collageIf you’re thinking about studying criminal law and live in Canada, then you’re in luck! There are several universities in Canada which offer this program. While criminal defense is a highly competitive field, graduates from these schools tend to get the top spots at their respective firms.
If you plan on attending a university, you will need to consider a variety of factors, including tuition, housing, acceptance rates, school rankings, and graduation rates, etc. Now, if you are looking to apply to the best criminal law schools in canada, how would you know that?
In our article, we recognize the best criminal law schools in canada, including the best criminology universities in canada, best law schools in canada, best criminal justice programs in ontario, online criminal law courses canada, and criminal justice undergraduate programs. You will also find related articles on best criminal law schools in canada on Collegelearners.
best criminal law schools in canada
Canada is both a French- and English-speaking country, which makes it an ideal place for students wishing to study law in a diverse, global environment.
Like in the US, students who study at a Canadian law school will graduate with a juris doctor (JD) degree, which takes three years to complete. Before applying for law school in Canada, students are required to sit the LSAT test to ensure they have enough prior knowledge of Canadian law.
Because it was once a colony of England, Canada’s legal system is based on the British common law system. Canada has a parliament, like Britain, and the federal government has jurisdiction over certain areas of the law.
These are the best universities for law degrees in Canada.
1. University of Toronto
Established in 1887, the faculty of law is one of the University of Toronto’s oldest faculties.
It offers the JD programme for undergraduates as well as a range of postgraduate degree programmes including the master of laws (LLM), global professional master of laws (GPLLM), doctor of juridical science (SJD) and master of studies in law (MSL).
Outside the classroom, law students are encouraged to engage with the local community. The school has set up a legal clinic to offer support to members of the community who are struggling financially. Students work under the guidance of faculty staff but are fully responsible for individual files and regularly appear before courts on behalf of their clients.
Law students at the University of Toronto are able to further enrich their studies by participating in various legal programmes. The Pro Bono Students Canada scheme pairs students with lawyers and government agencies to do pro bono work across Canada. Students also have the opportunity to work with lawyers as part of the International Human Rights Programme, which works towards improving human rights in Canada and around the world.
There are a number of research centres and institutes including the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights, the Centre for the Legal Profession, the Centre for Innovation Law and Policy, and the Capital Markets Institute.
2. McGill University
Founded in 1848, McGill University’s faculty of law is the oldest in Canada. There are even records of informal law lectures dating back to 1829.
McGill University has a unique BCL/JD programme in which students graduate with two degrees: a JD and a Bachelor of Civil Law. This provides students with a broad understanding of the law and the ability to practise law in all Canadian provinces and several US states and adapt their learning elsewhere.
There are two graduate programmes: doctor of civil law (DCL) and master of laws (LLM). The master’s programme offers courses in the fields of general law, air and space law, environment and bioethics, among others.
Teaching and research focuses on understanding law through its relationship with other disciplines such as economics, literature, sociology, philosophy and politics. Legal research is carried out in four main areas: dispute resolution, legal pluralism and human rights, legal theory and comparative law and public policy.
The faculty hosts a number of events for law students. Recent events include “Leading the Change: The Potential and Power of Women in Law”and the Animal & Environmental Law Mini-Conference for Students.
3. University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is home to the Peter A. Allard School of Law.
The School of Law offers the JD programme for undergraduates. There are also four graduate programmes available: master of laws (common law), master of laws in taxation, master of laws (LLM) and doctor of philosophy in law.
In their second and third year, students are given the opportunity to participate in clinical and externship programmes to gain practical skills and solve real-life legal problems. There is a range of options, including criminal clinic, indigenous community legal clinic and judicial externship.
Students can also take part in a moot court, which is a simulated court hearing. This provides students with he opportunity to train alongside experienced lawyers and judges and participate in a true-to-life hearing.
4. York University
York University is home to the Osgoode Hall Law School, which was established in 1889. It is Canada’s largest and most diverse law school.
The Osgoode Hall Law School offers the JD programme as well as two types of LLM degrees: the research LLM and professional LLM. The research LLM is a full-time course and requires students to write a thesis, whereas the professional LLM is designed for professionals who can choose to study part-time or full-time and are not required to write a thesis. The school also offers a doctoral degree, the PhD in law, which consists of extensive, research-intensive study.
