How to Apply
JD First Year & JD Upper Year Applicants
These admission policies and procedures apply to both domestic (Canadian citizens and permanent residents) and international applicants.
For degree study
- JD First Year - entry occurs once a year in August
- JD Upper Year - entry occurs once a year in September
For non-degree study- Entry occurs in September.
Visiting exchange or letter of permission students may be allowed to enter in January, but must apply by their standard deadlines.
This procedure applies to both domestic and international applicants. The Admissions Committee evaluates applicants on a continuous basis as each applicant's file is completed.
Required Documents
The following documents are required of General, Mature and Indigenous applicants, and constitute a complete file. All of these items must be submitted directly to OLSAS only, do not submit to the law school.
- OLSAS application, including the Autobiographical Sketch
- Official and original copies of all postsecondary academic transcripts
- LSAT score(s) and Writing
- A Personal Statement
- Optional Essay
- BSAP Essay (optional for BSAP applicants)
- Resumé (for Mature applicants only) – submitted using the Secure Applicant Messaging (SAM) in the OLSAS application
- Indigenous substantiation supporting evidence and a signed Attestation form (Indigenous applicants only) – submitted using SAM in the OLSAS application
International Transcripts & Exchange/Study Abroad Transcripts
- International Transcripts & WES Canada Evaluations
Applicants who completed at least one academic year of courses at post-secondary institutions outside of Canada or the USA are required to provide a third-party course-by-course evaluation of their transcripts from World Education Services (WES Canada) for their applications. Apply to WES Canada for transcript evaluation, and instruct WES Canada to submit the results to OLSAS directly.
- Student Exchange/Study Abroad: Host Institution Transcripts
For applicants who have completed studies on a student exchange or study abroad experience that are tied to their academic programs, an official transcript of the courses taken directly from the host institution, must be submitted for the law school application, regardless of its treatment by the home institution.
If course credit awarded for the exchange/study abroad courses (regardless of the exchange/study abroad grades obtained) appears on the home institution's transcript, and the home institution is in Canada or the USA, then a WES evaluation of the host transcript is not required. Otherwise, an official transcript is to be submitted from the host institution to WES Canada for a course-by-course evaluation.
It is customary for the home institution, on its own transcript to include the course credit granted, but exclude the grades obtained for host courses, thus the host grade performance will be assessed on its own merit using the host institution's grading scale on its official transcript.
English Language Proficiency Tests (TOEFL, IELTS etc.)
A proficiency test is not required, however the LSAT is required, no exceptions.
References & Interviews
Letters of recommendation are not required and, if submitted, will not form part of the applicant's file. Interviews are not used for selection.
- If the desired partner degree program has already been attained, then only the JD remains to be attained in its entirety. Please review the admission requirements and application procedures for the JD only.
- If a JD or equivalent common law degree (e.g. LLB) has already been attained, the only the partner program remains to be attained in its entirety. Therefore apply to the partner program directly by its application procedures, deadlines and admission requirements.
- If both the JD and the partner program are to be attained then apply to each program independently of the other, by each program's application process and timelines.
- If you intend to, or are contemplating whether to, study a JD combined program, then on the OLSAS application form, you must pick the JD-only selection and also the desired JD combined program selection. Please ensure that the selections are made before the OLSAS application deadline, after which your ability to add a new program selection on the OLSAS application form is disabled.
- The additional selection of the combined program at OLSAS enables the law school to check with applicants, later in the cycle, on the outcome of their application to the partner program. It does not influence the admission to the JD. An independent application to the partner program is still required, regardless of the combination selected at OLSAS.
- The law school will assess admission to the JD only, independently of the outcome of the application for admission of the partner program. If one is admitted independently to both the JD and the partner, then one may enrol in both programs as a combination. It is the enrolment after admission that is combined, and not the admission consideration.
See the Combined Programs web page for contact information for applying to the partner program.
Separate from, and in addition to, choosing an admission category (General, Mature or Indigenous), Black applicants who seek to earn our JD degree are strongly encouraged to self-identify and select the optional Jackman Law BSAP which aims to increase Black law student representation at Jackman Law.
We recognize that the unique perspectives and experiences of Black individuals and Black communities deepen the talents and perspectives in law school. BSAP is an important part of our commitment to ensuring that legal education is accessible to talented students from all segments of Canadian society and that the legal profession represents the diverse communities that lawyers serve.
BSAP does not have a designated quota for admission. Applicants must meet the same LSAT requirements and academic requirements for admission that we seek from all candidates.
Applicants must apply to either the JD first-year or transfer program by our standard deadlines and procedures. In the School Submissions section of the OLSAS application, you may choose to:
- select the BSAP option and
- submit a BSAP Essay
Members of Jackman Law’s Black community read all BSAP written submissions, including the:
- Personal Statement (mandatory)
- Optional Essay (if you choose to submit one)
- BSAP Essay (if you choose to submit one)
The official immigration status in Canada and not the place of residence determines if one is international or domestic.
