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Academic Calendar 2016 FACULTIES FACULTY OF LAW ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
INTRODUCTION
UNDERGRADUATE SESSIONAL DATES
STUDENT SERVICES
ACADEMIC INFORMATION
STUDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES
FACULTIES
UNDERGRADUATE COURSE INFORMATION
FACULTY MEMBERS
AFFILIATED UNIVERSITY COLLEGES
GLOSSARY
NEW MODULES/PROGRAMS
FIRST YEAR UPDATES
TABLE OF CONTENTS




ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

A. First Year
There are two categories for admission into first year, General and Discretionary. The Admission Committee - comprising the Associate Dean (Academic), the Assistant Deans, faculty members and third year law students - will decide how many offers to make in each category. In no case will the number of students admitted in the Discretionary category exceed 25% of the class.

Deadlines for First Year Applicants
Application and Transcripts - November 1 for studies commencing the following September.

Last LSAT score accepted - February test for studies commencing the following September.

General Category
Normally, at least a three-year undergraduate degree is required, although the majority of admitted students will have a four-year degree. A competitive candidate will have an overall average of A- (80% - 84%) average (GPA 3.7), and an LSAT score above the 80th percentile. The Admissions Committee considers the highest LSAT score and cumulative GPA but gives greater weight to the last two full years of undergraduate university study.

The Admissions Committee considers factors other than grades and LSAT scores, including employment, personal achievements, and success in community and public service, business, athletics, or the arts. A full course load throughout the candidate’s academic career, enrolment in honors programs, research and writing experience and graduate work are also very positive factors.

Discretionary Categories
All applicants who apply in one of three discretionary categories (Aboriginal, Access, or Mature) must provide evidence confirming the basis of their application. Three years of full-time (or equivalent) undergraduate university study is required for candidates applying in the Aboriginal or Access categories and a minimum of two years of full-time (or equivalent) undergraduate university study is required for Mature candidates. The Admissions Committee may interview applicants in the discretionary categories.

Aboriginal
The Faculty of Law recognizes that members of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities are not adequately represented within the legal profession and therefore strongly encourages applications from these groups. Aboriginal candidates may be admitted unconditionally or subject to the successful completion of the Summer Native Law Program at the University of Saskatchewan. Upon successful completion of the program, credit will be given for Property Law. A competitive candidate will have an overall average of B+ (78% / GPA 3.3) and an LSAT score above the 60th percentile.

Access
Access applicants are those whose academic performance was affected by a proven disadvantage that may include, but is not limited to, cultural, financial, medical or physical or a learning disability. Candidates must describe how the disadvantage has affected their academic record, and provide supporting references and documentation. Applicants with disabilities should provide full documentation from qualified professionals on their disability and its effect on their academic record or LSAT scores. A competitive candidate will have an overall average of B+ (78% - GPA 3.3) and an LSAT score above the 65th percentile.

Mature
Mature candidates must have at least five years of non-university experience since leaving high school, and must have attended university for two years or possess a university degree. A competitive candidate will have an overall average of B+ (78% / GPA 3.3) and an LSAT score above the 65th percentile.

EXTENDED-TIME JD PROGRAM
The Extended-Time JD Program is available to students who have been admitted to the JD Program. The program is designed for students who cannot manage a full-time program. Application to the Extended-Time JD Program should be made at the same time as the application for admission to first year law.

Applicants are required to meet the existing admissions criteria. In addition, all applicants must establish that it would be very difficult to attend law school full-time because of family responsibilities, health issues, disabilities, financial necessity, or other special circumstances. A statement outlining why a student may not be able to carry a full course load should be included in the Personal Statement.

Incoming first-year students in the Extended-Time JD Program are required to take Orientation to Law and the Legal System, Legal Research, Writing and Advocacy, and two core courses.

Students in the Extended-Time JD Program are required to complete the program within six years. Students will be allowed to transfer to full-time attendance and full-time students who meet the eligibility criteria will be allowed to transfer into the extended time program.

