Admissions requirements

  • A minimum of two full years of undergraduate study at a recognized university or the equivalent of such work (60 credit units). Note: there are no recommended pre-law programs or classes.
  • Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)
  • Personal statement (500 word maximum).
  • Proof of proficiency in English, if English is not your first language. 
Note: Personal statements can be uploaded to your "Supplemental Item List" after submission of your application.

Categories of applicants

Apply as a General applicant if you meet the entrance requirements and do not meet criteria for Discretionary or Indigenous applicants.

Reference letters for general applicants are not accepted.

In selecting applicants for the first-year class, the College of Law considers it important for the student body to reflect a variety of backgrounds and experiences.

The College of Law recognizes exclusive reliance on the standard criteria for admission would unfairly prejudice the prospects of applicants whose academic record, for reasons beyond their control, does not reflect their ability to successfully pursue the study of law. Accordingly, discretionary consideration will be given to applicants with educational disadvantages. Examples of such disadvantages include:

  • First language other than English
  • Barriers resulting from ethnic or racial background
  • Employment or family obligations preventing earlier application
  • Disability or other condition that hinders access to, or effective use of, educational opportunities
  • Significant interruption of post-secondary education

Consideration for admission of applicants in Discretionary category 
Applicants in the Discretionary category will be admitted based on the Admission Committee's assessment of their potential to succeed in the Juris Doctor (JD) degree program. Significant weight will usually be given to LSAT scores in the Discretionary category. There is no formal quota for applicants in the Discretionary category, but the number of accepted applicants in this category is necessarily limited.

Additional documentation
Applicants in this category must complete all steps in the General application procedure and provide additional documentation that includes:

  • a statement identifying and explaining the nature of their educational disadvantage or interruption of studies (500-word limit)
  • any relevant supporting documentation, such as medical reports (full medical records or reports are not required; what is most useful to the Committee is to have a concise statement from a medical or other relevant professional describing the effect that a condition has had or may have on academic performance)
  • details of any relevant occupational experience or community involvement
  • two supporting letters of reference from persons unrelated to the applicant who can comment on the applicant's aptitude and potential for law studies. It is strongly recommended that at least one of these be an academic reference. These reference letters must come directly from the individual supplying the reference through your online account. 
  • Proof of proficiency in English, if English is not your first language.

Deadline to submit supporting documentation in the Discretionary category is February 1, 2024. 

The University is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and are proud to support academic opportunities for Indigenous students. We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous students provide to strengthen these relationships. Applicants who assert Indigenous membership/citizenship will be asked to complete the verification process of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin: Indigenous Truth policy and the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy.

Please click here to proceed through the verification system. If you have any questions or require additional information about deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin please contact: indigenoustruthpolicy@usask.ca.

Please note that you will need to submit your application first, and then proceed with the verification process.

We recommend that applicants submit this documentation as early as possible, to avoid delays in processing applications.

There is no quota for Indigenous applicants.

Indigenous applicants who accept offers of admission at USask, and participate in the Spring and Summer Law Courses for Indigenous Students, will receive credit for courses successfully completed, thereby reducing their course load in their first academic year.

Additional documentation required

Applicants must complete all steps in the General application process and provide additional documentation that includes:

  • two supporting letters of reference from persons unrelated to the applicant who could comment on the applicant's aptitude and potential for law studies. These reference letters must come directly from the individual supplying the reference through your online account. It is strongly suggested that at least one of these be an academic reference.

Deadline to submit supporting documentation in the Indigenous category is February 1, 2024.  

 

Steps to apply

All applicants are required to take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). The LSAT is designed to measure certain mental abilities important in the study of law and accordingly, to aid law schools in assessing the academic promise of applicants.

The Admissions Committee considers your highest LSAT score over the past five years. For example, LSAT scores prior to June 2019 will not be accepted for applicants applying for September 2024 entry.  The January sitting of the LSAT is the last available date for admission in September, but applicants are strongly encouraged to write the test earlier, if possible. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis, and some offers of admission and decisions about scholarships will be made before January LSAT scores are available. 

The writing sample is administered separately from the standard test date and is considered a part of your complete LSAT report. Candidates must have a complete writing sample in their file in order to see their score or have their score released to schools.

More information on the LSAT including registration, fees, testing dates, and testing centre locations can be found on the Law School Admission Council's website.

Your personal statement provides us with further information about you that will be used when reviewing your application. Include information on special academic interests and achievements, work experience (including volunteer work), special skills, personal attributes and any other significant life experiences (e.g., family-related, travel, etc.). The personal statement must be composed entirely by you and should not exceed a maximum of 500 words.

Online applications will open on November 1, 2023 for September 2024 entry. The application and supporting documentation deadline for all categories is February 1, 2024.

Supporting documentation can be submitted beginning November 1, 2023. Please note that personal statements can be uploaded to your Supplemental Item List after submission of your application.

When completing an application, applicants who are unsure whether their situation should be disclosed as “disciplinary action” or not, they should err on the side of disclosing this on the application and providing an explanation. 

It is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their file is complete. This can be done by logging into the application form with the case sensitive username and password used to create the account.  

