JD admission requirements

A Juris Doctor (JD) degree is a three (3) year, professional, undergraduate program required for the practice of Canadian Common Law. Each year, we welcome 180 new students to our close-knit Weldon community from an applicant pool of over 1200 candidates.

Classes start in September, with students coming from every province and territory in Canada to earn a law degree that is recognized across the country and around the world.

Prior university study is required for admission, except in cases where an applicant qualifies under the Work/Life Experience category.

Learn more about Dalhousie’s admission requirements, policies, and programs.  

A Holistic approach to admissions

The Schulich School of Law employs a holistic approach to assessing candidates, with the ultimate goal of ensuring accepted students are suited and prepared for the rigours of our academic program.

The Admissions Committee approaches individual files with empathy, seeking your unique qualifications and strengths and considering everything from academics, to volunteer work, to letters of reference, and unique lived experiences.

committed to The Weldon Tradition

We are dedicated to recruiting a class that is representative of the Canadian population in terms of demographics and backgrounds, but also of the Weldon Tradition of unselfish public service upon which the school was founded, to ensure that the next generation of students and legal professionals will continue to contribute meaningfully towards building a more inclusive and equitable future for all.