Want to know how to get into Queen’s law at Queen’s university? Queen’s law school is one of the best law schools in Canada and getting accepted is not easy as the admissions can be quite selective, so hiring a law school advisor might be a good step. Queen’s law is known for its high educational calibre, diversity of student body, unique and enriching opportunities for students and community-mindedness. In this blog, we’ll look at the available programs at Queen’s law for JD applicants, admission requirements and selection factors at Queen’s law, application timeline, tuition and financial aid, and what you need to know when applying to Queen’s law at Queen’s university.
Please note: although we have made every effort to provide the most accurate information, admissions information changes frequently. Therefore, we encourage you to verify these details with the official university admissions office. You are responsible for your own results. BeMo does not endorse nor affiliate with any official universities, colleges, or test administrators and vice versa.
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Mission statement
“Embracing our proud tradition of community, collegiality and service to society, we develop outstanding and innovative legal professionals with a global perspective and create new knowledge that advances the understanding and development of the law.”
Available programs and curriculum
Queen’s law at Queen’s university is one of the best law programs in Canada, and prides itself on academic excellence, diversity, inclusivity and being able to offer enriching and unique experiences to its students. Queen’s law has a second-entry professional Juris Doctor (JD) program that is completed in 3 years of full-time study. There is also a part-time study option that can be completed in up to 6 years. The JD program teaches a solid foundation on business law, criminal law, constitutional law and international law.
Students must complete the first-year requirements and 59-credit upper-year requirements at Queen’s law but may also participate in the BISC Summer Program in International Law. As part of the Queen’s law JD degree, students also complete substantial term papers, an individual supervised project requirement, a practice skills requirement, and an advocacy requirement. The latter two requirements fall under the categories of moot court participation and assistance with legal clients to gain real-life skills and experience, whereas the former two requirements are focused on written legal research papers and projects. After completing their studies, students can continue their law education with the Queen’s law LLM and PhD programs.
Queen’s law offers a number of joint programs for students seeking to pursue joint degree or dual degrees. These include:
- Master of Arts in Economics/JD
- Master of Public Administration/JD
- Master of Industrial Relations (JD/MIR)
- JD/MBA
Applicants to Queen’s law at Queen’s University can also enroll in some specialty law programs for a more specialized focus in legal studies. The special programs at Queen’s law are:
Admission statistics and requirements
Admissions to Queen’s law is selective, and the university on average has an acceptance rate of 20%, which is on the more competitive end of law school acceptance rates. The law school accepts just over 200 applicants every year and typically receives thousands of applications from students all across Canada. Queen’s law is considered one of the best law schools in Canada for its educational excellence, opportunities for students and diversity, so getting in is not easy. You’ll need a strong academic showing, you’ll need to know how to study for the LSAT to achieve a competitive score and you’ll need a complete and polished application.
- Overall success rate: 20%
- Recommended GPA: 3.7
- Recommended LSAT: 164
- Location: Kingston, Ontario
The most recent admitted first-year class at Queen’s law was made up of 85% Ontario students, with 15% being from other Canadian provinces. Queen’s law prides itself on having a diverse student body with diverse backgrounds and interests, and a strong academic showing. The most common undergraduate degrees represented at Queen’s law are in the social sciences, humanities, business and science and engineering.
Undergraduate subjects represented at Queen's law school
Applications to Queen’s law must be completed through the Ontario Law School Application System (OLSAS). This online application system is used by all students, not just Ontario residents. If you need some OLSAS application tips, be sure to double check the OLSAS website for deadline information, application process and fees.
Since your application is sent directly to Queen’s law through OLSAS, the application package will include:
- Transcripts/GPA
- LSAT score (within the last 5 years)
- Law school personal statement
- Letters of reference (no more than 3; at least one must be academic)
- English Language Proficiency Test (if English is not your first language)
While there is no minimum average of LSAT score applicants need to meet in order to be admitted to Queen’s law, it is recommended that you achieve at least a 3.7 GPA and LSAT score above 164 to be considered a competitive academic candidate. Reference letters must be submitted directly to OLSAS by your referee. Read some law school recommendation letter samples for a better idea of what a strong reference letter should look like. Your law school personal statement is also a crucial part of your application, as Queen’s law will consider the entirety of your documentation and not just your academic performance. Check out a sample law school personal statement and tips for writing one to get the best head start on completing this section of the application. You will have the option to submit supplemental application documentation through OLSAS. This is a great opportunity to submit a law school diversity statement, optional essay or law school addendum. These additional law school application sections can help bolster your application or provide more documentation through which the admissions committee can evaluate, tipping the scales in your favor. Queen’s law is committee to diversity and excellence, so use any chance you have to help yourself stand out from a crowd.
Eligibility and selection factors
Queen’s law has four different admissions categories to support and encourage diversity as “Queen’s Faculty of Law believes that the geographic, ethnic, cultural, racial and socio-economic diversity of the Canadian population should be reflected in the ranks of those granted access to legal education.”