International students are those who are neither citizens nor Permanent Residents of Canada, and will require a Study Permit from the Canadian government, and a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from the Ontario government in order to study the JD. An offer of admission to the law school is required before you can apply to the Canadian government for the Study Permit.
We welcome applications from international students. The admission requirements, criteria and consideration is the same for all applicants regardless of immigration status. The post-secondary academic institution(s) attended should be recognized and accredited, and an equivalent to the Canadian quantity of education should be attained. There are no quotas for any category or type of applicant.
Canadian government student loan programs and our JD Financial Aid Program are open to domestic students only.
The LSAT is a half-day standardized test designed specifically for admission to Canadian and US law schools. It is administered entirely by the LSAC, a nonprofit organization located in the USA. The LSAC creates, conducts and scores the LSAT.
The LSAT is held online worldwide, and in some countries, in-person at a test centre. We do not have a preference and treat all scores the same. At Jackman Law the LSAT is required of all JD degree applicants (first-year and transfer) without exception.
- The 'regular' LSAT is the only standardized aptitude test accepted, the GMAT and GRE are not accepted.
- The Credential Assembly Service (CAS) provided by LSAC is not to be used for applying to Jackman Law.
When to take the LSAT? Acceptable Test Dates
Your account at LSAC must be active i.e., have a "currently registered" status for your scores to be reportable to law schools. Each LSAT score and each LSAT Writing is valid for the current and 5 prior test reporting cycles. Therefore prepare to take the test within the 5 years prior to your intended start year in the JD program, in accordance with the following acceptable test dates.
For entry into Jackman Law in 2027
- First Year entry
We will consider all LSAT scores from tests taken from June 2021 to November 2026 inclusively. Only those tests are acceptable, and applicants are strongly encouraged to take the test on one of the earlier dates during that period.
- Upper Year entry (transfers, letter of permission)
We will consider all LSAT scores from tests taken from June 2021 to April 2027 inclusively. Only those tests are acceptable, and applicants are strongly encouraged to take the test on one of the earlier dates during that period.
First Year Applicants: LSAT test after OLSAS Nov 1 Application Deadline
If you plan on taking the LSAT after the OLSAS application deadline, please still submit your application to OLSAS by its Nov 1 deadline. Do not wait to register for the test or for the test results, in order to apply to OLSAS, if it means that you will miss the deadline. The OLSAS application form will ask you to specify which future tests you intend to take, even if they occur after the JD application deadline. You can return to your OLSAS application at any time to revise your future test dates.
LSAT Scores: Submission, Repeats, Cancellations & Competitive levels
To submit your scores, on the online OLSAS application, provide your LSAC account number (obtained when registering for the LSAT). For scores that become available during the admission cycle, OLSAS will retrieve your LSAT score report automatically and provide it to the law school. Do NOT arrange with the LSAC to submit your scores.
The LSAT score report displays all test attempts and outcomes within the five years prior to the date of the report. All scores listed on the report will be seen and considered by the Admissions Committee. Generally, we place emphasis on the highest LSAT score reported.A test listed as cancelled on the report will indicate only that it was cancelled and not why it was cancelled. Therefore, a cancelled test provides no score information for use in our admissions.
The most recent competitive scores for admission can be found in the Admissions Policies & Holistic Review section.
Prepare & Register for the LSAT
Refer to the LSAC directly for full information on the test format, cost, fee waivers, sample preparation tests, test dates, test registration and accommodations for the test for candidates with disabilities.
Law School Admission Council (LSAC)
662 Penn Street
Newtown, PA 18940-0998
USATel: (215) 968-1001
e-mail: lsacinfo@lsac.org
Website: lsac.orgLSAC Law Hub
The test makers have extensive resources for preparing for the LSAT, including free online access to questions from actual past tests, and test simulations. At the LSAC web site please access the LSAT preparation resources.Jackman Law School Access Program (LSAP)
Jackman Law offers an in-person, free LSAT preparatory course, once a year, from May-August for persons from low-income families. Please read the specifications of the Law School Access Program (LSAP).Law School Prep Program at UofT Scarborough (LSPP @ UTSC)
For its undergraduate students exclusively, the U of T Scarborough campus offers an in-person, free LSAT preparatory program once each summer. For details and ALL inquiries, please review the LSPP @ UTSC.The Admissions Committee does not conduct interviews. Every applicant is required to submit a Personal Statement and is encouraged to submit applicable optional essays.
After a Jackman Law JD program has been selected, you may enter the contents for each document in its designated text box in the School Submissions section of the OLSAS application. In all your written submissions, try to avoid repetition when you write about your candidacy.All personal statements and essays of applicants who are offered admission are read by 3-6 Admissions Committee members that include students, senior administrative staff and faculty members. The BSAP Essay will also include Black-identified alumni. The statements and essays are not anonymized for review.
