How to Apply

Complete an online application and pay your C$115 application fee (payable by credit card).

Arrange for the following documentation to be sent to the Schulich School of Law, Graduate Studies Office:

1. Two copies of your official university transcripts (originals only – a notarized translation is also required for each non-English transcript in addition to an original transcript sent directly from the host university in a sealed envelope). You must include transcripts from every university degree program you've attended. They must be sent directly from the granting instiution to the Schulich School of Law Graduate Studies Office. In the case of institutions unable to send physical copies of transcripts due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they can send an official electronic copy directly to lawgrad@dal.ca
   
2. If you are an international student and your language of instruction was not English, results from your English language proficiency test.  These results must be sent directly from the office that administered the test. If the mode of instruction and evaluation of your postsecondary degree came from an institution in a country that recognizes English as an official language you may be eligible to waive this requirement.
   
3. TWO letters of reference, preferably from academic specialists in law who are familiar with your work and your scholarly capabilities. You will have the opportunity to include the referee contact information on your online application, otherwise these letters must be sent directly from the referees to the Schulich School of Law Graduate Studies Office.

Graduate Studies Office (lawgrad@dal.ca)
Schulich School of Law
Dalhousie University
Room 441, 6061 University Avenue
PO BOX 15000
Halifax NS B3H 4R2
CANADA

Send the following to the Schulich School of Law, Graduate Studies Office or via email to lawgrad@dal.ca:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. 1-2 page Motivation letter, this should include, but not be limited to:
   
   • indication of who within our current faculty you would have interest in working with (please do not reach out to them directly)
   • demonstration of how past academic and professional experience will help success in the program
   • future career goals, and how the program will support those goals
   • if taking the program by coursework, provide details of which courses you would hope to take to complete the degree
3. Completed Applicant Questionnaire
4. All LLM applicants must include a preliminary major paper proposal or thesis proposal (depending on whether you are applying for the course or thesis based LLM). The proposal should be roughly 1,000 words and include:
   • A proposed title for the paper or thesis.
   • A brief description of the research topic to be explored.
   • A clear articulation of the research question(s) to be answered or the hypothesis to be tested, and what the potential impact and contribution of the project will be.
     
   • A clear articulation of the research methodology or methodologies to be applied
   • A clear articulation of the relevant theory to be explored.
   • A working draft of the bibliography that clearly identifies the background research the student has carried out to develop the proposal (not included in the word count).

This proposal will serve to inform the committee on the most appropriate supervisors for thesis students, and it will inform the committee's assessment of all applicant's academic writing ability. The final thesis proposal will ultimately be worked on with your supervisor during the program.

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Complete list of publications (if any)
3. Writing sample, in English, of a legal essay (approximately 3000 words)
4. Motivation letter, stating why you are interested in the Schulich School of Law and what you hope to achieve with your degree.
5. Thesis proposal (maximum approximately 3000 words) should include:

• A proposed title for the paper or thesis.
• A brief description of the research topic to be explored.
• A clear articulation of the research question(s) to be answered or the hypothesis to be tested, and what the potential impact and contribution of the project will be.
  
• A clear articulation of the research methodology or methodologies to be applied.
• A clear articulation of the relevant theory to be explored.
• A working draft of the bibliography that clearly identifies the background research the student has carried out to develop the proposal (not included in the word count).