Within the Regular Category we begin reviewing applications as soon as all documentation has been received. For those who qualify for "early admission," offers may be made as early as November. Offers may be made to applicants with GPAs above 84% together with LSAT scores above 166 prior to our deadline. Once we have received LSAT scores from the December writing, the remaining positions will be filled. Over the course of the spring and summer months, offers will be made to those applicants that appear on our wait list as others withdraw their acceptances or are no longer able to attend. How do I submit my transcripts and how many copies are required? Official transcripts must be sent directly from your university to our admissions office (UBC Law Admissions, 1822 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1). If you are currently attending university, one copy should be sent prior to the December 31st deadline with the final to be submitted once your degree has been confirmed. If you have already completed your degree, two official copies should be sent to the Law Admissions Office. Please ensure they are NOT sent to the general UBC Admissions Office. We will access UBC transcripts directly from Enrolment Services; however, if you attended another institution prior to UBC or went on exchange, you must arrange to have those transcripts sent directly to our Law Admissions Office. What happens if my documentation arrives prior to receipt of my application? We will hold all documentation pending receipt of your application. Supporting documents will then be matched with your application. Do you offer tours of the law school? Our Student Ambassadors are available to offer tours to prospective and admitted students. For more information about tours and availability, please visit :http://www.law.ubc.ca/prospective/jd/ambassador Can I speak with a current student? Our Student Ambassadors welcome the opportunity to correspond with prospective or admitted students about the law school experience, life at UBC Law and living in Vancouver. You may email an Ambassador at ambassadors@law.ubc.ca Please also read through our admissions guide found at: http://www.law.ubc.ca/files/pdf/admissions/ubc-law_jd-program.pdf as most information can be found there. If you cannot find what you are looking for please contact us at 604-822-6303 or admissions@law.ubc.ca |
Faculty of Law at Allard Hall
Faculty of Law
1822 East Mall, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z1
Tel: 604.822.3151
Fax: 604.822.8108
J.D. / Combined Program Admissions Inquiries: admissions@law.ubc.ca
Graduate Students Admissions Inquiries: graduates@law.ubc.ca