A. Application Procedure
All Ontario law school applications are processed through the Law School Application Service (OLSAS). On-line applications will be available after July 1 at:
www.ouac.on.ca/olsas
Ontario Law School Application Service
Ontario Universities' Application Centre
170 Research Lane
Guelph, Ontario
N1G 5E2
Telephone: 519-823-1940
Fax: 519-823-5232
E- mail: olsas@ouac.on.ca
Web: www.ouac.on.ca/olsas
The completed common application form must be received by OLSAS on or before November 1 11:59 pm EST for first year and on or before May 1 11:59 pm EST for second or third year for studies commencing the following September. The processing fee and application fee must accompany the application. For admission in 2009 the fee will be as follows: Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS) processing fee of $185.00 plus an institutional levy of $75.00 for each law school selection.
B. Documentation, Forms
General and Discretionary category candidates will complete a common application form and a personal statement.
The personal statement allows candidates to expand on information provided on the application form. It provides a better opportunity for candidates to explain fully how they think they have excelled, not only in academics but in other areas. The basic premise is that excellence can be demonstrated in a number of different ways and that the ability to excel in a non-academic area may show characteristics that allow the Admissions Committee to predict success in law studies. Similarly, the fact that a candidate has overcome a significant disadvantage (whether economic, physical, cultural, or other) and achieved significant success, may also provide evidence of those same characteristics.
Applicants must furnish full particulars of all previous university study, including any previous legal study, and of any interruption of their academic program. Official transcripts must be sent directly from each university attended by the applicant to OLSAS.
Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
The LSAT is required for all applicants to first year. Online registration at www.lsac.org.
The Admissions Committee of the Faculty of Law is composed of members of the Faculty, third year students and the Admissions Officer of the Faculty. The Committee will follow this procedure in considering applications to first year.
The Committee will decide how many offers to make in each category. In no cases will the number of students admitted in the Discretionary category exceed one quarter of the class.
Within the General category, the Committee will establish a minimum standard for academic success and LSAT score. Candidates who fall below this level will not be considered further in the General category.
The Committee will also establish a higher level of academic success and LSAT score; candidates who achieve this level will be offered a place automatically. It may recommend to the Associate Dean (Academic) that a candidate be offered an Entrance Scholarship. All remaining pool of candidates in the General category will be considered as follows:
At least two members of the Admissions Committee will assess each file and, following a pre-set guide, assign numerical weights to the various factors on the application. The Committee will then meet to decide on the appropriate number of offers to make at a particular time. A reserve or waiting list will be maintained. Consideration of a particular file may be delayed until further documentation is provided.
Candidates in the Discretionary categories will be considered separately and individually by the Committee.
Applications for admission to second or third year will be considered on an individual application basis.
D. What are Your Chances?
Competition for places in all years is intense; there may be as many as twenty applicants for each candidate accepted.
The first year class size is 160-165 students. The class will be a mix of students with three or more years of undergraduate education and graduate degrees.
Academic success is a major factor in each decision, with proven excellence in other areas being highly significant.
Applicants will be informed in writing of the decisions of the Admissions Committee. No applicant should rely upon oral communications in any way.
Admissions are made up to the first day of classes in September although most will be made before mid-May.
For further information on the admission policies and prodecures, please contact the admission office.
Mailing Address
Admissions
Faculty of Law
Josephine Spencer Niblett Building
The University of Western Ontario
London, ON N6A 3K7
In Person
Faculty of Law
Room 240
Josephine Spencer Niblett Building
The University of Western Ontario
FACULTIES 