Master of Laws

Program Requirements

The LLM may be completed as a thesis-based or a course-based program. Either may be subsequently used as a qualification for application to the PhD program. Successful completion of either the thesis-based or course-based LLM program, however, does not guarantee admission to the doctoral program. Students wishing to go on to a PhD program must make formal application.

Students must declare which program they intend to follow at the beginning of their graduate studies. Any students wishing to change their program must seek the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee.

On an exceptional basis, students enrolled in the Faculty’s LLM program may apply to the Graduate Studies Committee, Faculty of Law, to bypass the LLM requirement and enrol as a candidate for the PhD degree.

Thesis-based LLM

Students are required to complete a minimum of 9 units in coursework and a thesis

Coursework

LAW 696 - Graduate Seminar - Practice and Theory in Legal Scholarship
Two 3-unit graduate-level courses which may include
- LAW 695 - Research Paper
- LAW 699 - Graduate Seminar on Specialized Legal Topics (may be taken more than once, provided new subject matter is being offered)
- graduate courses in other faculties with the approval of their supervisor and the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies), Faculty of Law, after consideration of the candidate’s needs and experience and the availability of courses.

Thesis

Registration in 900-level THES. Candidates must successfully defend a thesis of approximately 80 to 100 pages (20,000 to 25,000 words) in length, inclusive of footnotes or endnotes, on a topic selected in consultation with the candidate’s supervisor and with the approval of the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies), Faculty of Law.

Course-based LLM:

Students are required to complete a minimum of 24 units in coursework including a 3-unit major research paper.

Coursework

LAW 696 - Graduate Seminar - Practice and Theory in Legal Scholarship
Six 3-unit graduate-level courses
- Courses are to be determined in consultation with the student and their Academic Advisor and with the approval of the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies), Faculty of Law.
- Coursework may include
  - LAW 695 - Research Paper
  - LAW 699 - Graduate Seminar on Specialized Legal Topics (may be taken more than once, provided new subject matter is being offered)
- Students may take graduate courses in other faculties with the approval of the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies), Faculty of Law, after consideration of the candidate’s needs and experience and the availability of courses.

Major Research Paper

LAW 690 . Students complete a major research paper, of approximately 40 to 60 pages (10,000 to 15,000 words) in length, inclusive of footnotes or endnotes, the topic to be approved by the course instructor and the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies), Faculty of Law.

Ethics Requirement

All students must meet the GPS Ethics and Academic Citizenship Requirement through the completion of INT D 710 (for both master’s and doctoral students) by the end of the first term of registration in their degree program.

Professional Development Requirement

Students in the thesis-based LLM program must satisfy the GPS Professional Development Requirement . Students in the course-based LLM program fulfill the GPS Professional Development Requirement through their program.

Residence Requirement

All thesis-based candidates must complete at least one academic year (i.e., Fall and Winter Terms) in residence at the University.

Length of Program

The time required to complete the LLM will vary according to the previous education and experience of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken; however, a minimum of 12 months of study is normally required.

The maximum time to complete the thesis-based LLM program as set by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies is four years.

The maximum time to complete the course-based LLM program as set by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies is six years.