The University of Saskatchewan College of Law offers a Certification in common law in French - Certification de common law en français (CCLF), which has been launched through a partnership with the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law.

The CCLF will allow incoming students with competencies in French the unique opportunity to obtain a Certificate in French Common Law from the University of Ottawa during the completion of the three year University of Saskatchewan J.D. program. 

This joint program is the first of its kind in Canada, and will allow selected students the opportunity to gain valuable skills in French legal writing and advocacy as well as a deep understanding of the important issues surrounding language rights in Canada. 

Selected students will complete an exchange in Ottawa, compete in a moot court competition with teams throughout Canada, be paired with experienced mentors in the legal profession, and have the opportunity to complete a credited internship with law firms, organizations and government actors that work in French. 

These unique experiences will give participating students the necessary tools to offer legal services in French upon graduation. The CCLF is a first step towards a varied and rewarding career, including:

• opening doors to prestigious clerkships with the Supreme Court of Canada, the federal courts and the federal public service;
• accessing legal careers where legal training and proficiency in both official languages is an asset;
• contributing legal services to the Francophone community, in the language to which they are entitled;
• contributing to the administration of justice in both official languages; and
• becoming part of a network of 1,000 alumni of the uOttawa French Common Law Program who share this unique training, recognized for its excellence in Canada and around the world.

The CCLF is open to students entering their first year of studies in the University of Saskatchewan J.D. program.

For more information on this unique program, please contact Doreen Petrow, Admissions Officer, College of Law at doreen.petrow@usask.ca or Professor Caroline Magnan, Director, CCLF Program, at cmagnan@uottawa.ca.

• Program Details

Bachelor of Commerce/Juris Doctor

The combined BComm/JD program allows students to obtain both the commerce and law degrees in six years rather than the seven years needed to complete the degrees separately. This program works well for those students who are majoring in areas of the Commerce program that require 18 credit units for completion. Students in a major requiring more than 18 credit units (Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, Management, and Supply Chain Management) should consult a program advisor. Students initially apply to the Edwards School of Business and spend three years completing the core and major classes. Once a student has gained admission to the College of Law, they complete the regular three-year JD program. Students receive their BComm after successful completion of two years in law. For information on this program, please contact the Edwards School of Business.

Bachelor of Business Administration/Juris Doctor

The University of Regina and the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan jointly offer a Combined Degree Program of Business Administration and Law leading to a BBA/JD in six years. Please contact Student Recruitment & Advising at the Paul J. Hill School of Business at the University of Regina for information on this program.

Juris Doctor/Masters of Business Administration

Applicants for the JD/MBA program must have a four-year bachelor level degree as well as a current LSAT score. Applicants will be given an opportunity to apply during first year Law. Please contact the Edwards School of Business at USask or the College of Law at USask for more information on this program.

Bachelor of Arts/Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Science/Juris Doctor

The combined BA/JD or BSc/JD program can be completed in five years, including spring and summer session. Up to 18 credit units in the JD program may be counted as senior electives in the College of Arts and Science. Grades from all of the eligible law courses attempted will be used in the calculation of the Arts and Science average. Contact the USask College of Arts and Science for more information on this program.

Bachelor of Arts (four-year)/Juris Doctor

To complete either program, students may use 18 credit units in law courses toward the elective requirements for the BA Four-year program, and so complete both degrees in less time than if taken separately. Contact the USask College of Arts and Science for more information on this program.

Apply as a General applicant if you meet the entrance requirements and do not meet criteria for Discretionary or Indigenous applicants.

Reference letters for General applicants are not accepted.

The College of Law recognizes exclusive reliance on the standard criteria for admission would unfairly prejudice the prospects of applicants whose academic record, for reasons beyond their control, does not reflect their ability to successfully pursue the study of law. Accordingly, special consideration will be given to applicants with educational disadvantages. Examples of such disadvantages include:

• First language other than English
• Barriers resulting from ethnic or racial background
• Employment or family obligations preventing earlier application
• Disability or other condition that hinders access to, or effective use of, educational opportunities
• Significant interruption of post-secondary education

Consideration for admission of applicants in Discretionary category

Discretionary category applicants will be admitted based on the Admission Committee's assessment of their potential to succeed in the Juris Doctor (JD) degree program. There is no formal quota for discretionary applicants, but the number of accepted applicants in this category is necessarily limited.

Additional documentation required

Applicants seeking special consideration must complete all steps in the General application procedure and provide additional documentation that includes:

• a statement identifying and explaining the nature of their educational disadvantage or interruption of studies
• any relevant supporting documentation, such as medical reports (full medical records or reports are not required; what is most useful to the committee is to have a concise statement from a medical or other relevant professional describing the effect that a condition has had or may have on academic performance)
• details of any relevant occupational experience or community involvement
• two to three supporting letters of reference from persons unrelated to the applicant who can comment on the applicant's aptitude and potential for law studies. These reference letters must come directly from the individual supplying the reference through your online account. It is strongly recommended that at least one of these be an academic reference
• Proof of proficiency in English, if English is not your first language

The University is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and are proud to support academic opportunities for Indigenous students. We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous students provide to strengthen these relationships. Applicants who assert Indigenous membership/citizenship will be asked to complete the verification process of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin: Indigenous Truth policy and the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy.

