| |
|
« TLS Profiles - TLS Programs - TLS Stats - Rankings Canada: University of British Columbia (UBC) Faculty of LawNote: Applying to the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law can be initiated through their website. Introduction:
Location wise, the University of British Columbia has a very scenic campus, being situated in a park-like environment that covers over 1,000 hectares of forested peninsula looking out over the Pacific Ocean and coastal mountains. It is also, conveniently, just outside of downtown Vancouver, making the university easily accessible by public transit. As one of the largest Canadian cities, with a population of nearly two million people, Vancouver is an increasingly important international city. It also happens to be bordered by beaches and mountains, and boasting a year-round temperate climate due to the nearby Pacific Ocean. Beyond the physical beauty and warm weather, UBC Law is a beacon of contemporary legal knowledge in issues such as Asian legal studies, feminist legal studies, First Nations legal issues, dispute resolution, environmental and natural resources law, among others. It is also the home of the National Centre for Business Law, providing its students with a world-class centre for business law, scholarship and teaching. Furthermore, Faculty of Law graduates have not only assumed leading roles in the Canadian judicial system and legal profession, both in B.C. and nationally, but also in the business world, politics, government, the community and academic world. Consequently, it is no surprise that every year, many of the very finest students in Canada choose the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law as the place where they will pursue their legal education. For International (and U.S.) students: Note, the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law teaches Common Law, like most Canadian Law Schools. Universities within the province of Québec generally teach Civil Law, because of the different legal system within that province. The only exceptions to this are the University of Ottawa (which teaches Common, Civil, and both) and McGill University (which teaches both). Admissions:
As a result of this policy, the Faculty of Law weighs both GPA and the LSAT equally. According to the website, as a practical matter, this means that the lowest competitive GPA for regular admission would be a 68%, along with a 99th percentile LSAT score. Conversely, an LSAT score of 155 but a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 86% would be just as competitive. UBC Law permits students in the regular category of admissions to ask for special consideration due to various factors that may have adversely affected their academic record. This so called “Discretionary Category” is limited to a small number of positions, and is where a student may not satisfy one or more of the requirements for admission but may have other relevant achievements and experience. The Admissions Committee maintains the discretion to respond to this type of situation by taking into account factors such as disability or special needs, financial disadvantage, age (generally for applicants over 30 years of age), membership in a historically disadvantaged group or any other factors the applicant wishes the committee to consider. These factors will be considered in context of the applicant’s other achievements, work experience, and/or volunteer work. While students in the regular category are not required to submit reference letters (and in fact, they will not be read if they are submitted), students in the Discretionary Category are expected to provide two reference letters. There is no specific form required, but they should be mailed directly to the office by the referee, and the referee should sign the back of the envelope. The University of British Columbia Faculty of Law also offers a First Nations Program, for students with Aboriginal ancestry. These students may apply as discretionary applicants in the First Nations category. Aboriginal applicants should contact Associate Director of the First Nations Legal Studies Program, Andrea Hilland, at hilland@law.ubc.ca or (604) 822-2177 as early as possible to discuss their application. Please note that aboriginal students at UBC Law have additional documentation requirements above and beyond the regular application, including a biographical essay, two reference letters and proof of aboriginal ancestry. Financial Costs: Attending the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law is, like most law programs, an expensive endeavor. The precise tuition does vary depending on the course load, but domestic tuition for a full course load in 2008-2009 was assessed at $9,741.89; while the international students tuition for that same period was $22,556.45. This is comparable to most other Canadian law schools. In addition to the cost of tuition, students attending the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law can expect to pay student fees in the neighborhood of $850 per year. Beyond tuition of course, students will need to purchase books, supplies, accommodations, food, transportation and etc. The Faculty of Law estimates these expenses to be approximately $12,500 according to the LSAC data, but this may be an optimistic assessment. In 2006, Vancouver was ranked as the 56th most expensive city to live in