How Do I Submit My Score(s)?

You do not need to submit your LSAT score(s) to us. On the online application form, we ask for your LSAC account number. With this, we are able to retrieve the information automatically from LSAC. This includes new/updated test results should you decide to write the LSAT after submitting your initial application documents.

Please note: LSAT scores are the only applicant information we are able to obtain from LSAC.

How Does Schulich Consider LSAT Scores?

While we have access to all of your available LSAT scores, we will only use the highest in your academic assessment, alongside your GPA.

Please note:

• LSATs written after January 31 will not be considered for admission commencing in September of the same year.  This includes LSAT writing samples submitted after January 31st for any test taken prior to the January 31st cutoff.

• We only consider LSATs written within five years of your application.

How Do I Prepare for the LSAT?

The Schulich School of Law does not endorse any specific preparation method for the LSAT, nor is there any recommended amount of time required to prepare. There are many prep resources available, including books, tutors, online and in-person courses and practice tests. We recommend you research the various options to find one that works best for you.

Learn more about preparing for, and writing, the LSAT.  

You are required to provide one (1) official transcript, issued directly from the institution, for all post-secondary institutions that you have attended, including:

• Colleges for diplomas or programs not included in an academic assessment

• Graduate programs

• Colleges and institutions attended for an exchange program

• Transfer credit or letter of permission from your home institution, regardless of whether the grades appear on the transcript of your home institution.

Please note that if you do not provide transcripts for all institutions, or do not accurately disclose all institutions you attended, the Admissions Committee will not consider your application.

How Does the Schulich School of Law Use My Transcripts?

We use your transcripts in the holistic assessment of your application, reviewing the grades and academic trends over your academic career.

We also utilize GPA calculations in our academic assessment. When considering your GPA, we calculate both a cumulative average (over all applicable years and institutions) and an average of your most recent two years’ worth of relevant grades. While we see both averages, only the highest is used in your academic assessment.

Only degree-granting institutions recognized by Dalhousie’s Senate qualify for GPA assessment.

How Do I Submit My Transcripts?

We require official transcripts to be sent directly from the issuing institution(s). Unofficial documents will not be accepted as placeholders.

Dalhousie University/King’s College

Dalhousie University and King’s College transcripts will be attached to an application automatically by the Dalhousie University Registrar’s Office. No further action is required on the part of the applicant.

Canadian/North American Institutions

• For Canadian institutions, and those within North America, official transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution. We accept official hard copy or electronic transcripts from the issuing institution, or the electronic transcript service approved by the issuing institution (i.e. MyCreds, Parchment).

• Electronic transcripts can be sent to admissions.documents@dal.ca.

• Official transcripts received by mail, courier or fax by the Schulich School of Law’s Admissions Office will be accepted and attached to your application; however, there may be a delay in processing these documents.

Institutions Outside North America (for a degree)

• If you attended an institution from outside of North America for your degree, we require your transcripts to be submitted via the World Education Service (WES) at WES.org.

• WES is a service that will translate your transcript’s grades into a North American grading scheme and ensure that the institution meets our criteria for a recognized, degree-granting institution.

• Unless your transcript is provided via this service, we are unable to perform an academic assessment, and unless you are applying as a Work/Life Experience candidate, we will be unable to review your file for admission.

• Please note that WES.org has multiple services and the "course-by-course evaluation" is required to translate the courses and their marks from a transcript into a North American grading scheme.

Exchange/Other Transcripts

• If you completed an international exchange as part of your Canadian or United States degree program, you must disclose that information and submit official transcripts for all courses taken and institutions you have attended. Where an exchange is typically for only one semester, and there is a cost to using WES’s services, how we use these transcripts and assess the grades is left up to you. If you want us to use the grades from your exchange in our GPA calculations, and if your exchange grades appear on your home institution’s transcripts as pass/fail or credit/no-credit, you will need to submit your official exchange transcripts via WES.org as stated in the above section.

• If your exchange marks appear on your home institution’s transcript as grades, we will be able to use them in your GPA assessment as is. We will still require an official transcript from the exchange institution. If you wish for the grades from your exchange to only be used in the holistic assessment, the international institution may send the official transcript directly to us, as with any other transcript.

You are required to provide two (2) references/letters of recommendation in support of your application.

