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Law Schools in Canada
For students who intend to study law in Canada, this article is a comprehensive list of the top 20 universities to study law in Canada. The selections here are based on data collected by Times Higher Education Rankings, QS Ranking for Law and Legal Studies, as well as each institution’s global reputation and academic quality.
As a law aspirant or student, going to one of the best law schools in Canada should be your utmost priority. This is because these top-ranking law schools in Canada will prepare you for a successful law career after graduation.
Usually, the best universities in Canada offers dual degree options; thereby preparing the students for both Canadian and American laws. Due to the country’s friendly people, stunning natural beauty, and continuous academic growth and development, Canadian universities are also ranked in the league of best law schools in the world according to QS World Rankings.
Although most academic institutions offering law courses are located in urban areas of Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver, but there are wide range of universities spread across Canada offering law courses as well. Below are the top-ranking law schools in Canada.
1. University of Toronto
Coming first on the list of top law schools in Canada 2021 is the University of Toronto (U of T). Academic excellence is significant in the U of T as diverse ranking bodies usually place this institution ahead of others in the field of law. While Maclean’s does not publish its yearly law school ranking anymore, the University of Toronto consistently leads the list while it did.
U of T remains one of the prestigious law schools in Canada as it comes first in 2021 QS Ranking of Canadian law schools. Through its faculty of law, the University of Toronto offers programs in a wide range, which includes Legal Theory, Criminal Law, Business Law, Health Law, and more. The institution’s LL.M program in health law is ranked as one of the top 10 across the globe.
Students of the faculty of law at the University of Toronto are extremely diverse, highly educated, and deeply committed to justice, both within their communities and the world at large. U of T also keeps such standards of having the strongest (academically) law students in Canada.
2. McGill University
Ranked second in the 2018 QS Ranking of Canadian law schools and the subsequent year is another reputable law school in Canada for both local and international students. The McGill University Faculty of law is the oldest in Canada and often referred to as the ‘Harvard of the North’ due to its strong reputation.
McGill is one of the three universities in Quebec that offers some programs in English language. It is a prerequisite for undergraduates of law at McGill University to be (at least) passively bilingual in English and French (although LL.Ms at the university is excluded from this requirement). Some of the law courses offered at this institution includes Comparative Law, Environment Law, Air, and Space Law, etc.
3. University of British Columbia
With the third position in 2018 and 2019, the Allard School of Law at University British Columbia has consistently educated students, community leaders, and practicing lawyers for over seven decades.
International students wishing to study in an attractive location in Canada can now move on to scenic Vancouver where UBC is located on Canada’s west coast. The institution’s law program does not only provide the foundational training to students, it also helps them work through their requirements for practicing law across Canada. Some handy law programs offered at the University of British Columbia include Taxation and Common Law.
4. University of Montreal
Another prestigious university in Canada that has been constantly coming first in the QS Canadian civil law schools is the University of Montreal. However, since 2017 the university has dropped on the list thereby making fourth on the 2019 QS Ranking of Canadian law schools.
French-speaking international students wanting to bag a law degree in Canada can proceed to the University of Montreal. This institution makes itself an interesting option with its range of French language law programs. Amazingly, the institution also has courses like Business Law for English speakers.
5. University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa Faculty of law was ranked seventh in 2017 and moved two steps up in the 2019 QS Ranking of Canadian law schools. The oldest and largest bilingual university in Canada has a good number of amazing law courses; some in English, some in French, while others are mixed.
The University of Ottawa offers courses like International Trade and Investment Law, Notarial Law (French only), Global Sustainability and Environmental Law, and more. One great merit of studying law at the University of Ottawa is that students study at the nation’s capital city, which implies a series of networking opportunities in both business and government.
6. York University
Ranked sixth on the 2019 QS Rankings for Canadian Law Schools is the Osgoode Hall law school at the prestigious York University. The Osgoode Hall law school offers a diverse, rigorous, and forward-looking curriculum, which prepares students for a wide range of careers in law.
Following its establishment in 1889, this law school has maintained its position as one of the top law schools in Canada. At the moment, the institution offers a wide range of programs which include Business Law, Common Law, and the likes. In respect of academic excellence, the LLM Guide lists Osgoode Hall Law School, York University as one of the top ten schools for Alternative Dispute Resolution and Intellectual Property Law.
