Admission to Upper Years

Who can apply?

Persons who have successfully completed First year in the common law program of another law school, within or outside of Canada, may apply to complete their studies at UM Faculty of Law. 

Category Requirements

1. LSAT score by January in the calendar year in which admission is sought;
2. A written statement (maximum length is two (2) eight and a half by eleven inch pages) indicating why you would like to continue your legal studies at UM Faculty of Law (include compassionate circumstances, if applicable);
3. Official transcripts from pre-law and legal studies;
4. Two letters of recommendation, preferably academic. 

Application Assessment

The application is reviewed as a whole, with no weight attached to any one requirement. The Admissions Committee needs to be able to accommodate the student in completing First Year program requirements which have not been met during their study at the other law school, if necessary.

Who can apply?

Persons applying for admission already have earned a J.D. degree or its equivalent from another law school, or are entitled to practice law in a foreign jurisdiction and are seeking the J.D. degree from the University of Manitoba. A maximum of up to two (2) years of credit may be granted.

Category Requirements:

1. A LSAT score by January of the calendar year in which admissions is sought, and
2. Official transcripts from legal studies as well as pre-law studies, and
3. Official proof of English proficiency, if applicable.

Application Assessment

The application is reviewed as a whole, with no weight attached to any one requirement. The Admissions Committee must agree that the applicant would have been admitted to our First Year class in the Index Score category had the applicant applied for admissions to our Faculty in the applicant’s year of entry to the study of Law elsewhere.

Who can apply?

Persons applying for admission are registered at another law school and are seeking to earn credits at UM Faculty of Law, for a period of no more than two semesters, and applied towards their law degree at their home institution.

Category Requirements:

1. An official letter from home law school confirming permission for the applicant to take up to two terms of credit, and
2. Official transcripts from legal studies, and
3. A written statement (maximum length is two eight and a half by eleven inch pages) indicating why you wish to continue your legal studies at UM Faculty of Law.

Application Assessment:

The Admissions Committee must be satisfied as to the quality of the academic performance at the home law school. Admissions decisions are partially made on the availability of courses requested by the student.

Who can apply?

Persons applying for admission in this category are not seeking our J.D. degree, but wish to meet the educational requirements towards the practice of law in Canada. One would have a law degree from a civil law school in Canada or from a foreign law school, or is/was entitled to practice law in a foreign jurisdiction.

Category Requirements:

1. A written statement indicating connection with/to the province of Manitoba;
2. Recommendation Report from the National Committee on Accreditation;
3. Official transcripts from legal studies (transcripts of pre-law studies are not required), and
4. Proof of English Proficiency, if applicable.

Application Assessment:

The application is reviewed as a whole with no weight attached to any one requirement. It should be noted no specific number of seats are reserved for NCA applicants in any one year, and competition is especially keen.

Cost of Attendance:

Tuition for courses completed as an NCA student are calculated on a per credit hour basis, plus non-instructional fees (approximately $1,700 per academic year). Tuition rates for 2023-24 are (approximately): $396.67/credit hour (domestic rate) or $970.48/credit hour (international rate).