How to Apply

Applicants under all admissions categories are required to provide a valid score for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The LSAT is a standardized test built to assess key skills that contribute to success in law school. The test is overseen by the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). The LSAT is administered several times a year across Canada and around the world.

Please note the following policies:

• LSATs written after March 1^st will not be considered for admission commencing in September of the same year.
• if you take the LSAT multiple times, we will only use the highest score in your assessment.
• we only consider LSATs written within five years of when you apply.

The Schulich School of Law does not endorse any specific preparation method for the LSAT, nor is there any recommended amount of time required to prepare for the LSAT.  Because learning is highly individualized, a particular preparation material/method that works for one person is not guaranteed to work for everyone.  There are many prep resources available including books, tutors, online and in-person courses and practice tests. We recommend researching the various options to find one that works best for you.

For more information on preparing and writing the LSAT, visit the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) website.

All JD applicants are required to complete Dalhousie’s online application form; including submitting your personal statement.

Applicants seeking admission to the JD program must submit their completed online application by January 10, 11:59 pm AT. 

Please note it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all required documentation is received by the JD Admissions Office. Incomplete applications will not be assessed. See the Supporting Documents section below for more information on what is required.

When beginning your online application, you should have the following documents/information available:

• personal statement
• work experience
  
• information on volunteer and community activities
• dates spent at academic institutions (including exchanges)

Please note that Dalhousie University is transitioning to a new online application portal for the upcoming 2023-2024 admissions cycle.  The current guidelines for submitting and managing supporting documents as outlined on the website does not, yet, reflect this platform change that promises to streamline the application process.  The website will be updated closer to September, when applications will open.  We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

A non-refundable application fee ($70), must accompany each application for it to be considered complete and for processing to begin. Your application will not be reviewed until the fee is received.  There is no fee waiver available for the application fee.

Keep in mind that once you pay your fee, it generally takes three (3) weeks for your application to be processed before review of your file can begin.

You will be prompted to make your fee payment once you submit the online application.

All applicants to the Schulich School of Law's JD program are required to submit documentation in addition to the online application.  The specific documents may be dependent upon your admission category.  In order for your application to be assessed for admission, your file must be complete.  A complete file consists of your online application, and all required supporting documents.

Supporting documents may be submitted to the JD Admission Office before or after the completion of the online application. 

It is your responsibility to ensure that all materials relevant to your application are received by the Admissions Office by the required deadlines.

Learn more about submitting your supporting documents below.

Once your application has been submitted, you can log into the online application to check the status of your application and the receipt of your supporting documents. The system is updated on an ongoing basis as supporting documents are received.

Please allow at least three (3) weeks after your online application has been submitted, and your application fee paid, for the portal to initially be updated.  

You do not need to submit your LSAT score(s) to us. By providing your LSAC account number on the online application form, we will be able to retrieve the information automatically from LSAC.  This includes updated test results should you write the LSAT after submitting your application documents.

Your personal statement is a very important part of your application. It is where the Admissions Committee can learn about you. We truly value a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, and aspirations, so be authentic and be yourself.

In your personal statement you may include your reasons for applying to law school, information or context about your academic performance/extra-curricular activities, key accomplishments from your paid/volunteer experience, your personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, barriers you have overcome and/or any other personal information that you may wish to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee. This may include any special skills, talents, or experiences that you feel have given you a unique way of looking at the world.

The Schulich School of Law is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in legal education and the legal profession. We strive to admit a first-year class of students that is enriched by a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. This includes individuals from historically disadvantaged groups, who will contribute to the fabric of the law school community. If you are from a historically disadvantaged group, you may describe how you are culturally, racially, or socially diverse and how these qualities have contributed to your character. For example, this may include, the languages you understand and speak, your Mi’kmaq, African Nova Scotian or other Indigenous, Black or other racial identity, your cultural background, how you live with a disability or your experiences with a mental illness, your sexual orientation or gender identity, financial challenges you faced, your unique family history or your religious or conscientious beliefs.