Extended time students are eligible for any entry scholarships or bursaries that are not restricted to full-time students, as well as any prizes or awards in individual courses.

Candidates from Accredited Degree-Granting Institutions
Candidates with acceptable standing at accredited degree-granting institutions may be considered for admission provided that the content of studies completed is equivalent in content to the courses offered by Western, and to the requirements of the program to which the student has applied. The university will review other candidates on an individual basis. Admission in all cases is competitive.

B. Admission to Second and Third Year
There are three categories of applicants for admission to second or third year: Transfer, Advanced Standing and Letter of Permission. All upper-year applicants apply to the Faculty of Law through the Ontario Law School Application Service. An LSAT is required for all upper-year applicants.

The Faculty of Law does not admit National Committee of Accreditation candidates.

A major consideration in the admissions decision is the availability of places in the Faculty.

Applicants seeking admission to the second or third year of the program must submit: complete official transcripts of all university work undertaken; the results of the LSAT; and two letters of reference from the applicant's law professors. Official transcripts must be sent directly from each university attended by the applicant to the Ontario Law School Application Service.

Deadline for Upper Year Applicants
Application and transcripts - May 1 for studies commencing the following September.

Transfer Applicants
Students currently enrolled in the first year at another Canadian law school may be admitted to the second year of the program as transfer students. If admitted, applicants who successfully complete the last two years of the program will be eligible to receive the Juris Doctor (JD) from The University of Western Ontario. Given the limited number of spaces that are available, consideration will be given to the best qualified applicants and those applicants who, for compassionate reasons, seek a transfer to Western.

Advanced Standing
Students who have successfully completed part or all of their legal education outside Canada may be considered for admission with advanced standing. Except in extraordinary circumstances, a student will not receive more than one year's advanced standing. If admitted, students will be required to satisfy the program requirements of the Faculty. Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible for the degree of Juris Doctor (JD) from The University of Western Ontario.

The granting of advanced standing and the extent of credit to be given are at the discretion of the Admissions Committee.

Letter of Permission
Students currently enrolled at a Canadian law school can apply to study for one academic year at Western on a letter of permission. Typically, these requests are made by second-year students, seeking to study at Western in their third year.

Transcripts should be sent directly from the undergraduate institution and law school to Student Services (Admissions), Faculty of Law, Western University, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7.

Students who have been granted permission to register on a letter of permission do not receive the Juris Doctor degree from The University of Western Ontario.

C. Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
The Law School Admission Test is required for all applicants to first year. Although the LSAT need not have been written before applying.

For first-year applicants, the February LSAT is the latest acceptable test session for admission the following September; and

For upper-year applicants, the June LSAT is the latest acceptable test session for admission the following September.

Details about the LSAT, including registering for the test, may be found at www.lsac.org.

Test centres are located in major cities in Canada and the United States, as well as in many other countries. The test is usually given four times a year in most Canadian Centres - in June, October, December and February.

D. English Requirements
Each student granted admission to Western must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Applicants for whom English is not a first language are required to achieve a satisfactory score on one of the following tests:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Written English (TWE)
This test is offered on several dates in a number of places in Canada, the United States and elsewhere. The TOEFL/TWE Bulletin of Information and registration material may be obtained from:

Test of English as a Foreign Language
Box 899-R
Princeton, New Jersey
08541, USA
http://www.ets.org/toefl

Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)
This test is offered in Canada, the United States and elsewhere. Arrangements can be made by contacting:

The English Language Institute
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
48104, USA
http://www.cambridgemichigan.org/melab

International English Language Testing Service (IELTS)
This test is offered in British Council Offices outside Canada and the United States. Arrangements can be made by contacting the British Council Office or:

The IELTS Liaison Officer
British Council
10 Spring Gardens
London, England
SW1A 2BN
http://www.ielts.org

It is the responsibility of the applicant to submit proof of English proficiency, as stated above, to the Admissions Office before an offer of admission can be made.

General and Discretionary Categories SR.08-90
Admission - Law S.0116

Academic Calendar 2016 FACULTIES FACULTY OF LAW ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
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