Please visit the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin page to proceed through the verification system. If you have any questions or require additional information about deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin please contact: indigenoustruthpolicy@usask.ca.

Additional documentation required

Applicants must complete all steps in the General application process and provide additional documentation that includes:

• two supporting letters of reference from persons unrelated to the applicant who could comment on the applicant's aptitude and potential for law studies. These reference letters must come directly from the individual supplying the reference through your online account. It is strongly suggested that at least one of these be an academic reference.

First-year law students wishing to transfer from common law JD programs at other Canadian universities to the College of Law, University of Saskatchewan, must satisfy certain academic requirements. Official transcripts of pre-law and law school marks must be submitted to this College directly from the issuing institutions. A completed online application form and a $125.00 non-refundable application fee must also be submitted. All transfer students must have a current LSAT score.

Approval of all transfers to the College of Law, University of Saskatchewan will depend on the quality of legal studies previously demonstrated and the number of spaces available. Preference normally will be given to Saskatchewan residents. The deadline for receipt of requests to transfer is February 1 and required documentation must be completed by June 30.

Applicants are generally expected to study law on a full-time basis. However, part-time status may be granted on a discretionary basis in certain circumstances. Applications for part-time status are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The part-time program is available to assist applicants who have family commitments, disabilities, health needs, occupational obligations or financial needs which prevent full-time study. It is also available to applicants who have not been in an academic institution for a significant number of years. The program is not intended for those who want to test their interest in law or who would prefer a light course load. Part-time students are required to attend classes at regularly scheduled times, and therefore must be available to attend classes during the day time.

Applicants who wish to be admitted on a part-time basis must submit a written statement giving reasons why they are unable to pursue full-time studies. Those admitted as part-time students must complete the first year of the three-year Juris Doctor degree before they can change their status to full-time.

If you are a prospective student interested in applying to the part-time program, please contact us.

Students wishing to complete one year or one term at the University of Saskatchewan's College of Law for credit towards a degree from another Canadian law school may apply as "Letter of Permission" students. The dean or associate dean of that law school must provide us with a letter granting permission to complete your requirements at the USask College of Law. 

Official transcripts of pre-law and law school marks must be submitted to our college directly from the issuing institutions. A completed application form, a $125.00 non-refundable application fee and a current LSAT score are also required.

Individuals with law degrees from non-Canadian law schools who are interested in becoming members of a law society in Canada must have their credentials assessed by the National Committee on Accreditation. The University of Saskatchewan College of Law does not offer courses to students who are seeking to meet the requirements of the National Committee on Accreditation.

For more information on having your credentials assessed, please contact:

Federation of Law Societies of Canada
613-236-7272
info@flsc.ca

All applicants are required to take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). The LSAT is designed to measure certain mental abilities important in the study of law and accordingly, to aid law schools in assessing the academic promise of applicants.

The Admissions Committee considers your highest LSAT score over the past five years. Scores prior to June 2020 will not be accepted for September 2025.

The LSAT is offered several times throughout the year. The January administration is the last score accepted for September entry, but applicants are strongly encouraged to write the test earlier if possible. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis, and some offers of admission and decisions about scholarships will be made before January LSAT scores are available.

More information on the LSAT including registration, fees, testing dates and testing centre locations can be found on the Law School Admission Council's website.

Your personal statement provides us with further information about you that will be used when reviewing your application. Include information on special academic interests and achievements, work experience (including volunteer work), special skills, personal attributes and any other significant life experiences (e.g., family-related, travel, etc.). The personal statement must be composed entirely by you and should not exceed a maximum of 500 words.

Online applications will open Oct. 15, 2024, for September 2025 entry. Supporting documentation for September 2025 entry can be submitted beginning Oct. 15, 2024. Deadline to submit supporting documentation in all categories is Feb. 1, 2025.

The application deadline is Feb. 1, 2025, for September 2025 entry.

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that their file is complete. You can do this by checking your Supplemental Item List after your application is submitted.

• Apply

Pay the application fee of $125 CAD online by credit card. Your application will not be processed until this fee is received.

USask applicants: Students who have completed all of their university studies at the University of Saskatchewan do not need to submit transcripts. Transcripts must be submitted for any part of an applicant's studies taken elsewhere.

Applicants who have studied elsewhere: For applicants who are currently taking classes, we require both mid-term (December) and final (April) transcripts. Please arrange to have each university attended email your transcripts to law.admissions@usask.ca. If your university does not provide transcripts by email, please arrange to have them mail the transcripts to: College of Law, University of Saskatchewan, 15 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK  S7N 5A6. The deadline for submission of mid-term (December) transcripts is February 1 of the year you will be starting first-year law.

Without transcripts, your documentation will be considered incomplete and your application will not be considered.

The deadline for submission of final transcripts is June 1 of the year you will be starting first-year law.