The four admissions categories are:
- General category
- Indigenous student category
- Black applicant category
- Access category (for applicants who have faced significant disadvantages to education, including disability, financial hardship etc.)
Most applicants at Queen’s law are admitted through the general category, and admissions criteria are slightly stricter in this category. Application requirements are nearly identical across all categories, with some supplemental information required for non-general category applicants.
Applicants who are applying for part-time study in the JD program are subject to the same admission requirements as full-time applicants, but there are only 5 students accepted to the part-time program per admission cycle. Applicants through the JD upper-year admissions process, including transfer students, visiting students/letter of permission applicants and others must meet the minimum admission requirements to be admitted. More information can be found on the Queen’s law website.
Queen’s law uses a holistic admissions process and considers the entirety of your OLSAS application and documentation when making admissions decisions. Because diversity is an important influencing factor on admissions, use opportunities with your personal statement, law school extracurriculars, work experience, background and experiences to share what makes you unique and why you would be a good addition to the Queen’s law student body. If you’re looking for Canadian law school admissions help, this can certainly increase your chances of getting in. Law school admissions consulting services can coach you on curating an application for Queen’s law that highlights your strengths and advertises your skills.
Interview format
Queen’s law does not typically use admissions interviews, but you can still use law school interview preparation to start building those professional skills you’ll take with you well into law school and beyond. You may also be offered an interview if the school decides you are a strong candidate or chooses to offer interviews with Queen’s alumni, so its best to be prepared for the possibility. Some of the best law interview prep is through using a law school mock interview so you can create a reasonable simulation of a professional law interview.
Tuition and funding opportunities
The cost of tuition, fees and associated costs of study at Queen’s law is $19,487.57 per year for domestic students. International students can expect to pay slightly more to cover the costs of travel, visas and other incurred costs of studying abroad.
Queen’s law awards merit-based scholarships to students as well as entrance scholarships which applicants are automatically considered for once they are accepted. Students can apply for merit-based scholarships on the Queen’s law student awards website. Students may also be eligible for external student awards and scholarships to help with their schooling. A list of available awards can be found on the Queen’s law website. There are options for students to seek need-based financial aid through bursaries, loans and government part-time work opportunities as well.
Want to write a law school letter of intent? Here's what you need to know.
Application timeline
Since applications to Queen’s law at Queen’s University are accepted through OLSAS only, applicants can refer to the OLSAS application timeline to determine when to submit their documentation and when to expect responses from the law school.
Acceptance and waitlist information
Offers of acceptance are made on a rolling admissions basis throughout the year, after the initial OLSAS application deadline has passed. Queen’s law continues to make offers of acceptance until the class is full and all students are confirmed. It is best, then, to apply as early as possible and secure a spot well before classes begin the following September. Offers of acceptance or notices of being waitlisted will be emailed to applicants.
If applicants are placed on the waitlist, they may be selected to fill vacancies in the class. If you are waitlisted, you can increase your chances of being selected first by writing a law school letter of continued interest to Queen’s law to reiterate your interest in studying at the university and your commitment.
Contact information
Official website: https://law.queensu.ca/
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 613-533-6000 Ext. 71683
FAQs
1. Is it hard to get into Queen’s law?
Queen’s law has an acceptance rate of around 20%, so admissions is pretty competitive. It is difficult to get into Queen’s law school, but with a well-crafted application which highlights your accomplishments and diversity, you have a better chance, especially if you apply early in the process before spots fill up.
2. What GPA do I need to get into Queen’s law school?
There is no stated minimum average required, but students will be considered more competitive applicants if they have a GPA of 3.7 or above.
3. What LSAT score do I need to get into Queen’s law school?
There is no stated minimum score required, but students will be considered more competitive applicants if they have an LSAT score of 164 or above. Multiple tries of the LSAT are allowed, but applicants can address this in a law school addendum or law student cover letter.
4. How do I apply to Queen’s law school?
To apply to Queen’s law school in Ontario, you’ll complete an application through the Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS). Your application will be sent directly to the law school on the final deadline date.
5. Is Queen’s law a good law school?
Queen’s law is considered one of the best law schools in Canada, and Queen’s University ranks among the top universities in the world.
6. What is Queen’s law school known for?
Queen’s law is known for its diverse spirit, community focus, educational opportunities and quality for students. It is considered one of the best law schools in Canada.
7. How long is Queen’s law school?
The JD program at Queen’s law is 3 to 3.5 years long.
8. How do I increase my chances of getting into Queen’s law?
To increase your chances of getting into Queen’s law, apply as early as possible. Since admissions are done on a rolling basis, you can grab a spot before competition increases. You should also be sure to highlight your diversity and unique background and experience, since Queen’s law prizes diversity and seeks to fill its open spots with students who stand out academically, professionally and personally.
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