Applicants Currently in University/College or Recently Graduated

• If you are currently attending an academic institution or attended one within two (2) years of when you apply, you are expected to provide at least one (1) academic reference. An academic reference is from someone who knows your academic performance (i.e. a professor, TA, or academic advisor) and will speak highly of your skill sets in this environment.

• While your second reference can also be academic, this is not a requirement. We leave it to the applicant to decide the best source of this second recommendation. If you are unsure if you should submit a second academic recommendation or obtain a non-academic reference, check out this section of our video breaking down the application process for some additional insight.

• If you cannot secure a required academic reference, we will accept two (2) non-academic references instead. However, you are required to provide a reason via the application or email as to why the committee will not be provided with the required academic reference.

Applicants Who Haven’t Been in School for Over Two (2) Years

• If you have not attended an academic institution within the last two (2) years of when you apply, both references can be non-academic in nature (i.e. professional, volunteer, mentor, etc.).

• Non-academic references are those familiar with your non-academic contributions and achievements and can speak highly to those strengths gained in that environment.

• We will not accept references from family/personal friends.

How Do I Submit My References?

• Letters of recommendation are one of the documents submitted on your behalf, and must be received directly from the referee, via the application platform’s e-reference system.

• When completing your online application, you will be prompted to provide the contact information for your referees, including a professional email address. Once your referee information has been added to your application, the system will send them an e-reference request. Referees will be asked to complete a web form with the option to attach a reference letter. Any provided letter should be on professional letterhead.

Things to Note:

• For any reason, if your referee is unable to use the e-reference system, you should reach out to the JD admissions office to discuss alternative submission options.

• You may update listed referees after an application is submitted via the portal’s application status page.

• We only ask for two (2) letters of reference. If you input information for more than two referees, we will only consider the first two references received.

• While references are submitted by the referee, it is still your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that your references are submitted by the deadline.

All applicants are required to submit a detailed resume (or CV) highlighting their work, volunteer and community involvement.

How Do I Submit My Resume/CV?

Resumes/CVs must be attached to your online application prior to submission. While you are able to update your resume after your application has been submitted, it is important to be aware that we are able to see all versions of that document you have included.

Please note that if you are selected for an interview, you will be asked to submit an updated resume at that time.

How Should I Format My Resume/CV?

If you do not have a pre-existing resume/CV and are unsure how to format it, there are several options available through Dalhousie’s career webpage that can provide templates and formatting assistance.

As part of the JD application, applicants are required to submit a personal statement. The Personal Statement requires applicants to answer a series of three (3) essay questions. Answers are expected to be 250-400 words in length.

What is the Purpose of the Personal Statement?

The purpose of the personal statement is to offer the admissions committee insight into your motivations, aspirations, background, and self - to get to know you, and to make an informed decision on your application. 

This is your opportunity to share your perspective and highlight information that is unique to you. There are no right or wrong answers; what matters is the authenticity of your responses - that they are honest, thoughtful and in your own voice.

How To Complete the Personal Statement?

The application includes space to insert your responses to each question. You will not be required to upload a separate personal statement document. You must complete the personal statement questions before submitting your application.

Please note that you will be unable to update your answers once your application has been submitted.

What are the Personal Statement Required Questions?

In what ways does pursuing a legal education support the future you envision for yourself? (Max. 400 words)

As someone pursuing a legal education, what change or changes in the world do you think the law should be responding to more urgently? (Max. 400 words)

Think about a recent book, article, or blog post you read. Did you like or dislike it and why? (Max. 250 words)

There is a space on the online application to include any context that may be helpful in the understanding of the Admissions Committee in their decision-making process. This may include external factors affecting your academic performance, or additional insight about another aspect of your application.

Medical documents may be used in support of a diagnosis or underlying condition that may have affected your academic performance or life experiences. We welcome the submission of contemporary or current documentation that may be useful in our understanding of your unique circumstances. These include (but are not limited to):

• Having a medical professional complete a Medical Statement Form (Appendix B) or provide a statement on their official letterhead.

• University or LSAC accommodation letters.

• Medical assessments from the time of an incident/diagnosis.

Because the LSAT has a built-in English comprehension component, JD Admissions does not require international applicants to take any other English language test.