Applicants who have applied under an application category other than General should include any information required for that category, as outlined on the Admissions Categories & Program Options page.

While there is a suggested limit of 1200 words for the personal statement, applicants are encouraged to use whatever space is required to best represent yourself and your unique circumstances.

Applicants to the JD program are required to submit two (2) references in support of their application.

Candidates who are currently attending university or who have graduated within the last three years are required to submit at least one (1) academic reference.  An academic reference should be from someone who knows you well and is familiar with your academic performance (i.e. a professor, TA or advisor).

• If you are unable to secure an academic references, you may provide two appropriate non-academic references.  Please let us know on the application or via email why you will not be providing the required academic reference.

In all other cases, as with those who have graduated more than three years ago, one and/or both references can be non-academic in nature (i.e. professional, employment, or volunteer references).  Non-academic references should be submitted by people familiar with the applicant’s non-academic contributions and achievements.

How to submit

Dalhousie University and the Schulich School of Law has transitioned to a new online application portal which includes an automatic reference system.  While completing the online application, candidates can input the contact details for their referees and the system will make contact and collect the required statements directly into the application portal.

If you have already provided your referee with the Referee Statement Form (Appendix A), they can still be sent to the JD admissions office for processing.  Please note that referees must send these referee statements directly to the Admissions Office by mail, fax or from a professional e-mail address.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring the references are submitted by the required deadline.

We require one official transcript from all post-secondary institutions that you have attended, including colleges and institutions attended for an exchange program, or transfer credit.

• Please note that if an applicant does not include transcripts for all institutions, or reflects attending all institutions in their online application, the Admissions Office will not assess the file.
  

Official transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution.  We accept official electronic transcripts from the issuing institution, or the electronic transcript service approved by the issuing institution.  Electronic transcripts can be sent to admissions.documents@dal.ca.  Any official transcripts received by mail, courier or fax in the JD admissions office will still be accepted and attached to your application.

• Please note you do not need to provide your Dalhousie or King’s College transcripts. They will be provided to the Admissions Office directly from the Dalhousie University Registrar’s Office.

If you have attended a post-secondary degree granting institution outside of North America, we require you to submit your transcripts via the World Education Service (WES) at WES.org.

• Please note that WES.org has multiple services.  The "course-by-course evalulation" is required to translate the courses and their marks from your transcript into a North American grading scheme

Applicants who have completed an international exchange as part of a degree program in Canada or the United States must submit official transcripts for all courses taken at all international institutions.

If you want us to include the grades from your exchange in the calculation of your GPA, your official exchange transcript must be submitted to our office via WES.org. Alternatively, you may have the international institution send the official transcript directly to our office, in which case your exchange grades will not be included in the calculation of your GPA. Please note the exception to this policy as outlined below.

• Please note that WES.org has multiple services.  The "course-by-course evaluation" is required to translate the courses and their marks from your transcript into a North American grading scheme.

Exception: If you attended an exchange institution outside of North America and the letter or numerical grades are included on your Canadian or US institution’s transcript, you do not need to submit the exchange transcript via WES.org and we will include your exchange grades in the calculation of your GPA.  We still require a transcript from the exchange institution.

Candidates will be asked to upload a detailed resume highlighting their work, volunteer and community involvement. 

Medical documents may be used in support of a diagnosis or underlying condition that may have affected your academic performance or life experiences.

Applicants may have a medical professional complete a Medical Statement Form (Appendix B) or provide a statement on their official letterhead. Other official medical documents are also accepted.

Because the LSAT has a built-in English comprehension component, JD Admissions does not require international applicants to take any other English language test.

The Admissions Committee will review and take into consideration all documents and statements submitted with your application as part of the holistic review process. In addition to the required document types above, candidates may submit additional statements as outlined below and dependent upon their applicant category.

Part-Time Program Applicant

Part-time program applicants should provide a statement outlining why they wish to study part-time.