Osgoode’s Research Office was set up to support students and staff in their research initiatives. Most research is carried out at the school’s centres and institutes, such as the Institute for Feminist Legal Studies, the Jack & Mae Nathanson Centre on Transnational Human Rights, Crime and Security, and the Jay and Barbara Hennick Centre for Business and Law.
5. University of Montreal
The University of Montreal offers the bachelor of laws programme as well as a range of graduate programmes, including the master of laws (LLM), JD in North American common law, and business law in a global context.
For graduates looking for a short-term course there is a 15-17 credits programme, which offers specialised training in a particular area of law. The faculty also offers a doctor in law and a joint doctor in law programme in collaboration with partner universities in Belgium, France and Germany.
Students can take part in a number of activities and clinics, such as an internship in the community, the legal aid clinic, the practical case management workshop, and a research internship with a judge.
Top universities for law in Canada 2021
Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2021
| Canada Law Rank 2021 | WUR Law Rank 2021 | University | City |
| 1 | 14 | University of Toronto | Toronto |
| 2 | 16 | McGill University | Montreal |
| 3 | 33 | University of British Columbia | Vancouver |
| 4 | 43 | York University | Toronto |
| 5 | =93 | University of Montreal | Montreal |
| 6 | 101–125 | Dalhousie University | Halifax |
| =7 | 126–150 | Université Laval | Quebec City |
| =7 | 126–150 | University of Ottawa | Ottawa |
| =7 | 126–150 | Queen’s University | Kingston |
| =7 | 126–150 | Western University | London |
| =11 | 151–175 | University of Alberta | Edmonton |
| =11 | 151–175 | University of Calgary | Calgary |
| =11 | 151–175 | Université du Québec | Quebec City |
| 14 | 176–200 | Carleton University | Ottawa |
most prestigious law school in canada
Here are the 10 best law schools in Canada.
- University of Laval Faculty of Law (Quebec City, QC)
University of Laval Faculty of Law
Judicieux, Pavillon Charles-De Koninck, CC BY-SA 4.0
Established in 1852, the Faculté de droit de l’Université Laval at the Université Laval is one of North America’s oldest law schools.
The more than 1000 students at Laval Law study the legal complexities surrounding issues such as economics, environmental law, and international trade.
With such a grand history, Laval Law has trained several important figures in the Canadian legal and political systems.
Many justices on the Supreme Court of Canada graduated from Laval Law, including Suzanne Côté, the first woman appointed directly from private practice.
Canadian prime ministers Louis St. Laurent, Brian Mulroney, and Jean Chrétien studied at Laval Law, as did Premiers of Quebec Jean Lesage and Lucien Bouchard.
Despite this vaunted history, Laval Law remains committed to engaging with the public. The school regularly hosts lectures and programs for the community to learn about the law.
Webinars and online conferences give students and community members access to some of the best legal minds in the country.
With all these resources in place, Laval Law continues the work it’s been doing for over 150 years: serving the legal needs of the people of Quebec, and Canada as a whole.
- University of Victoria Faculty of Law (Victoria, BC)
The Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria earns its high rank thanks to its many centers and programs designed to give students specialized training.
For twenty-five years, the school’s Environmental Law Centre has supported environmental groups in Victoria and beyond with legal information and assistance.
Working alongside groups such as the West Coast Environmental Law and Probe International, the Sierra Legal Defence Fund, and more, the Centre works to implement sustainability initiatives.
The Environmental Law Centre is part of the school’s focus on Canadian Indigenous law issues. Not only does Victoria Law feature an endowed Professorship in Aboriginal Justice and Governance, but it also works to recruit aboriginal students.
At the school’s annual Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Camp, students work on local reserves to engage with the concerns and needs of the indigenous community of Victoria.
Victoria Law’s co-op education program allows students to gain real-world experience while continuing their studies.
In addition to getting placement in private and public firms, students can also serve worldwide in programs in Mongolia, France, Thailand, and more.
- Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law (Halifax, NS)
Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law
Theanthill, Weldon Law Building, CC BY-SA 3.0
The oldest common law school housed at a Canadian university, the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University has existed since 1883.
Thanks to support such as a $20 million endowment from philanthropist Seymour Schulich, the school has become the largest law school in Atlantic Canada.