Personal Statement - Mandatory
Applicants are prompted to explain their interest in obtaining a legal education and why they have chosen to apply to the Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law. The mandatory Personal Statement has a maximum of 5,000 characters.
Applicants in the Indigenous category are strongly encouraged to discuss why they have chosen to apply through this category in their Personal Statement and/or Optional Essay. For example, you might reflect on your identification with, involvement in and connection to your Indigenous community or communities.
Optional Essay
You may choose to add 1 Optional Essay (maximum 2,500 characters). Provide any additional information about yourself that you would like the Admissions Committee to know, that is not already addressed in the Personal Statement.
Black Student Application Process (BSAP) Essay
For Black applicants, in addition to the mandatory Personal Statement and 1 Optional Essay, you may choose to submit 1 BSAP Essay (maximum 2,500 characters). The BSAP Essay offers a unique opportunity to discuss how your Black identity and lived experience has influenced your motivation to attend law school. You may choose to expand on previous opportunities for innovation, leadership, community engagement, and critical thinking.
The processing of applications for admission to any Ontario law school will be handled centrally and entirely by the Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS), which is a division of the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) located in Guelph, Ontario.
The Credential Assembly Service (CAS) provided by LSAC is not to be used for applying to Jackman Law.
OUAC processes applications for undergraduate full-time studies for Ontario's universities and for a number of second degree programs. OLSAS offers numerous benefits to applicants through a simplified application process and will also reduce duplication and processing costs at the universities. From late August applicants may apply online for entry in the following year.
Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS)
Ontario Universities' Application Centre
170 Research Lane
Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 5E2Tel: (519) 823-1063
Fax: (519) 823-5232
e-mail: olsas@ouac.on.ca
Website: http://www.ouac.on.ca/olsas/
First Year Applicants
Applications will be reviewed only after all required application components are received. Jackman Law will notify applicants of an incomplete application only after the admission cycle has ended and all offers of admission have been released. Once this notification has been issued, incomplete files will receive no further consideration.We will notify you of the admission decision by email. The bulk of offers will be sent in mid- to late January. A limited number of offers may occur on a rolling basis after this time until March. Waitlist notifications and refusals will be sent out in mid-March.
Conditional Offers of Admission
If you apply to the First Year JD program with postsecondary courses or degrees in progress, you may be admitted on the condition that you complete those courses or degrees prior to enrollment. An undergraduate degree (or equivalent) must be completed by the time of matriculation in May of the entry year.We will list admission conditions in your offer letter. Official final transcripts are due to OLSAS by June 30, 2027.
Upper Year: Transfer & Letter of Permission Applicants
Applications will be reviewed only after all required application components are received. You are responsible for ensuring that your file is complete.We will notify you of the admission decision by email, on a rolling basis, as files become complete. No offers of admission will be sent after course selection at Jackman Law has started (mid-July).
Conditional offers of admission and deferrals of admission are not considered for upper-year applicants.
Applications for admission to the JD first year in 2027 to Jackman Law must be submitted to OLSAS by 11:59 pm (Toronto time) on November 1, 2026.
OLSAS applications must be submitted by the deadline even if supporting documents are not yet available.
The information required by applicants to provide on the application form by the application deadline include the autobiographical sketch, verifiers, personal statement, the optional essay, and the BSAP Essay.
Externally-sourced supporting documents such as the LSAT scores and official transcripts may arrive after the deadline. Missing documentation can be submitted to OLSAS as soon as it becomes available. Applications will only be reviewed after all required documentation has been received via OLSAS.Application Fee
The OLSAS processing fee is CAD $200 plus a University Fee of $115 for each law school selection. All fees are non-refundable.
The University Fee, collected by OLSAS but remitted directly to Jackman Law, assists us in covering a portion of our costs associated with the admission assessment. Please see the OLSAS Application Guide for detailed fee information.
Fee Waivers
Information on fee waivers for the LSAT and the UofT University Fee for OLSAS applications is available at the First Year JD Program - Application Fees webpage.All applicants who have previously submitted an application via OLSAS who wish to re-apply in a subsequent application cycle, must submit a brand new application through OLSAS.
All application information and supporting documents (e.g. personal statement, essays, LSAT, transcripts, autobiographical sketch, verifiers etc.), must be re-submitted since OLSAS does not retain application materials after the end of an application cycle.
Deferral requests for entry into the first year of the JD program may be considered for 1 academic year, except for promoted wait-listed applicants. Deferrals are not guaranteed and are granted only in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Chair of the JD Admissions Committee.
An approved deferral permits admission to be postponed for 1 academic year. During this period, applicants may not apply to any other law school worldwide.
Deferral requests are reviewed on an individual basis and require applicants complete the following:
- Accept the offer of admission by the stated deadline.
- Pay the non-refundable tuition deposit by the stated deadline.
- Submit a written request detailing the reason(s) for the deferral to: admissions.law@utoronto.ca.
- Attach supporting documentation to substantiate the request (additional documentation may be required).