among 144 major cities in the world, and the 2nd most expensive in Canada, after Toronto. Financing Your Education: The University of British Columbia Faculty of Law offers a wide range of merit-based scholarships and a comprehensive needs-based funding program. According to figures provided by UBC, law students annually receive over $4.5 million in funding, including $300,000 in scholarships and $700,000 in non-repayable bursaries and work-study wages. Despite this commitment however, students do bear the primary responsibility for planning finances and securing funding. With this in mind, UBC advises students that your credit rating may play a role in your ability to access financial assistance. Despite this, the UBC website does offer links to Outside Awards that are not affiliated with UBC but are open to students on an annual basis. For the 2009-2010 academic year, these include the Canadian Bar Association Viscount Bennett Fellowship, the American College of Trial Lawyers essay contest, and the Think Privacy! competition. Additionally, students with aboriginal ancestry may benefit from specific awards beyond those offered by UBC, while students with disabilities may also be offered an additional range of awards. Finally, the UBC website features an extensive area with assistance on how to plan for your financial costs. The timeline covers the period from January of the year before you enroll into October of the year you begin your studies. It includes steps such as figuring out your program costs, applying for student loans, engaging in a work-study program, applying for bursaries and to continue watching for scholarships. This useful guide can be found here: http://www.law.ubc.ca/prospective/financing/costs/planning.html For International (or U.S.) students: The majority of merit-based awards are available to international students. It is important to note however, that most forms of need-based assistance will not be available. Academics: Students attending the University of British Columbia will spend much of their time in the Curtis Building, which opened in 1975. This building contains many of the amenities that students will require throughout the duration of their studies, featuring the law library, faculty and student offices, classrooms, a full formal courtroom and a small cafeteria. The law library is comprised of over 300,000 library volumes, is open seven days a week (84 hours), features 3 full-time librarians, a full range of electronic journals and databases, 567 seats and 20 computer workstations. Furthermore, students have access to the Centre for Asian Legal Studies which offers courses in Japanese, Korean and Chinese law for graduate and undergraduate students. Finally, the large Student Union building is nearby. This building contains a full array of recreational and food service facilities. Beyond the physical facilities, students are given an orientation program which introduces them to the faculty, other students, lawyers and the judiciary, and to the start of their study of law as an academic discipline. To this end, the first year program features a required set of courses and activities, while the second and third years of study are chosen from a much wider range of options. First Year Curriculum: First year students at UBC Law can expect to benefit from the recent curricular reform which was underwent by the school. The hallmark of the new program is an expansion of the range of subjects taught in first year, less reliance on 100% final examinations, a diversification of evaluation methods and finally, smaller classes. In fact, first year classes at UBC law are now taught in groups of approximately 45 students, allowing students more direct contact with instructors and more opportunities for feedback. This change has allowed for an enhanced legal research and writing (LRW) program, allowing students to complete up to twelve writing assignments in their first year alone. In terms of courses, students during their first year can expect to take eight compulsory courses. These courses feature the common staples of Canadian Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law & Procedure, Property Law and Torts, which are all year long courses. However, the new curriculum has also been expanded to include The Regulatory State, Transnational Law and Law in Context. The last of these is taught in an innovative “bridge-week” format designed to expose students to the concepts of the legal profession and professionalism, while also introducing theoretical and critical perspectives of the law. Upper Year Curriculum: The upper year program at UBC Law is fairly flexible, with only a few requirements. First, students must take at least one course in each of Public Regulation, Private Regulation, Procedure, Law and Society Studies, and Legal Research and Writing. Each of these disciplines offers a list of potential courses that qualify, for example, the Public Regulation requirement could be met by taking either: LAW 200 Aboriginal Peoples and Canadian Law, LAW 210 Administrative Law, or LAW 220 Taxation I. Many of the courses included in the lists are courses that most students will take anyway throughout their studies, such as Trusts, Family Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Competitive Moots and Advocacy, or Trial Advocacy. Beyond this requirement, students are expected to complete