Pay the application fee of $125 CAD online by credit card. Applications will not be processed until this fee is received.

Students who have completed all of their university studies at the University of Saskatchewan do not need to submit transcripts. Transcripts must be submitted for any part of an applicant’s studies taken elsewhere.

Final transcripts from each post-secondary institution you have attended or are currently attending (other than the University of Saskatchewan), must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the College of Law at law.admissions@usask.ca. If you are presently enrolled in classes, arrange to have the institution you are currently attending submit your December marks by February 1st of the year you will be starting first-year law. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis, and some offers of admission and decisions about scholarships will be made based on grades up to December 31. After all courses have been completed,  arrange to have your institution email a final transcript (containing April marks) by no later than June 1. If you are applying with only the minimum 60 credits of undergraduate university study, in most cases your application will be considered only after your final transcripts, including a minimum of 60 credits, have been received. 

The deadline for submission of final transcripts is June 1 of the year you will be starting first-year law.

 

Estimated tuition and costs

Tuition will vary based on the number of classes you take in a year. Below is an estimate for your first year of studies, be sure to consult our Tuition and Fees page for a more detailed break-down of how tuition is assessed.
Canadian students International students
Tuition $16,929 $71,102
Fees $1,227 $1,227
Tuition and fees $18,156 $72,329
Books and other fees (approx.) $2,500 $2,500

Housing is not included in your fees. On campus residence options are available.

Scholarships, including entrance scholarships, and other forms of financial assistance are offered by the College. 

Admissions decisions

Admission to the College of Law is at the discretion of the Admissions Committee. In exercising its discretion, the Committee considers factors including the applicant’s academic background and LSAT score. 

The Admissions Committee looks at your best two (2) full years undergraduate average. The best two years do not have to be consecutive, but you do need at least 24 credits in each of these years during the Fall and Winter sessions. They do not look at Spring or Summer classes in calculating your best two-year average. Your best two-year average and the LSAT score are considered in assessing your application. If you do not have full years of study between September and April, a cumulative average is used.

The committee gives a slight preference to applicants with a Saskatchewan connection or residents of the Yukon, Northwest and Nunavut Territories, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador (these being provinces or territories with no law college). Please indicate on your application if you have any connection to Saskatchewan, e.g., if you are a current or former resident of Saskatchewan, or if a member of your immediate family is currently attending the University of Saskatchewan, or has attended the University of Saskatchewan College of Law. If there is insufficient space on the application form, provide further details in your personal statement. 

Part-time studies

Applicants are generally expected to study law on a full-time basis. However, part-time status may be granted on a discretionary basis in certain circumstances. Applications for part-time status are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The part-time program is available to assist applicants who have family commitments, disabilities, health needs, occupational obligations or financial needs which prevent full-time study. It is also available to applicants who have not been in an academic institution for a significant number of years. The program is not intended for those who want to test their interest in law or who would prefer a light course load. Part-time students are required to attend classes at regularly scheduled times, and therefore must be available to attend classes during the day time. Part-time students are required to carry out half of the work load each year.

Applicants who wish to be admitted on a part-time basis must submit a written statement giving reasons why they are unable to pursue full-time studies. Those admitted as part-time students must complete the first year of the three-year Juris Doctor degree before they can change their status to full-time.

If you are a prospective student interested in applying to the part-time program, please contact:

Admissions Officer
 law.admissions@usask.ca
306-966-5892

Transfers

First-year law students wishing to transfer from common law JD programs at other Canadian universities to the College of Law, University of Saskatchewan, must satisfy certain academic requirements. Official transcripts of pre-law and law school marks must be submitted to this College directly from the issuing institutions. A completed online application form and a $125.00 non-refundable application fee must also be submitted. All transfer students must have a current LSAT score.

Approval of all transfers to the College of Law, University of Saskatchewan will depend on the quality of legal studies previously demonstrated and the number of spaces available. Preference normally will be given to Saskatchewan residents. The deadline for receipt of requests to transfer is February 1 and required documentation must be completed by June 30.

Students wishing to transfer to the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan should contact:

Admissions Officer
 law.admissions@usask.ca
306-966-5892

Students wishing to complete one year or one term at the University of Saskatchewan's College of Law for credit towards a degree from another Canadian law school may apply as "Letter of Permission" (Visiting Student) students. The Dean or Associate Dean of that law school must provide us with a letter granting permission to complete your requirements at USask College of Law. 

Official transcripts of pre-law and law school marks must be submitted to our college directly from the issuing institutions. A completed application form, a $125.00 non-refundable application fee and a current LSAT score are also required.

For more information, contact: 

Admissions Officer
 law.admissions@usask.ca
306-966-5892

Individuals with law degrees from non-Canadian law schools who are interested in becoming members of a law society in Canada must have their credentials assessed by the National Committee on Accreditation. The University of Saskatchewan College of Law does not offer courses to students who are seeking to meet the requirements of the National Committee on Accreditation.

For more information on having your credentials assessed, please contact:

Federation of Law Societies of Canada
613-236-7272
info@flsc.ca

Questions? Contact us

Admissions Officer
 law.admissions@usask.ca
306-966-5892

JD Admissions Handbook 2023-2024