7. Queen’s University
Located in Kingston, Ontario, the Faculty of Law at the Queen’s University has been offering quality and topnotch educational training in different law programs since 1861. It was ranked seventh in the 2019 QS Ranking for Canadian law schools. The full-time undergraduate program can be completed within three years while part-time must be completed within six years.
Postgraduate students taking the LL.M program are opportuned to complete some of their courses at a castle in England. Queen’s University offers courses in Political and Legal Thought (for students interested in legal philosophy and legal theory).
8. University of Alberta
Founded in 1912, the Faculty of Law at the University of Alberta is the third-oldest law school in Canada and one of the top-ranking law schools in Canada. Although ranked sixth in the 2018 QS Ranking of Canadian law schools, the University of Alberta’s faculty of law dropped two spots in 2019.
The institution offers LL.M in both thesis and coursework. Students willing to acquire a degree in energy law will find this institution a good choice as they get to study in Canada’s oil capital. This will also expose students to diverse networking opportunities.
9. Western University
Located in London, Ontario, which is almost midway between Detroit and Toronto, the Western University is among the top law schools in Canada according to Times Higher Education rankings.
Western University’s Faculty of Law has more reputation and credibility to its name in the area of business law than others. While this institution did not make the list of the top 10 Canadian law schools in the 2018 QS Rankings, it scaled up in 2019 and clinched the ninth spot in the same ranking table.
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10. University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a growing, living, and youthful institution, which embraces change and opportunity of all kinds. With over 378 undergraduate students, the Faculty of Law, University of Calgary ranked tenth in both 2018 and 2019 QS Ranking of Canadian law schools.Advertisement
One great advantage the University of Calgary has is the small classes it runs compared to other law schools across Canada. This means students will have more time with their professors.
11. Dalhousie University (Schulich School of Law)
The location of this reputable law school implies that students study in the middle of the beautiful and scenic Canadian province of Nova Scotia. However, it’s not just the beauty that makes it one of the best; but Dalhousie University was ranked among the top 15 Canadian Universities in the Times Higher Education ranking for 2020. This means the institution is yet another pinnacle of academic excellence.
The faculty of law is made up of scholars who engage in interdisciplinary research and teaching from a wide range of disciplines, which includes history, criminology, legal anthropology, law, political economy, mass communication, political theory, and sociology.
12. Carleton University
Established in 1967, Carleton University remains one of Canada’s largest and oldest undergraduate programs in Legal Studies. Following its establishment over five decades ago, the institution ranks as a top choice and it is the first university in the country to study law and multidisciplinary academic concerns.
With about 2,000 students in the faculty of public affairs, the institution now offers BA (Honours) in Law, with a concentration in Business Law, Human Rights, and Transnational Law, Policy and Government, and more.
Amazingly, Carleton University became the first institution to offer a MA in Legal Studies in 1991 and accepted its first cohort of Ph.D. students in 2011. Some of the numerous opportunities available to law students at Carleton University include:
- Carleton University Research Opportunity (CUROP) (undergraduate)
- International learning experiences
- IPAF 4900 research mentorship opportunity (undergraduate)
- FPA Ambassadors (undergraduate)
- Dean’s Honour List Reception (undergraduate)
- Events, including the FPA Research Series
- Emerging Perspectives: FPA Graduate Conference (graduate)
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13. University of Victoria
Another institution coming in the league of top law schools in Canada is the University of Victoria. The institution is well known to home one of the reputable law schools in Canada alongside its approach to experiential learning, the strength of the academic program, and commitment to societal engagement and social injustice.
Adding to this, the university is located a few minutes from parks and beaches, which makes for the mildest climate in Canada. Interestingly, the University of Victoria’s faculty of law has the largest number of clinical placements for each student in Canada.
14. Laval University
Established in 1852, the Laval University’s faculty of law is the oldest French-language law faculty not only in Canada but also on the North-American continent. Every year, the faculty welcomes over a thousand students from various parts of the world due to its reputation as as one of rated law schools in Canada for international students.
The faculty gives good training to future jurists in addition to its national and international recognition as a center of excellence in research. The 2020 summer at Laval University shows that it has a total of 319,000 graduates across all disciplines.
