The University of Victoria Faculty of Law, located in Victoria, British Columbia was established in 1974. The Faculty recognizes that the law must be understood within a wider context of social, political, historical and economic perspectives. The objective is not only to teach the principles of law, but to help students understand the role of law in society and its application in the wider community.  The Faculty offers the only Common Law Co-operative Education Program in Canada, as well as three clinical term programs.

The Co-op Program formally integrates a student’s academic studies on campus with work experience in government and the private sector, within Canada or overseas. Co-op students alternate their study terms with full-time, paid work assignments, where they gain practical experience with a variety of employers and make valuable connections within the legal community.

The three clinical term programs consist of the Law Centre Clinic, the Environmental Law Centre Clinic, and the Business Law Clinic.

Degree Programs

The University of Victoria, Faculty of Law offers a Juris Doctor (JD) program as well as two double degree programs: a JD/MBA (Master of Business Administration), and a JD/MPA (Master of Arts in Public Administration).  Also available is a joint Common Law/Civil Law Degree (JD/BCL) program for students who have completed their Civil Law Degree in Quebec.

There are also graduate programs leading to a Master of Laws (LLM) in Law and Society or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law and Society.

Admission

To qualify for admission to first-year law, applicants must complete a minimum of three years (45 units) of an undergraduate program leading to a bachelor’s degree at a recognized institution. They must also write the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Personal statements and letters of reference are not required in the regular admissions category.

Enrolment / Student Body / Faculty

While there are usually over 1,000 applicants, admission to first-year law studies is limited to just over 100 students and the total number of students is about 375 per year. There are about 39 full-time faculty members. The number of part-time faculty and sessional instructors varies from year to year. Normally, there are approximately 30 part-time, sessional or adjunct faculty members.

Expenses and Financial Aid

Full-time tuition costs about $10,000 per year. Law students should expect to spend approximately $1,500 per year on texts and course materials. Many programs are offered to help prospective students with tuition costs, including: bursaries; scholarships; Dean’s Emergency Loan Fund; government student loans; and StudentAidBC.

Activities and Services

Students are active in numerous clubs and organizations at the Faculty of Law, including: the Law Students’ Society (LSS); Society for Students with a Disability (SSD); Canadian Lawyers Abroad; Pro Bono Students Canada; Native Students Union; and the Debate Society. The Careers Office provides career counselling, including in areas such as court clerkships, legal internships, summer firm positions, and articling positions.

For more information, visit the University of Victoria, Faculty of Law.

								
You now have 3 options:
								

									
More answers about Lawyer Licensing and Law Schools
									
Master List: 2,500 Legal Answers
																													
																		
Government Links