Micro-Diploma in Canadian Public Law

Expected duration: up to 2 years

The Micro-Diploma in Canadian Public Law, and its counterpart, the Micro-Diploma in Canadian Private Law, will help ensure lawyers educated outside Canada get a strong start to their legal careers in Canada. The program provides legal education to meet the NCA’s required competencies, while offering connections with the Manitoba legal community.
The Micro-Diploma in Canadian Public Law is a modular program, which requires students to take 13 credit hours of core coursework related to public law in Canada:

• LAW 1002: Preparation for the Study of Law in Canada;
• LAW 1140: Criminal Law and Procedure;
• LAW 1460: Constitutional Law; and 
• LAW 3530: Administrative Law.

In addition, students may take up to 5 additional credit hours in Law Courses from the Juris Doctor (JD) Program. Additional courses may also be taken to meet the requirements of the student’s NCA Assessment Report or for additional interest.

Students are eligible to be considered for admission to the Micro-Diploma in Canadian Public Law or the Micro-Diploma in Canadian Private Law if they meet the following requirements:

• Students have completed a common law or civil law degree (LLB or JD equivalent) in a law program approved by the National Committee on Accreditation of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada (NCA).
• Students have a current (no more than 4 years old at the time of submission of the student’s application for admission) NCA Assessment Report.
• Students provide evidence of proficiency in English as outlined in the section below.

Students who meet the minimum requirements for admission to the program are not guaranteed admission.

Applicants will be evaluated based on their qualifying credential GPA and professional skill and experience as demonstrated through:

• academic transcripts including annotations including GPA and/or indication of standing,
• evidence of proficiency in English as described below,
• NCA Assessment Report,
• NCA Assessment Completion report if applicable,
• personal statement (of no more than 1500 words, double-spaced. There are no specific guidelines on what to include in the personal statement),
• résumé or Curriculum Vitae,
• two letters of recommendation,
• professional writing sample.

Students wishing a reconsideration of an admission decision must direct their request to the Director of the Internationally Trained Lawyer Program within ten business days of the posted decision date. Should the student wish to pursue the reconsideration decision further, an appeal must be made in accordance with the Senate Committee on Admission Appeals Procedure.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

Evidence of proficiency in English is required for admission; and may be demonstrated by: 

• possessing a University degree completed in English from Canada or one of the countries listed on the English Language Proficiency Test Exemption List, or
• successfully completing a recognized English language proficiency test.

All applicants whose primary language is not English and do not meet the University of Manitoba’s English language proficiency regulations will be required to demonstrate their command of the English Language through one of the following options:

1. Overall minimum score of 100 with no section lower than 24 on the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language - TOEFL (iBT).
2. Minimum score of 7.0 on the Academic model with no less than 7.0 on each section in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
3. Minimum score of 80 with no subtest below 80 on the Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL).