Osgoode Hall law school is considered one of the best law schools in Canada. With an acceptance rate of just over 10%, it is far from being one of the easiest law schools to get into in Canada, but it does accept diverse, qualified candidates on a holistic admissions basis. Getting into Osgoode Hall law school requires a strong OLSAS application, in particular a well-written personal statement, a good GPA and LSAT score, and excellent letters of recommendation. In this blog, we’ll look at the available programs at Osgoode Hall, the admission requirements and eligibility factors, tuition and funding, application timeline and other important details you need to know if you want to know how to get into Osgoode Hall law school.
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Mission statement
“To advance positive change in a world where rights are often contested, and justice can be complex.”
Available programs and curriculum
Osgoode Hall Law School at York University, often shortened to Osgoode or Osgoode Hall, is one of the most elite law schools in Canada, ranking among the top 50 law schools in the world. Aside from the highly regarded Juris Doctor (JD) degree, students can enroll in Osgoode graduate school programs, including the research LLM, the professional LLM and a PhD in law program. Osgoode Hall law school does accept international students to its programs, as well as exchange students for a one-term or one-year basis. Osgoode is also the only Canadian law school to offer professional development courses to individuals not in the field of law.
Osgoode Hall law school offers a variety of joint degree programs for JD students, in partnership with other Canadian universities. The Osgoode joint degrees include:
- JD/MBA at Osgoode Hall Law School and Schulich School of Business
- JD/Master of Environmental Studies (MES)
- JD/MA in Philosophy
- JD/Bachelor of Law (Civil) in partnership with the Université de Montréal
Admission statistics
Osgoode Hall is considered one of the best law schools in Canada and is also one of the toughest to get into, according to law schools in Canada statistics. The school is ranked among the top 50 law schools in the world, and a law degree from Osgoode is highly regarded. Osgoode Hall is also an excellent choice for international students who want to study law in Canada.
Getting into Osgoode Hall law school is very competitive, so applicants should aim to have as high a GPA and LSAT score as possible, on top of a very strong application package. Applicants should also consider admissions help such as a law school advisor.
- Overall success rate: 10.6%
- Recommended GPA: 3.8
- Recommended LSAT: 161+
- Location: Toronto, Ontario
About 70% of Osgood Hall students are from Canada. There is no preference given for students from Ontario, but in-province students can apply for Ontario-specific student benefits and financial aid.
Osgoode Hall acceptance rate
Not sure if a law school advisor is right for you? Check out this guide.
Admission requirements
To apply to Osgoode Hall law school, you’ll need to apply through the Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS) and fill out an application form. Be sure to check OLSAS application tips and get familiar with the system as you begin preparing your application.
The OLSAS application form includes:
- Your GPA and transcripts
- LSAT score
- Law school personal statement
- Law school letter of recommendation
- OLSAS autobiographical sketch
- Language proficiency test results (if applicable)
- Financial statement (if applying for financial aid)
It’s recommended applicants have a GPA of 3.7 or higher and an LSAT score in the 80th percentile or above for the best chance of success in getting into Osgoode Hall. If you want to know how to get into law school with a low GPA, it is still possible to successfully get into Osgoode with a low GPA, but you should compensate with a strong overall application.
Applications should also include at least two letters of reference or letters of recommendation, one from an academic source. Your referees should be able to write at length about your personal, professional, and academic qualities. Your referees will need to submit their letters of recommendation directly to OLSAS.
Language proficiency test results are only required for international students who previously studied in a language other than English. If you are applying for financial aid, you will need to submit a financial statement through OLSAS to demonstrate financial need.
Personal statement and autobiographical sketch
Your personal statement for Osgoode law school is split into two parts. Part A is a mandatory section of two 2,000-word essays. You’ll be asked to elaborate on why you chose to study law and what your future career goals are. You’ll also be asked to discuss community leadership, academic leadership, your involvement in any athletics and professional work experiences. Check out a sample law school personal statement and tips for how to craft a winning essay for this section. Part B is an optional 2,500 essay where you can elaborate on any factors you want the admissions committee to consider as part of your candidacy. Read some law school optional essay examples for an idea of what sort of topics you might want to write about and how they can help your application.
As part of your OLSAS application, you can also submit an autobiographical sketch or supplemental documents to inform the admissions committee about your personal background and history. The autobiographical sketch outlines your work experience, volunteer work, activities and interests outside of the academic. This is a helpful section in that it provides the admissions committee another way to get to know you and determine your eligibility beyond your GPA and LSAT score. Learn how to make your autobiographical sketch stand out to use this section to its fullest potential, as it can certainly help improve your chances of getting into Osgoode law school.