15. Lakehead University, Bora Laskin Faculty of Law
One of the best universities in Canada to pursue a law degree in a serene environment is at Lakehead University. Located in Thunder Bay, Ontario, the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law is situated in the historic Port Arthur Collegiate Institute (PACI), which was built in 1909. Since its establishment, the faculty has continually provided high standard legal education, hence, providing a deeply rooted knowledge of law alongside the practical application.
Academic programs at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law focus on the realities of working and living in the North: Natural Resources and Environmental Law, Aboriginal, and Indigenous Law as well as small firm practice using the Integrated Practice Curriculum (IPC).
16. University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba Faculty of law can be said to be a passport to a groundbreaking law career in Canada and beyond. For decades, the faculty of law has received accolades regarding its interdisciplinary and dynamic approach to the study of law. Being the only law school in Manitoba is a huge advantage to the institution as it enjoys a good relationship with practicing judges and lawyers in the province who mentors and teach students through the course of their study.
Students at the University of Manitoba Faculty of law take part in mock trials and moot courts. They engage one another in legal clinics, shadow judges, and represent real clients in their chamber and courtrooms. Also, they compete in international and national negotiation and advocacy competitions.
17. University of New Brunswick
Next on the list is the University of New Brunswick Faculty of Law. Established in 1892, the University of New Brunswick Faculty of Law (UNB Law) remains the second oldest university-based common law faculty in the commonwealth. With a total of, approximately, 11,000 students on the Fredericton campus, the university offers a huge number of graduate and undergraduate courses aside from law.
The UNM Law finds its location on one of the most attractive university campuses across Canada (Ludlow Hall). This diverse and small student body gives a unique opportunity to acquire a personalized legal education as part of a close-knit and friendly community.
18. Ryerson University
Situated in Canada’s financial center and largest urban area, Ryerson University is well known for its dedication to meeting societal needs via practical learning and career-relevant education. The faculty of law at Ryerson University does not leave out on this as it received preliminary approval of its law program by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada (FLSC) in 2017.
That being said, students who study and graduate from the Ryerson law will no longer be required to complete the Law Practice Program before they would be licensed as lawyers since the law program at Ryerson University has been approved by the Law Society of Ontario.
19. University of Saskatchewan, College of Law
The College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan (established in 1912) is not just one of the top-ranking law schools in Canada but also the oldest law school in western Canada, which exemplifies a tradition of excellence in research, teaching, and innovation.
With a deeply rooted history in assessing justice, developing strength in dispute resolution, indigenous legal education, health law, commercial law, leading scholars in constitutional law, and criminal law, the college provide students with a highly-regarded mooting program, global exchange opportunities, and joint degree programs.
20. Thompson Rivers University
The Thompson Rivers University Faculty of Law has one of the foremost professional law programs in Canada. Due to its international recognition as a top-notch law school in Canada for international students, the institution receives applicants from diverse parts of the world.
Coming last on the list of top 20 law schools in Canada, TRU has indeed established itself as a center of scholarship and excellence in legal education.
9 Top Human Rights Law Schools Around The Globe
If you want to practice human rights law, you need to attend a good law school. The right schools for a human rights career will offer a wide range of classes dedicated to issues like refugee law, criminal justice reform, women’s rights, and more, as well as opportunities for hands-on work. Also consider checking our page on masters in human rights.
Here are 9 exciting opportunities to learn more about human rights law:
University of Bristol, UK
Found in the UK at the Clifton Campus of the University of Bristol, students can pursue a Master of Laws degree in Human Rights. You have two options: study full-time and finish in 1 year, or free up your evenings with part-time study for 2 years. To earn the degree, students must write a dissertation.
Columbia University’s Law School, USA
If you go to Columbia University, you have access to the Human Rights Institute. You won’t be earning an LLM. specifically in human rights there, but it does offer incentives for those interested in pursuing a human rights degree, like the Human Rights LLM Fellowship. Receiving this fellowship can result in tuition waivers and/or a living stipend. The university also offers a human rights clinic and other opportunities.
Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, Switzerland
A relatively young institute (founded in 2007 by the University of Geneva), the academy runs an LLM. in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, as well as a master’s degree in Transitional Justice, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law. LLM students take courses that educate them on a wide range of international law, such as refugee law, criminal law, and more. They will also participate in moot courts, including the Nuremberg Moot Court Competition. To get accepted, a student must either have a full degree in law, or another degree where they took a lot of courses related to the Academy’s program.
