Regular Applicant Category
Special Circumstance Consideration Applicant Category
Mature Student Applicant Category

Aboriginal Applicant Category

Access Applicant Category

Regular Applicant Category

Deadlines
Application: November 1, 2004
Documentation: November 1, 2004

Last Accepted LSAT
February, 2005

Documentation Required

Academic Requirement
To be eligible for admission, applicants must have successfully completed a minimum of two years at a recognized university (equivalent to 10 full courses, minimum 60 credit hours of graded course work).

Applicants should note, although courses completed at a community college, CEGEP, or as part of a non-degree study abroad program, may be recognized for advanced standing toward an undergraduate degree, such courses do not count towards the minimum requirement of 60 assessable credit hours and are not used in the calculation of cumulative grade-point averages for entry purposes.

LSAT Requirement
Applicants with a score below the 80th percentile are encouraged to retake the LSAT.

Background
Osgoode receives approximately 1,600 applications for 215 places. Successful candidates typically possess an A- average at university and an LSAT score in the 85th percentile and higher.

Review Process
The principal factors, taken into account in deciding admissibility, are an applicant’s overall pre-law academic grade point average (GPA) and their LSAT score. Our current practice is to weigh the LSAT score as equivalent to one year of university work (or 30 semester hours). The LSAT score is blended in with the applicant’s pre-law record for an overall average.

The calculation of the overall average serves to identify those applicants who clearly are admissible on academic grounds alone and those who clearly fall short of entrance standards. Although primary emphasis is placed on the applicant’s academic record and LSAT score, when decisions are being made between candidates with essentially equal academic standing and scores, or when determining entrance scholarship eligibility, information concerning an applicant’s academic and non-academic experience is carefully weighed. It should be noted, a candidate who meets minimum standards is not guaranteed admission.

Offers of admission to Regular applicants may be made as early as December with the majority of first-round offers completed by February. Offers continue to be made on a rolling basis as final grades are received.

Special Circumstance Consideration Applicant Category

Deadlines
Application: November 1, 2004
Documentation: November 1, 2004

Last Accepted LSAT
February, 2005

Documentation Required

Description
Osgoode Hall Law School will consider significant matters brought to its attention by applicants, which they believe should, in addition to their academic record, be included in the evaluation of their admissibility to the law school. Applicants may apprise the Admissions Committee of circumstances that have affected portions of their academic performance such as a significant change in program, extraordinary involvement in worthwhile activities of a non-academic nature, family obligations or other factors beyond the control of the applicant, for example, illness, tragedy, etc. during periods of study. It should be noted that while situations might seriously hamper sustained academic excellence, they should be distinguished from those circumstances that create systemic barriers to education, such as those considered through the Access admissions category.

Academic Requirement
To be eligible for admission, applicants must have successfully completed a minimum of two years at a recognized university (equivalent to 10 full courses, minimum 60 credit hours of graded course work).

Applicants should note, although courses completed at a community college, CEGEP, or as part of a non-degree study abroad program, may be recognized for advanced standing toward an undergraduate degree, such courses do not count towards the minimum requirement of 60 assessable credit hours and are not used in the calculation of cumulative grade-point averages for entry purposes.

LSAT Requirement
LSAT score not less than the 75th percentile is required.

Background
Osgoode receives approximately 250 applications for 15 places. Successful candidates typically possess a B+ average at university and an LSAT score in the 80th percentile and higher.

Review Process
Applicants must possess an LSAT score not less than the 75th percentile and must complete the Special Circumstance section of the Category Supplemental Information. Corroboration must be provided as part of the application. A candidate who meets the minimum standards and criteria is not guaranteed admission. The committee will consider applicants based on a comparison of candidates’ strength of grounds and academic strengths. Offers of admission are generally made in May and decisions are made on the basis of information available at the time of review.

Mature Student Applicant Category

Deadlines
Application: November 1, 2004
Documentation: November 1, 2004

Last Accepted LSAT
October 2004 (Note: the December 2004 LSAT is not considered)

Documentation Required

Description
The purpose of the Mature Student Applicant program is to facilitate the admission of persons who have demonstrated through the length and quality of their non-academic experience an ability to successfully complete the LL.B. program and who, in the opinion of the Admissions Committee, will make a positive contribution to the community upon graduation.

The Admissions Committee has identified three basic types of Mature Student applicants, to which the committee accords priority in the following manner: (1) those without a university background or who have less than two years at university; (2) those from groups under or unrepresented in the legal profession; and (3) those with two or more years of university studies or having graduated from university.

Minimum Requirements
To be considered, applicants must satisfy all of the following minimum requirements:

A. For applicants without a university background or who will have completed less than two years (ie. 60 assessable credit hours) of study at university:

• Must be 26 years of age or older on or before September 1, 2005.
• Must have a minimum of five years out of post-secondary education sometime in the past (summer jobs or co-op jobs between terms of full-time study does not count toward the five year requirement)
• Must have written the LSAT no later than the October 2004 test sitting (note, this is a firm requirement)
• Must achieve an LSAT score of not less than the 26th percentile
• Must have demonstrated through the length and quality of their non-academic experience achievement in professional and/or volunteer endeavors.

B. For applicants who have completed two or more years (ie. 60 assessable credit hours) of university study:

• Must be 30 years of age or older on or before September 1, 2005.
• Must have a minimum of five years out of post-secondary education sometime in the past (summer jobs or co-op jobs between terms of full-time study does not count toward the five year requirement)
• Must have written the LSAT no later than the October 2004 test sitting (please note this is a firm requirement)
• Must have an LSAT score of not less than the 26th percentile
• Must have demonstrated through the length and quality of their non-academic experience achievement in professional and/or volunteer endeavors.