at least one independent research project and submit a substantial paper embodying the results of this research. This requirement could also be met by taking a four-credit seminar or completing a project of Directed Research. Finally, students are expected to take a minimum of 92 credits over their three years, including 35 in the first year of study. Students may take between 28 and 34 credits each year, allowing a theoretical maximum of 103 credits or a theoretical minimum of 91. This is to say that, in either second or third year, the student must take at least 29 credits. Dual Degree Programs: The Faculty of Law offers two principal dual degree programs, with a J.D. / M.A. in Asia Pacific Policy Studies (MAPPS) through the Faculty of Law and the Institute of Asian Research, and a J.D. / MBA program, through the Faculty of Law and The Saunder School of Business at UBC. It’s worth noting that the former of these programs can be completed in three years, with the summer of year 2 being dedicated to the MAPPS practicum, while the latter requires a fourth year. Quality of Life: Students attending UBC Law will be located at the University of British Columbia’s Point Grey campus, located just outside of the city limits of Vancouver, British Columbia. Vancouver is a Pacific Ocean coastal city with a metro population of 2,116,581 as of the 2006 census. It is the largest metropolitan area in Western Canada and the third largest in the country, with 52% of residents having a first language other than English. This diversity also extends to a sizeable aboriginal community, with the largest native community in the province, and a substantial gay community, which led to British Columbia being the second Canadian jurisdiction to make same-sex marriage legal. These factors, combined with the urban planning that began in the 1950s, led to BBC News in 2002 ranking Vancouver as one of the most livable cities in the world. This fact has made it an important destination for a wide variety of international conferences and events. In fact, the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2010 Winter Paralympics will be held in Vancouver and nearby Whistler, which is 125km north of the city itself. More directly affecting students of course, are the on campus student activities available. Law students can expect to benefit from being able to participate in both the University of British Columbia Law Review and the Canadian Journal of Family Law. The latter of these was the first academic journal in Canada to devote itself to the promotion, development and articulation of issues in the field of family law. Students also have access to the Law Students’ Society, as their student organization, and the elected Faculty Council Students Caucus which participates in faculty committees and governance. The dedication to academics at UBC has also led to a high level of performance at provincial, national and even international moot court competitions. Further, the Law Student’s Legal Advice Program and the Pro Bono Students’ Association provide extensive legal aid services to the public on a volunteer basis. Finally, UBC Law offers a handy guide on its website to a list of organizations and student clubs which students participate in, ranging from Amnesty International to the Women’s Caucus. You can find this list here: http://www.law.ubc.ca/current/general/activities.html. Employment Prospects: Students attending the University of British Columbia Law can expect to benefit from the Career Services Office (CSO) which is staffed by two full-time professionals (former lawyers) and one administrative support person to provide advice and information to students pursuing a wide array of goals. The CSO runs programs to prepare students for summer, articling and clerking, while also offering resources for students desiring non-traditional career options. The CSO also assists students by providing personalized career counseling, interview preparation, resume reviews, mock interviews and speaker panels. Graduates of UBC Law consistently secure employment across Canada, in the U.S. (albeit primarily in New York), and around the world in law firms and public interest organizations. For International (and U.S.) students: Please note, that like other provinces, individuals wishing to practice in British Columbia are expected to complete their Articles before becoming a fully fledged lawyer. It is recommended that you become familiar with the Law Society of British Columbia website on what it requires to become a member of the legal profession within the province. Information, on specific requirements and processes, can be found here: http://www.lawsociety.bc.ca/ Synopsis The University of British Columbia Faculty of Law is an outstanding law school, currently ranked by Macleans as one of the very best in the country; and as the best in Western Canada. Its excellent reputation offers great career prospects in British Columbia and abroad. If you wish to practice law in Canada, it is an excellent choice. A degree from the University of British Columbia is a great start to a lengthy legal career. Contact Information - Reception Faculty of Law Contact Information - Admissions 1822 East Mall Quick Reference: Domestic 2008-2009 Tuition: $9,741.89 |
