Queen’s Law, a distinguished law school in Kingston, Ontario, offers an exceptional legal education catering to national and international law students. In this article, we will explore the admission requirements, enrollment rates, academic strengths, tuition fees, scholarships, and curriculum of this remarkable institution, inspiring students to pursue their dreams of becoming outstanding legal professionals.
Learn all about the 2-Year Accelerated LLB Degree.
Queen’s Law School Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate at Queen’s Law is 7.2%, making securing a place at this law school slightly challenging. On average, 3000 applications are received yearly, and about 216 are accepted. The Faculty of Law tends to hold just under 500 students across its three-year-long Juris Doctor program with an impressive demographic profile.
Queen’s Law School Requirements
Queen’s Law School admission requirements are similar to other Canadian law schools. Apply by November 1st. See below for the admission
- LSAT Requirements – minimum 162
- GPA Requirements – minimum 87%
- Transcripts – required
- Personal Statement – required
- Letters of Reference – at least 1 letter of reference
- Autobiographical Sketch – required
Check out a great option: Study Law in the UK
LSAT Requirements
To get accepted to Queen’s Law, you need to have an LSAT score that’s higher than 162. However, if your score is below the required level, you can still get accepted by having impressive other parts of the application.
GPA Requirements
The minimum GPA requirement At Queen’s Law is 87%. This also translates to over 3.4 on a 4-point scale or a B+.
Transcripts
Yes, you are required to submit academic transcripts. All applicants outside North America must license their transcript using the World Education Services (WES). Unless having their transcripts verified by the National Committee on Accreditation, foreign applicants must license them under WES.
Personal Statement
Candidates must express their motivation to study law at Queen’s Law School. They must highlight their academic, professional, extracurricular, and personal pinnacles within a limit of 6,000 characters. Personal statements under the Access category require the submission of a second written piece with a maximum volume of 1,500 characters.
Letter of Reference
A single letter of reference is required, but no more than three per application. Indigenous candidates will also need another letter of reference from their community to note their community involvement and skills derived from that.
Autobiographical Sketch
Autobiographical sketches find purpose in identifying prospective scholarship awardees.
Queen’s Law School Tuition Fees
Queen’s Law School tuition fees for 2024 are $79,109 for domestic students and $221,787 for international students. The table below provides a detailed breakdown.
Domestic Students | International Students | |
Yearly Fees | $18,287 | $73,310 |
Ancillary fees | $1,442 | $1,442 |
Estimated textbook costs | $1,000 | $1,000 |
OLSAS application fee | $115 | $115 |
Three-Year Total Fees | $79,109 | $221,787 |
The costs of becoming a lawyer are outlined in our comprehensive guide.
Queen’s Law School Ranking
Queen’s University Faculty of Law consistently ranks among the top 5 Canadian law schools. It is known for its comprehensive legal education, a strong sense of community, and lifelong alumni engagement. The school boasts a plethora of distinguished alumni, including high-profile lawyers, judges, and political figures like Jock Climie, Justice Thomas A. Cromwell, and former Governor General David Lloyd Johnston. Its faculty comprises leading legal scholars like William Lederman, Nicholas Bala, and Don Stuart, renowned for their contributions to constitutional, family, and criminal law. Queen’s Law is known for its robust academic programs that blend traditional legal theories with interdisciplinary approaches, fostering research capabilities and preparing students to excel in a dynamic legal and social landscape. The school’s commitment to excellence and its influential alumni and faculty underscores its significant role in shaping the legal profession in Canada and beyond.
The Curriculum at Queen’s University Law School
Queen’s Law courses are diverse and change annually, with online courses also available.
First Year
Students’ introductory year mandates the completion of courses worth 36 credits, but no less than 28 credits. These include:
- Introduction to Legal Skills;
- Public Law;
- Constitutional Law;
- Contracts;
- Criminal Law;
- Property; and
- Torts.
Year One provides a solid accumulation of knowledge over foundational subjects and as such does not offer any electives at this stage of the course.
Second and Third Years
In practice, there are no compulsory courses to be taken in the course’s upper years. However, this is compensated for by the good range of available optional modules.