LSAT Requirement
LSAT score not less than the 26th percentile is required.

Background
Osgoode receives approximately 200 applications for 30 places. Successful candidates typically possess a B+ average at university (where applicable) and an LSAT score in the 60th percentile and higher.

Review Process
Applicants must complete the Mature Student/Aboriginal Student section of the Category Supplemental Information as part of the application to be considered. Based on a comparison of candidates’ personal, academic, volunteer and professional strengths, the Admissions Committee will select a limited number of eligible applicants (approximately 50) to be interviewed by members of the committee. The committee generally interviews applicants throughout the month of February and possibly into early April. Offers of admission are typically made in April.

It should be noted applicants who meet minimum requirements and criteria are not guaranteed an interview. Similarly, applicants who are interviewed are not guaranteed admission. Some Mature Student applicants may be assessed on the basis of documentation only. Unsuccessful applicants who have been interviewed will not be eligible to apply through the Mature Student applicant category in the following year.

Aboriginal Applicant Category

Deadlines
Application: November 1, 2004
Documentation: November 1, 2004

Last Accepted LSAT
February 2005

Documentation Required

Description
Osgoode Hall Law School is concerned that members of First Nations, Inuit and Metis do not have substantial representation in the legal profession, and accordingly strongly encourages applications from these groups.

Academic Requirement
To be eligible for admission, applicants must have successfully completed a minimum of two years at a recognized university (equivalent to 10 full courses, minimum 60 credit hours of graded course work).

Applicants should note, although courses completed at a community college, CEGEP, or as part of a non-degree study abroad program, may be recognized for advanced standing toward an undergraduate degree, such courses do not count towards the minimum requirement of 60 assessable credit hours and are not used in the calculation of cumulative grade-point averages for entry purposes.

LSAT Requirement
LSAT score not less than the 26th percentile is required.

Background
Successful candidates typically possess a B average at university and an LSAT score in the 50th percentile and higher.

Review
The Admissions Committee’s decision to admit an applicant ultimately depends on its judgment of the applicant’s ability to successfully complete law school. To be considered, applicants must possess a LSAT score not less that the 26th percentile. Decisions are typically made by early March.

Median LSAT score and Grade-Point-Averages (GPA) for admitted students typically fall in the range of a 50th percentile LSAT and a cumulative undergraduate average of ‘B’.

Program of Legal Studies for Native People
Osgoode Hall Law School endorses the Program of Legal Studies for Native People at the University of Saskatchewan, which provides a ‘head-start’ program during the summer preceding the first year of the LL.B. program. At times the Committee may determine they have insufficient evidence to definitively decide whether an offer of admission can be made. In such a case admission to Osgoode Hall Law School may be made conditional upon successful completion of this program. Applicants who are made a ‘non-conditional’ offer are not required by Osgoode to complete the summer program at Saskatchewan as a condition of entry into first year. For more information about the Program of Studies for Native People, interested applicants are encouraged to write to The Native Law Center at the University of Saskatchewan.

Access Applicant Category

Deadlines
Application: November 1, 2004
Documentation: November 1, 2004

Last Accepted LSAT
February 2005

Documentation Required

Description
In recognition of concerns that the sole use of conventional measures of ability can have discriminatory effects, Osgoode Hall Law School has devised and implemented an Access admission category. Its aim is to recruit and admit individuals with good academic potential who have themselves confronted, or who are from groups which have confronted identifiable social, educational and/or economic barriers to education in general or legal education in particular.

Applicants may identify barriers of a systemic, enduring nature, or they may list several contributing factors. The following is a guide to the type of information the Admissions Committee considers relevant when discussing factors that have influenced access to education:

Personal - proficiency in English; language spoken in the home; ethnic or racial background; place of birth and, if born outside Canada, when arrived in Canada
Family - parents’ place of birth and, if born outside Canada, when arrived in Canada; family size and make-up (for example, number of siblings; single-parent family etc.); parents’ and siblings’ educational backgrounds; family’s economic background (for example, income, occupation, home ownership, and any serious disruptions to the family’s economic situation (for example, long-term unemployment)
Education - whether you attended school in a rural or urban setting and whether you had access to educational resources, such as libraries, etc.
Economic - whether you were required by economic circumstances to work substantial hours (ie. 30 hours per week or more. Note: corroboration must state number of hours per week worked) while attending school to support yourself or your family
Physical or Sensory Impairment - whether you have a physical handicap or sensory impairment which has affected your educational opportunities
Learning or Psychological Disability - whether you have a learning or psychological disability which has affected your educational opportunities.

Academic Requirement
To be eligible for admission, applicants must have successfully completed a minimum of two years at a recognized university (minimum 60 credit hours of graded course work).

Applicants should note, although courses completed at a community college, CEGEP, or as part of a non-degree study abroad program, may be recognized for advanced standing toward an undergraduate degree, such courses will not count towards the minimum requirement of 60 assessable credit hours and are not used in the calculation of cumulative grade-point averages for entry purposes.

LSAT Requirement
LSAT score not less than the 26th percentile is required.
(Applicants with a score below the 50th percentile are encouraged to retake the test)

Background
Osgoode receives approximately 200 applications for 30 places. Successful candidates typically possess a B+ average at university and an LSAT score in the 60th percentile and higher.

Review Process
Applicants must possess an LSAT score not less than the 26th percentile and must complete the Access section of the Category Supplemental Information as part of the application. The Admissions Committee makes decisions based on a comparison of candidates, carefully considering assessed grounds, academic performance and LSAT scores. It should be noted that a candidate who meets the minimum standards and criteria or presents factors the Committee considers relevant when discussing access to education is not guaranteed admission.

Offers of admission are typically made in May and decisions are made on the basis of information available at the time of review.