Stanford Law School Yale Law School Harvard Law School University of Virginia School of Law Pepperdine Law School Northwestern Law School Cornell Law School Michigan Law School Golden Gate Law School Duke Law School Columbia Law School Temple Law School Loyola Law School UCLA School of Law Villanova Law School New York University Law School UC Hastings Law School Santa Clara Law School UPenn Law School Berkeley Boalt Hall University of Chicago Law School UC Davis Law School Fordham Law School George Washington Law School Georgetown University Law Center New York Law School UNC Chapel Hill Law School Boston College Law School Boston University School of Law Emory University Law School The University of Iowa College of Law University of Minnesota Law School The University of Texas School of Law The University of Southern California School of Law (Gould) Vanderbilt University Law School Washington University in St. Louis School of Law Wisconsin Law School The University of Alabama School of Law George Mason University School of Law The University of Colorado School of Law Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington University of Notre Dame Law School The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law The University of Illinois College of Law The University of Washington School of Law William & Mary Law School Washington and Lee University School of Law The Arizona State University College of Law The Baylor University School of Law The Case Western Reserve University School of Law The University of Georgia School of Law The Brigham Young University Law School The Southern Methodist University School of Law Tulane University Law School The University of Connecticut School of Law University of Florida Levin College of Law Wake Forest University School of Law Vermont Law School The University of Utah College of Law Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law of Yeshiva University The University of Tennessee College of Law The University of Cincinnati College of Law The University of Pittsburgh School of Law University of Maryland School of Law The University of Kentucky College of Law The University of Houston College of Law The Florida State University College of Law Chicago-Kent College of Law (Illinois Institute of Technology) Brooklyn Law School University of Arizona College of Law American University College of Law University of San Diego School of Law Northeastern University School of Law University Of Miami School Of Law University of Richmond Law Oregon School Of Law Lewis & Clark School of Law Rutgers Law - Camden South Carolina Law Seattle University School of Law PSU School of Law Canada: University of Toronto Faculty of Law DePaul University College of Law Rutgers-Newark School of Law Hofstra Law School Seton Hall Law School Missouri - Columbia Law School Indiana University Indianapolis Law Buffalo Law School UNLV Law School St. John's School of Law The University of Denver Law School University of Louisville School of Law The University of Oklahoma College of Law Georgia State University College of Law Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center Loyola University Chicago School of Law Marquette University Law School University of Kansas School of Law Canada: University of Alberta Faculty of Law St. Louis University School of Law University of New Mexico School of Law Catholic University's Columbus School of Law The University of Maine School of Law Gonzaga University School of Law The University of Arkansas School of Law University of San Francisco School of Law Canada: Dalhousie Law School Canada: McGill University Faculty of Law Canada: University of Ottawa Faculty of Law Canada: Osgoode Hall Law School (York University) Canada: UBC Faculty of Law IE Law School- Northwestern Law Executive LLM Program IE Law School- Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Practice University of California – Irvine School of Law |
The University of British Columbia Faculty of Law was founded in 1945, and is the second largest Canadian common law school, second only to Osgoode Hall in number of students. Since that time, it has also developed into one of the nation’s very best law schools, with Macleans 2008 rankings placing it as the best law school in Western Canada, and the 4th best in the entire country. Students at the Faculty of Law also benefit from the tremendous faculty that teaches there, with its faculty being cited third most among Canadian law schools in journals, according to Macleans ranking methodology. Beyond the statistical measures, UBC is also one of the few Canadian law schools that is currently offering a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, as opposed to the more traditional Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree. 
Admission to the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law is extremely competitive, with over 1,700 applicants seeking a mere 180 spots. It is not surprising that as a result, the Faculty of Law is perhaps the second most selective law school in Canada, with a median GPA of 82% and a median LSAT of 164. That said, students seeking admission to the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law who already have a degree, will have their 12 lowest credits removed (the equivalent of 4 semester courses or 2 year long courses) from their transcript when calculating their GPA; while students in their third year of study will have their the equivalent of their 6 lowest credits removed.