With an acceptance rate of only 13%, Schulich Law is one of the most selective schools in the nation.
Only those who have excellent grades and remarkable experience in employment and extracurriculars gain acceptance. Furthermore, the school takes measures to cultivate a diverse student body.
To that end, the Indigenous Blacks & Mi’kmaq Initiative takes active steps to recruit students from underprivileged communities.
Furthermore, the program encourages scholarship regarding legal concerns of the Aboriginal and African Canadian populations.
Third-year students at the school can gain practical experience by working in the Dalhousie Legal Aid Service. Since 1970, the Service has aided those in the Halifax area. Working alongside established lawyers and community leaders, students develop their skills in the Service while improving the lives of the people in Halifax.
With all these initiatives, Schulich Law takes its commitment to the legal needs in Atlantic Canada seriously.
- University of Montreal Faculty of Law (Montreal, QC)
University of Montreal
Colocho, Université de Montréal, CC BY-SA 3.0
More than any other Canadian province, Quebec consists of two cultures, primarily Francophone wrapped around English influences.
To address the needs of its community, the Faculty of Law at the University of Montreal explores both legal traditions, completely embracing its bijural and bilingual context.
Perhaps the most influential element of the Faculty is its law journal, the Revue Juridique Thémis de l’Université de Montréal. Thanks to the contributions of faculty, students, and practicing lawyers, the Revue has become one of the most influential journals in North America.
The Faculty supports the community with initiatives such as the Centre de recherche en droit public (the Public Law Research Centre).
Taking an interdisciplinary approach to the teaching and practice of law, the Centre allows students to gain hands-on experience while engaging with the concerns of the day.
The Centre’s research focuses on the intersection between law and information technologies, the communal effects of the connections between law and biotechnologies, and the law’s effect on new social relationships. The Centre publishes its findings in Lex Electronica, a bilingual electronic law review.
Thanks to these initiatives, Montreal Law serves the legal needs of both of its communities.
- University of Alberta Faculty of Law (Edmonton, AB)
University of Alberta Faculty of Law
Public domain photo by Winterforcemedia via Wikimedia Commons
The third-oldest school on this list, the University of Alberta Faculty of Law made a name for itself thanks to its rigorous curriculum and the success of its alumni.
Not only does Alberta Law count among its faculty the Right Honourable Beverly McLachlin, Chief Justice of Canada, and the Honourable Madame Catherine Fraser, the Chief Justice of Alberta, but 95% of its graduates find positions within the field.
Alberta Law continues to improve its curriculum thanks to new initiatives such as the Launchpad into Law program.
Designed to help first-year Indigenous law students become familiar with Indigenous laws and their relationship to Canadian common law, the program has earned praise from students and observers. The program empowers students to bring their culture to the study and practice of Canadian law.
With this work in place, Alberta Law faculty and students have provided new ways of engaging with Canadian law.
In a 2021 issue of the Canadian Native Law Reporter, Assistant Professor Hadley Friedland and Ph.D. student Naiomi Metallic published the article “Judicial Tales Retold: Reimagining Indigenous Rights Jurisprudence.”
The article reimagines the relationship between Canadian common law and Indigenous law by rewriting Supreme Court decisions from the perspective of a fictional Indigenous Nations Court.
These initiatives build upon the work done by Alberta Law’s existing institutes and centres. The Alberta Law Reform Institute works to make Canadian law more just and equitable by providing policy briefs and examining assumptions built into current laws.
- Queen’s University Faculty of Law (Kingston, ON)
Although the Faculty of Law was established only in 1957, the law has been a primary subject at Queen’s University since 1861. Its professors continue to shape Canadian legal life, as they regularly receive citations in decisions across the country.
But despite the school’s respected academic pedigree, Queen’s Law is known for its emphasis on practical experience. Students have the opportunity to apply their learning in one of any number of institutions and centres.
Low-income residents of Kingston and the surrounding areas benefit from Queen’s Legal Aid.
Working alongside experienced lawyers, student caseworkers take on problems experienced by citizens. Cases include everything from Small Claims Court disputes, Social Benefits Tribunal Hearings, arguments before the Landlord and Tenant Board, and more.
