Everything to know about law schools in Alberta, Canada

Located in Western Canada and dubbed as the country’s center for energy, Alberta promises a lot of opportunities for educational and professional growth.

Just like any other province in the country, legal education is bustling in Alberta, offering great prospects for future lawyers.

In this article, we will talk about the two law schools in Alberta, Canada for those want to study here as a first-year law student or as a PhD or Masteral student.

What are the law schools in Alberta, Canada?

Legal education in Canada can be classified according to the curriculum they offer:

• Juris Doctor (JD): the required undergraduate degree for those who want to become a lawyer and practice law in Canada. Offered only by schools or faculties of law and was previously called Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
• Graduate degrees: the post-JD degrees that lawyers may take for their continuing legal education; includes Masteral and Doctorate degrees
• Bachelor’s degrees: undergraduate degrees on legal studies or the like that are different from the JD program; may be taken before enrolling for a law school's JD program

While there are only two law schools in Alberta, other schools and universities in the province offer bachelor's degrees related to legal studies or legal education.

These are the only law schools in Alberta:

• University of Alberta – Faculty of Law
• University of Calgary – Faculty of Law

Both offer the necessary JD program for aspiring lawyers and other graduate degrees for practicing lawyers in the province.

University of Alberta – Faculty of Law

The University of Alberta (also called UAlberta or U of A) is one of the public research universities in Canada, with its Faculty of Law being the oldest law school in Western Canada.

Aside from its Faculty of Law under the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, UAlberta also has other Colleges that offer both undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

UAlberta’s Faculty of Law offers these programs:

• Juris Doctor (JD)
• Master of Laws (LLM)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD)

The LLM is a one-year research degree program where students must articulate and defend a thesis for its completion. It is available for JD and LLB degree holders.

LLM graduates of UAlberta or other universities in Canada may apply for its PhD program. The PhD program is a three-year research degree program offered for those who already have a postgraduate degree in law. Like the LLM, PhD students must articulate and defend a thesis.

UAlberta has its own Internationally Trained Lawyer Pathway for foreign graduates of law schools who wish to complete their National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) requirements.

One feature of UAlberta’s legal education is its MBA/JD Combined Degree, in partnership with the university’s Alberta School of Business.

This is a four-year program, composed of two years under the JD program, one under the MBA, and another combining courses from both JD and MBA. At the end of this four-year period, a graduate will have earned two degrees.

This video explains the features of UAlberta’s MBA/JD Combined Degree:

Head over to our page on Legal Education if you’re interested to find more articles on law schools across Canada.

University of Calgary – Faculty of Law

The University of Calgary (otherwise known as UCalgary or U of C) is another public research university in Canada. It supports and offers research-based courses, from its undergraduate courses to its graduate ones.

Founded in 1976, its Faculty of Law offers the JD and other graduate degrees related to legal education. Aside from the main JD program, UCalgary offers two Joint JD Programs:

• JD/MPP (Master of Public Policy): can be completed after three and a half years
• JD/MBA (Master of Business Administration): can be completed after four years

To be eligible for these joint JD programs, interested applicants must apply and be admitted by UCalgary’s Faculty of Law and one of these institutions:

• School of Public Policy (for JD/MPP)
• Haskayne School of Business (from JD/MBA)

UCalgary offers other joint JD programs in partnership with other universities:

• International Energy Lawyers Program: joint JD program with the University of Houston Law Center, which allows graduates to take the Canadian and US bar; can be completed after four years
• Dual JD program (LLB – JD) with Jindal Global University: allows students to study both the Canadian JD and the Indian LLB; can be completed after four years

Aside from the JD and its joint programs, UCalgary also offers the following graduate degrees:

• Master of Laws (LLM) (thesis-based or course-based)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD)
• Master of Science (MSc) in Sustainable Energy Development

UCalgary’s LLM – whether thesis-based or course-based – has a specialization in Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law (NREEL). Both may also be used for a foreign lawyer’s National Committee of Accreditation requirements to be able to practice law in Canada.

UCalgary also offers other opportunities for current and future students who are interested in pursuing legal education:

• Graduate Certificate in NREEL: students must complete its four courses, and at least one with a research paper. To be admitted, one must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 point system
• Certification in Common Law in French (CCLF): this is in partnership with the University of Ottawa – Faculty of Law, where additional units must be earned during the second and third years in the JD program

Watch this video for a short video tour of UCalgary’s Faculty of Law:

For an overview of legal education in the country, take a look at our roadmap to studying law in Canada.