Leiden University Law School, Netherlands
Students pursuing this school’s European and International Human Rights Law LLM will be well-equipped for law in Europe and internationally. There’s even a study trip to Geneva and Strasbourg to provide students with more hands-on experience. If you want to specialize, the school also offers LLM programs in International Criminal Law and International Children’s Rights.
European University Viadrina Faculty of Law, Germany
This university offers an LLM in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. It consists of three semesters of study over 1 ½ years. Courses consist of a group of cores including general human rights and civil rights, while students choose electives based on what they want to specialize in. To earn the LLM, students must write a master’s thesis and complete an internship.
Charles University’s Faculty of Law, Czech Republic
At the Faculty of Law with Charles University, LLM students earn a unique degree that combines human rights law and environmental protection. This LLM explores how the two are connected with courses in public international law, human rights protection, and environmental law. Students choose electives based on what they are passionate about. The program consists of three semesters, ending with a thesis.
United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, Italy
The United Nations has five research and training institutes around the world, including one in Turin, Italy. In cooperation with the University for Peace, the UNICRI offers students an LLM in Transnational Crime and Justice. In addition to normal course work, there’s a series of sessions on professional development in the UN system.
Istanbul Bilgi University Faculty of Law, Turkey
When you pursue an LLM in Human Rights Law at this university, you can choose between these specializations: discrimination against minorities, human rights in criminal justice, theoretical foundations of human rights, or monitoring mechanisms of human rights. To graduate, you have the option of completing a formal master’s thesis or a more independent research project. Both will take 1 year of full-time study.
The University of Alcala Faculty of Law, Spain
This university offers a master’s in International Protection of Human rights, and it’s designed for students already working as lawyers, public officials, or specifically human rights lawyers. It’s a great choice for those wanting to deepen their understanding of human rights. The program consists of three modules, including human rights in international systems, and ends with a research thesis.
Top Law Schools In 2021
- Harvard University is the best law school in the world this year
- The United States contains the highest number of law schools in this year’s ranking, with 50 law programs on offer
- This is closely followed by the United Kingdom with 37 law schools
The recently released QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021 features 320 of the top higher education institutions to study law.
The QS World University Rankings by Subject are based on four indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations per paper and the H-index (a way of measuring the productivity and published work of a scientist or scholar). You can find more details about the methodology behind the subject rankings here.
Read on to learn more about the best law schools in each region. If you would like to explore the schools in further detail, click here to view the full table.
Top 10 Law Schools in the WorldBased on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021 | ||
Rank | Name of Institution | Location |
1 | Harvard University | United States |
2 | University of Oxford | United Kingdom |
3 | University of Cambridge | United Kingdom |
4 | Yale University | United States |
5 | Stanford University | United States |
6 | London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) | United Kingdom |
7 | Columbia University | United States |
8 | New York University (NYU) | United States |
9 | University of California, Berkeley (UCB) | United States |
10 | National University of Singapore (NUS) | Singapore |
Top Law schools in the US and Canada
With 50 of the world’s top law schools located in the US and 12 in Canada, an impressive 18 North American universities make it into the global top 50 for law this year.
The best university in the world for law is Harvard University in the US, retaining the title for the sixth consecutive year and scoring particularly highly in the employer reputation indicator. Harvard Law’s graduates are highly sought after by employers in law firms, businesses, government and non-profit organisations. The university awards several Public Service Fellowships each year to help graduates pursue careers in public services.
Canada’s highest ranked law school, the University of Toronto (joint 17th) rises three places this year and earns its highest score in the academic reputation indicator. The University of Toronto’s law school professors are leading experts in their field and the school’s law programs are incredibly diverse, allowing students to tailor their study to meet their individual needs and ambitions.
Top Law schools in Europe
Europe is the most well-represented region globally for law schools, with 148 ranked programs, including 13 in the global top 50 and three in the global top 10.
The United Kingdom has an impressive 37 law schools in the ranking, the most of any country in Europe, with eight of these featuring in the global top 50. Amongst them is University of Oxford, the top law school in Europe, ranking 2nd globally. The University of Oxford states its aim is to help law students analyse complex information, construct arguments and write with precision and clarity. This is reflected in its high score for academic reputation.
KU Leuven’s law school in Belgium ranks at joint 35th globally this year, placing amongst the six universities offering law courses in Belgium. Founded in 1425, KU Levin’s Faculty of Law is the largest in Belgium, emphasising an international and comparative approach to law.
