Canada has 22 accredited law schools offering the Juris Doctor (JD) degree. A Canadian JD typically takes 3 years to complete and qualifies graduates to be called to the bar in any Canadian province after completing articles (a supervised legal apprenticeship). Lawyers in Canada earn $70,000 to $200,000+ depending on specialty and location. The sections below cover everything aspiring Canadian lawyers need to know.
Top Canadian Law Schools
University of Toronto Faculty of Law
Canada's top law school and top 20 globally. Exceptional corporate law, international law, and constitutional law programs. Strong Bay Street Bay Street firm recruitment. LSAT median: 166+. Tuition: ~$35,000/year.
Osgoode Hall Law School (York University)
Canada's largest law school and very highly ranked. Strong clinical programs and social justice focus. Excellent Toronto location for articling opportunities. LSAT median: 163+. Tuition: ~$28,000/year.
McGill Faculty of Law
Unique bilingual program offering both civil law and common law degrees. Canada's most internationally focused law school. Essential for careers in international law. LSAT median: 163+. Tuition: ~$20,000/year.
University of British Columbia Peter A. Allard School of Law
Strong Pacific Rim connections and environmental law programs. Vancouver location. LSAT median: 162+. Tuition: ~$22,000/year.
Queen's Faculty of Law
Strong alumni loyalty and good Bay Street recruitment. Kingston location with lower living costs. LSAT median: 161+. Tuition: ~$23,000/year.
Admission Requirements
Canadian law schools require a 3 or 4 year undergraduate degree in any subject, LSAT score (typically 160+ for competitive schools), personal statement, reference letters, and for some schools interviews. There is no single path. Law schools take a holistic view of applicants including work experience, volunteer work, and unique life experiences.
For Internationally Trained Lawyers
If you are a lawyer from another country, you can apply for assessment through the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA). The NCA reviews your foreign law degree and legal education and may require you to pass certain NCA exams or complete a Canadian law program before being eligible to article and be called to the bar. The process typically takes 1 to 3 years.
Career insight: Commercial lawyers at Bay Street (Toronto) law firms earn $120,000 to $200,000+ within 3 to 5 years of call. Government lawyers and public interest lawyers earn $80,000 to $130,000. Solo practitioners and small firm lawyers have more variable income. The legal job market in Canada is strong particularly for corporate, real estate, and immigration lawyers.
Written and reviewed by the GuideCAN Editorial Team
Editorially reviewed for clarity, practical usefulness and alignment with the official starting points listed below.
Official sources
Official rules, fees, deadlines and program availability can change. Confirm the current details before acting.