Law [Graduate]

General Information

The Faculty of Law offers programs of graduate study leading to the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and a Master of Laws (LLM). The Faculty also offers programs of joint study with the Faculty of Business leading to a combined MBA-JD program.

Entrance Requirements

The minimum admission requirements for the LLM are an undergraduate JD degree with an average of 3.0 in the last two years of the JD at the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution. The minimum admission requirements for the PhD are an LLM degree or its equivalent with an average of 3.0 in the last two years of graduate and undergraduate work. In addition, a minimum TOEFL score of 600 (paper-based) or 100 (Internet-based, with at least 25 in each section), an IELTS (Academic) score with a minimum overall band score of 7.0, with at least 5.5 on each band, or a PTE (Academic) overall minimum score of 68 where applicable is required (see English Language Requirement ). Specific requirements are found below, under the appropriate degree heading.

Financial Assistance

Financial assistance, including graduate research assistantships, may be available to suitably qualified candidates. Such assistance will involve candidates in the performance of certain research duties in the Faculty of Law, although such duties will not impede candidates in the pursuit of their own studies.

The Faculty of Law offers a number of scholarships and awards for PhD and LLM students. Eligible students are considered automatically by the Faculty of Law for these scholarships and awards at the time of admission. A current listing of Faculty of Law scholarships and awards can be found on the Faculty of Law website at www.lawschool.ualberta.ca/programs/graduate.

In addition, the University of Alberta offers certain scholarships to candidates of sufficiently high academic merit.

Inquiries regarding programs, courses and financial assistance other than University scholarships should be made to the Graduate Admissions Officer, Faculty of Law.

Graduate Program Requirements

• The Degree of LLM
   
• MBA-JD Joint Program
    
• The Degree of PhD
   

Graduate Courses

Both the PhD and LLM graduate course work requirements will normally include the Graduate Seminar (LAW 696 ). This seminar offers an advanced analysis of different orientations to doctrinal, empirical, and fundamental research. Particular emphasis varies with the expertise of the instructor with current emphasis being on exploration of liberal and illiberal views of law and legal scholarship. It also provides the participants with an opportunity to exchange ideas on their own developing theoretical and technical approaches to a legal topic.

The Faculty also offers the graduate student Research Paper course (LAW 695 ) which is open to both PhD and LLM candidates. The Graduate Seminar on Specialized Legal Topics (LAW 699 ) is a variable topics course and can be taken more than once, provided new subject matter is being offered. PhD and LLM candidates may also take courses in the JD program under a graduate-level course designation and method of evaluation or graduate courses in other Faculties instead of, or in addition to, graduate courses in law with the approval of the PhD candidate’s supervisor or the LLM candidate’s supervisor or advisor and the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies), Faculty of Law, after consideration of the candidate’s experience and needs and the availability of courses during the candidate’s year of residency.

Graduate courses can be found in Course Listings , under the subject heading Law (LAW).