Eligibility and selection factors
Osgoode Hall employs a holistic admissions approach and aims to recruit applicants who are underrepresented in the legal profession. In Canada, Indigenous applicants can apply to Osgoode Hall in a separate application pool. Check out the admission requirements for Indigenous applicants on the school’s website.
Applications at Osgoode are viewed holistically without a weighting process, and admission decisions are made based on the following factors:
- Post-secondary academic achievements
- LSAT scores
- Varied life/non-academic experiences and achievements
- Sustained social and intellectual engagement
- Overcoming challenges
- Written and oral communication
Applicants are selected based on their written OLSAS applications but may be invited to a law school interview. Interview performances do factor into admission decisions, so law interview prep is essential to ace this part of the evaluation.
Work experience is not a requirement of the application to Osgoode Hall, but it is looked upon very favorably by admissions committees. If you need help putting together your resume, look at some law school resume examples to get started.
Writing a law school optional essay? Read this infographic to get started.
Interview format
Osgoode Hall may invite applicants to an interview at the school for further evaluation. Interviews are conducted in a traditional panel interview or one-on-one interview setting. If you need help preparing for a law school interview, you can look at law school admissions consulting, which can provide interview prep services. One of the best ways to get ready for an admission interview is to use a law school mock interview so you can practice answering questions and learn what to expect during a law school interview.
Tuition and funding opportunities
The tuition and fees at Osgoode Hall are a total of $25,916.50 for domestic students and $40,251.52 for international students. Students also need to pay the OLSAS application fee the $200 fee for taking the LSAT. Applicants can look on Osgoode’s financial services page for details on financial aid and scholarship opportunities. Osgoode also provides advice for graduating students and budgeting help.
Application timeline
Applications to Osgoode Hall law school are subject to the OLSAS application deadlines, but the general important dates and application deadlines for Osgoode can be found below:
Acceptance and waitlist information
Admissions at Osgoode Hall are made on a rolling basis from early December until June. Offers of acceptance are typically made in January or February of each year.
Deferrals for first-year applicants are only considered in exceptional circumstances, and only after the student has been admitted and confirmed. Applicants can contact the Chair of the Admissions Committee at Osgoode to request a deferral. These are granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Osgoode Hall receives thousands of applications each cycle, and students may be placed on a waitlist if available seats fill up. Being placed on the waitlist does not necessarily mean a student is not eligible or a qualified candidate. A law school letter of continued interest can be helpful in getting you off the waitlist and placing you at the top of the consideration list if a spot does open up later in the year. Check out a law school letter of continued interest example to learn how to write one.
Contact information
Official website: https://www.osgoode.yorku.ca/
Telephone: 416-736-5712
Email: [email protected]
FAQs
1. How do you get into Osgoode law school?
Getting into Osgoode Hall law school requires a strong academic performance, so a GPA of at least 3.7 and an LSAT score above 160, as well as a stellar written application. Applicants will need to write both a law school personal statement and an autobiographical sketch. It’s also best to have at least some work experience, as this will be considered as part of your application.
2. What LSAT score do I need for Osgoode?
Osgoode Hall recommends an LSAT score in the 80th percentile to be considered a competitive applicant. An LSAT score above 160 is best to increase your chances of getting into Osgoode.
3. What GPA do I need for Osgoode?
Osgoode Hall recommends applicants achieve at least a 3.7 GPA score out of 4.0 to be considered a competitive candidate.
4. Is Osgoode Hall a good law school?
Osgoode Hall is considered one of the best law schools in Canada and ranks in the top 50 law schools in the world. Osgoode Hall has a reputation for academic excellence, breakthrough legal research and diversity.
5. Is it hard to get into law school in Ontario?
While getting into law school in Ontario is not easy, it is not impossible. Some of the best law schools in Canada and the world are in Ontario, and they receive thousands of applications for only a few hundred open seats. The competition to get into law school in Ontario is fierce, but it is possible to get accepted with a strong application and good interview performance.
6. How do I apply to Osgoode Hall law school?
To apply to Osgoode Hall, you’ll need to submit an application through OLSAS, and include your GPA, LSAT score, law school personal statement and OLSAS autobiographical sketch, and at least two letters of recommendation.
7. Does Osgoode Hall accept international students?
Yes, Osgoode Hall does accept students from all over the world. Osgoode Hall is well regarded as an excellent law school for international students to study.
8. Is doing law in Canada worth it?
A law degree from a Canadian university is an excellent choice, and Canada is one of the top destinations in the world to attend university. A degree from Osgoode Hall law school is well-regarded on an international level.
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