Electives include, but are not restricted to:
- Aboriginal Law;
- Administrative Law;
- Advanced Legal Research;
- Advanced Torts;
- Advocacy on Motions;
- Alternative Dispute Resolution;
- Business Associations;
- Civil Procedure;
- Class Actions & Proceedings;
- Commercial Bankruptcy & Restructuring;
- Commercial Law: Sales;
- Competition Law;
- Corporate Finance;
- Corporate Governance;
- Corporate Taxation;
- Criminal Procedure;
- Employment Law;
- Environmental Protection Law;
- Family Law;
- Health Law;
- Immigration & Refugee Law;
- International Criminal Law;
- International Humanitarian Law;
- International Trade Law;
- International Human Rights Law;
- Labour Law;
- Land Transactions;
- Law And Economics;
- Legal Ethics & Professionalism;
- Medical Malpractice;
- Negotiation;
- Patent Law;
- Personal Injury Advocacy;
- Private Equity;
- Remedies;
- Sentencing & Imprisonment;
- Sports Law;
- Trial Advocacy (Civil);
- Trial Advocacy (Criminal);
- Trusts and Equity;
- Wills and Estates; and
- Writing & Written Advocacy.
Why Study at Queen’s Law School?
Queen’s Law School stands out as a premier choice for legal education, offering a blend of strong academic programs, practical experiences, and global connections. Here’s why you should consider Queen’s Law School for your legal education:
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Robust International Law Focus: Queen’s Law School excels in International Law, highlighted by its renowned International Law Spring Program (ILSP) held at the Herstmonceux Castle in England. This program offers intensive exposure to Public Law, Business Law, and Comparative International Law, providing students with a global perspective essential in today’s interconnected world.
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Extensive Global Network: The school boasts formidable connections with major international institutions such as the World Trade Organization, European Union, International Criminal Tribunal, United Nations Office, and OECD. These affiliations provide unparalleled opportunities for learning and networking.
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Practical Legal Training: Beyond theoretical knowledge, Queen’s Law offers a wealth of practical experiences. Moot competitions and law clinics, such as Legal Aid, Business Law Clinic, Elder Law Clinic, and Family Law Clinic, are integrated into the curriculum. These provide hands-on experience, enhancing the students’ legal skills and making them attractive to potential employers.
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Unique Specializations: Queen’s Law is notable for its specialized clinics, including the only Prison Law Clinic in Canada. This specialization in Criminal Law signifies the school’s commitment to diverse legal fields and practical learning.
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Diverse International Partnerships: The school’s global reach is further extended through partnerships with leading universities worldwide, including the EBS Law School, University of Exeter, National University of Singapore, Tel Aviv University, and many others. These partnerships offer students opportunities for exchange programs and international legal perspectives.
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Leadership and Professional Development: Queen’s University fosters skills beyond law, such as leadership and international sensitivity. This holistic approach prepares students not just as lawyers, but as global leaders.
More About Queen’s University
Queen’s Law School, with the motto ‘Soit Drout Fait’ (Let Right Be Done), is one of the top three law schools in Canada. It has a faculty of 83 academic staff members, a rich history, and offers students a range of academic and practical opportunities to learn about the legal world.
Although the university itself is more than 150 years old, the law school was opened in 1957. The William R. Lederman Law Library at Queen’s Law contains over 150,000 legal volumes. One of the first graduates of the law school was John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first Prime Minister and a local lawyer.
Since then, many notable alumni have graduated from the Faculty of Law, including Supreme Court of Canada Justice Thomas A. Cromwell, Federal Court of Appeal Justice David Stratas, and Canadian Senator David Paul Smith.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find answers to the most commonly asked questions about this law school:
Is Queen’s law hard to get into?
Yes, getting into Queen’s Law School is quite challenging. The acceptance rate is 7.2%, which indicates that securing a place at this law school is competitive.
What are the odds of getting into Queen’s Law?
The odds of getting into Queen’s Law School are relatively low, with an acceptance rate of 7.2%. This means that out of every 100 applicants, approximately 7 are accepted.
What GPA do you need to get into Queen’s law school?
To get into Queen’s Law School, you need a minimum GPA of 87%, which translates to over 3.4 on a 4-point scale or a B+.
How much is Queens tuition per year?
The tuition fee per year at Queen’s Law School for 2024 is $18,287 for domestic students and $73,310 for international students.