The Queen’s Elder Law Clinic offers free legal counseling and services to low-income seniors throughout southeastern Ontario. Students work at the clinic as part of a two-semester course in public service. Under the guidance of their faculty mentors, students receive hands-on training and the opportunity to serve their community.
With these and other clinics, students take their studies from the classroom to the real world, where they become real parts of everyday life.
- York University Osgoode Hall Law School (Toronto, ON)
Home to the Law Commission of Ontario, the Osgoode Hall Law School at York University is one of the most respected law schools in the world.
That reputation partly stems from the work published by the Osgoode Hall Law Journal. Since 1958, the Osgoode Journal has been the site of some of the country’s most influential legal scholarship.
But Osgoode also earned esteem with its unique approach to the teaching and practice of Law.
That approach can be seen in initiatives such as the school’s Art in Law project.
Since 2011, Osgoode has worked to integrate artistic works into its buildings. Approaching art as a medium to explore the complexities of the law, the project approaches paintings, sculptures, and more as a means to humanize law.
Current initiatives include the Aboriginal Art Project. Osgoode commissioned a pair of works from Gitxsan First Nations woodcarver Ya’Ya (Charles) Heit to represent the ability of law to offer healing and recognition.
- University of Toronto Faculty of Law (Toronto, ON)
University of Toronto
Daderot, Falconer Hall, University of Toronto, CC0 1.0
In addition to coming in at number three on our list, the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto regularly receives top rankings as the best Common Law school in Canada, and one of the nation’s most selective.
In addition to training four out the nine Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada, more than any other law school, Toronto Law has graduated a number of influential people in the country.
Fourteen total Supreme Court Justices studied at Toronto Law, as well as two Toronto Mayors, two Ontario Premiers, and former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin.
Part of the reason that Toronto Law students have gone on to such success is that they study under esteemed faculty.
Professor Mohammad Fadel is a leader on Islamic law in Canada, has published in many major journals, and served at the Research Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics. Professor Kent Roach focuses on criminal law and won a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Fellowship in 2013.
The school’s Distinguished Visitors program brings in experts worldwide, including Tsinghua University Dean Zhenmin Wang and Supreme Court of Israel President Aharon Barak.
- McGill University Faculty of Law (Montreal, QC)
McGill University
Jeangagnon, McGill University downtown campus, CC BY-SA 3.0
Considered by many to be the best university in Canada and one of the most impressive in the world, McGill University’s Faculty of Law is our pick for the number two law school in the country. Canada’s oldest law school and one of the most selective, McGill Law only sends offers of admission to 11% of the applicants.
The McGill Law Journal, published at the school since 1952, is the publication most cited by the Canadian Supreme Court.
Every four years, the Journal also publishes the Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation. The Guide establishes guidelines for citation and resource use, accepted by all other law schools and institutions across the country.
McGill Law is renowned for the Nahum Gelber Law Library, which houses over 220,000 volumes of books, journals, and other legal materials. It’s one of the most impressive collections in the country, housing records of Canada’s legal history.
In addition to protecting the country’s legal history, McGill Law also influences Canada’s future. The school’s many research institutes engage with and study the effects of Canadian laws.
The Centre for Intellectual Property Policy blazes new trails in intellectual property. The Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism supports research and innovation in the issues of human rights and legal pluralism.
- University of British Columbia Peter A. Allard Law School (Vancouver, BC)
University of British Columbia Peter A. Allard Law School
Martin Dee, UBC Law at Allard Hall, CC BY-SA 3.0
The Peter A. Allard Law School is not only one of the top law schools in Canada, but throughout all of North America.
Those credentials include the publication of several law journals, such as the UBC International Law Journal and Masks: The Online Journal of Law and Theatre.
The school’s flagship journal, The University of British Columbia Law Review, is operated by J.D. students and is peer-reviewed by partner professors. The Canadian Journal of Family Law is an innovative academic journal that crosses disciplinary lines to engage with the changing nature of Canadian family law.
The school’s research and service centres focus on similarly pressing issues. At the Centre for Feminist Legal Studies, scholars come together for teaching and research devoted to legal issues affecting women across Canada.
With these dedicated initiatives and impressive reviews, it’s easy to see why BC Law outdoes Canada’s other remarkable law schools.
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