France’s Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne enters the top 20 worldwide this year, rising five places. The law school boasts a growing international presence, with links to universities around the world and is largely recognised as one of the most distinguished centres of education and research in Europe. It places amongst the nine French law schools in the rankings.
Elsewhere in Europe, Germany features two law schools in the global top 50: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (39th) and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (41st).
The Netherlands is also home to two universities in the top 50, with Leiden University in 24th place, and the University of Amsterdam in joint 35th.
Top Law schools in Asia
There are 52 Asian law schools in the rankings this year, with seven schools making it into the global top 50.
Mainland China is the most well-represented region in Asia in the law school rankings, with 15 programs featured. Two of these programs are in the world top 50, with Tsinghua University in 27th and Peking University in 28th place. Both of these universities are incredibly research intensive and have produced many prominent legal scholars, judges and lawyers .
Asia’s highest ranked law school is the National University of Singapore (NUS) rising two places to 10th this year. The school’s law program earns a high score across the indicators which perhaps can be credited to its broad curriculum, which, in addition to the core areas of law, allows students to choose electives ranging from Asian legal studies to banking and finance. NUS ranks amongst two other law schools in Singapore.
Japan has one school in the global top 50 with The University of Tokyo in joint 21st place. At the University of Tokyo, law is taught together with political science, with students studying the administrative, legislative and judicial branches of the government from a range of angles. A further eight Japanese schools feature in the overall rankings.
South Korea has six programs in the law rankings, with one entrant in the global top 50 – Seoul National University (SNU) in 33rd place. Hong Kong has three programs in the law rankings, with two making it into the top 50: The University of Hong Kong (HKU) in joint 21st place and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in 48th place.
Top Law schools in Australia and New Zealand
A total of 24 law programs in Australia (20) and New Zealand (four) feature in the subject rankings, with six Australian programs making it into the global top 50.
Australia’s highest-ranked law program can be found at The University of Melbourne, in joint 11th place. Over the past year this law school has been focusing on the legal, ethical and policy challenges of COVID-19 and now offers teaching about the relevant strands of law used during the pandemic and the public health strategies that are employed during a global health crisis.
Other notable Australian universities include: The University of New South Wales (UNSW) (13th), The University of Sydney (14th), the Australian National University (ANU) (joint 17th), Monash University (40th) and The University of Queensland (UQ) (43rd).
New Zealand’s highest entrant this year is The University of Auckland, in 54th place. New Zealand’s second best law school, Victoria University of Wellington (joint 65th) performs particularly well for the research citations per paper indicator, reflecting the high quality of the research done at the university.
Top Law schools in Latin America
Latin America has a significant presence in the law rankings this year, with 25 programs included. Four Latin American programs are in the top 50 globally.
Mexico’s Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) is the highest ranked university in Latin America this year in 34th after rising seven places. UNAM’s law school produces high-level legal research aimed at solving current national and international problems and is home to one of the largest law libraries in Latin America. It is one of two Mexican universities featured in the law school rankings in 2021.
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile is the second highest-ranked in the region, and one of six of Chile’s universities featured this year. The university’s law school has been teaching students for 125 years and challenges its students to learn and develop abilities from a comprehensive standpoint, encouraging reflection, critical analysis and active participation in the legal and social debate on a global scale.
Argentina and Brazil each have one entry in this year’s top 50, including Argentina’s Universidad de Buenos Aires, which rises three places this year to rank 44th and Brazil’s Universidade de São Paulo (USP) (joint 46th). Colombia’s six law programs featured this year include Universidad de Los Andes Colombia, ranked 45th in the world.
Top Law schools in Africa and the Middle East
Five African schools are featured in the law rankings, with four of these in South Africa and one in Egypt. The highest ranked school is the University of Cape Town, at 101-150. Also worth a mention is Egypt’s Cairo University (251-250) which earns the highest score for employer reputation in the region.
Only two countries in the Middle East are represented in the law school rankings – Israel and Saudi Arabia, with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Tel Aviv University performing the highest, both placing at 101-150.
Hebrew University of Jerusalem has taught the majority of the recipients of the prestigious Israel Prize in Law and Criminology and many of Israel’s past and present Supreme Court Justices attended the law school.