Education requirements

Candidates must have a minimum of two years of university studies (60 credits), or a diploma of collegial studies (DCS) from a Quebec College of General and Professional Education (CEGEP), at the time of registration.

Although candidates who have completed 60 credits of university study are eligible to apply to the Faculty of Law, the strength of the pool is such that almost all students admitted in the 'university' category have completed an undergraduate degree.

Candidates admitted directly from CEGEP should be aware that Bar Admission requirements in a number of states include studies at the university level prior to commencing studies in law.

Language requirements

All applicants to McGill's integrated program must demonstrate substantial reading ability in, and aural comprehension of, both English and French. Both English and French material will be assigned in all first-year courses and in many upper-year courses; students are therefore expected to read complex texts in both languages from the outset of their studies.

First-year courses in law are offered in both English and French. A number of upper-year courses are offered in one language only. While examination questions are set in the language in which a course is given, any examination may contain extensive materials in either French or English. Students may use either language when asking or answering questions in class, writing exams, or when submitting written material.

French Language Self-Assessment Questionnaire
[French_Self_Assessment.doc - MS Word - 70.5 KB]
Potential applicants often wonder whether their current ability in French will allow them to meet the linguistic demands of studying law at McGill. To assist those applicants, we are offering a language self-assessment questionnaire developed by the Centre for Second Language Learning at the University of Ottawa. The questionnaire takes only 20 minutes to complete and will give you a good sense of the adequacy of your language skills for our programs.

Egan vs Canada
[Egan-vs-Canada-excerpts.pdf - PDF - 291.49 KB]
Please read these French and English excerpts a judgment in the Egan v. Canada case. Use it to compare your comprehension of the two versions and assess the effort required to read legal materials in French, and whether you are comfortable making that effort. Obviously, you should not expect to understand all the legal ramifications of the text at this point. If you have any doubts about your ability to read legal texts in French, carefully consider this sample in coming to a decision.

LSAT

For specific information about the Law School Admission Test, please refer to our LSAT page or check the LSAT section of our FAQ.