Schools and universities offering legal education

Aside from UAlberta and UCalgary, there are other schools and universities in the province that offer degree programs (undergraduate or graduate) related to law:

• NorQuest College: Diploma in Justice
• MacEwan University: Diploma in Paralegal Studies
• University of Lethbridge: Law Pre-professional Transfer Program (UAlberta or UCalgary)
• Bow Valley College: Diploma Justice Studies – Correctional Studies Specialization or General Justice Specialization
• Southern Alberta Institute of Technology: Diploma in Legal Assistant
• Northern Alberta Institute of Technology: Court Transcription
• Red Deer Polytechnic: Diploma in Justice Studies and Diploma in Legal Assistant
• Athabasca University: Bachelor of Professional Arts Major in Governance, Law, and Management

High school graduates may apply for any of these schools or universities. After completing them, graduates may now enroll for the JD program.

Again, these colleges and universities do not offer the JD or the LLB program, which is the appropriate course for studying law in Canada.

The JD program is only offered by UAlberta and UCalgary.

How can I get into one of the law schools in Alberta, Canada?

There are specific requirements to be admitted into any of the law schools in Alberta. Each program – JD, LLM, and PhD – has its own eligibility requirements.

Admission requirements

Admissions for the two law schools in Alberta are similar. Both law schools also refer to an applicant’s Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) scores and GPA for their admission.

Here are the applicant requirements for the JD program for both law schools:

1. University of Alberta:
   • undergraduate degree, or at least the first three years (90 credits) of a degree program leading to an undergraduate degree
   • LSAT score – will accept scores from the past 5 years, submitted before September of the year application is made
   • GPA score
2. University of Calgary:

• undergraduate degree, or at least 60 credits/units towards a program of study leading to a bachelor’s degree
• LSAT score - must be written before January of the year application is made
• GPA score

The required GPA scores are calculated using the most recent 60 units/credits (equivalent to 2 years of full-time study). This may either be from an undergraduate or graduate degree.

There’s also no specific undergraduate degree or pre-law course that is required by any of these law schools.

Admission categories

There are admission categories that applicants may choose from if they do not meet all the eligibilities or requirements of these law schools.

These categories are rooted in the idea that legal education in the province must be inclusive. It also aims to accept a diverse set of law students every year.

UCalgary offers the following admission categories:

• Indigenous: for those who self-identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit
• Black: for those who self-identify as Black
• Persons with disabilities: for those with disabilities they state on their website that "Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply and, once admitted, we will accommodate you in accordance with university policy."

UAlberta only offers the Indigenous admission category.

Admission procedures

Here’s a summary of the admission procedure for both law schools:

1. Write the LSAT
2. Submit the application, along with supporting documents, indicating the application admission
3. Pay admission fees
4. Receive the application results via email or snail mail

How much does it cost to go to law school in Alberta?

Tuition fees will vary per program. As for their JD program, below are the tuition fees, including the other necessary fees upon admission, for the first year:

These costs and fees do not include other expenses such as non-academic fees, non-tuition costs, living costs, transportation, books and law materials, among others.

Curious to know which law schools in Canada offer the lowest tuition fees? Our article on the most affordable Canadian law schools has all the details.

Financial aids and scholarships

Students who are struggling with finances may apply for the law schools’ financial aid and other scholarships. These may be offered either upon admission during the first year or upon application.

In UCalgary, there are entrance awards which automatically consider all students upon admission (e.g. UCalgary Law Entrance Awards of Excellence). There are also scholarships, awards, and bursaries which require express application.

UAlberta offers three general groups of scholarships and awards that are either based on academic merit or financial need:

• academically based scholarships
• leadership/service awards
• essay, research and course prizes

UAlberta also offers merit scholarships which are based on an incoming student’s academic record prior to law school.

In addition to scholarships, there are also other financial aids and loans available for new and current students. UCalgary offers separate financial aid to students from Alberta and those from other provinces, while UAlberta offers Faculty of Law Bursaries and Faculty of Law Emergency Bursary.

How long is law school in Alberta?

Law school in Canada is finished after three years of JD program and another year of articling. After that, one must take up the bar examinations of the law society in the province where they want to practice law.

In Alberta, the Bar Admission Program is administered by the Law Society of Alberta. However, instead of the bar exams, aspirants will have to complete the Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP) as part of the Bar Admission Program.

All in all, it may take up to 4 to 5 years to become a lawyer in Alberta. This period excludes the time taken up during one’s undergraduate degree, as a pre-requisite for the JD program.

Head over to our complete list of Canadian Law Schools 2023/24 for information of the other Canadian law schools, aside from the law schools in Alberta, Canada.