Law schools in Alberta, Canada: Programs offered & how to apply

Located in Western Canada and dubbed as the country’s center for energy, Alberta promises a lot of opportunities for educational and professional growth. Just like any other province in the country, legal education is bustling in Alberta, offering great prospects for future lawyers. 

So, what exactly do law schools in Alberta, Canada offer? To start, legal education in Canada can be classified according to the curriculum they offer: 

• Juris Doctor (JD): the required undergraduate degree for those who want to become a lawyer and practice law in Canada. Offered only by schools or faculties of law and was previously called Bachelor of Laws (LLB) 

• Graduate degrees: the post-JD degrees that lawyers may take for their continuing legal education. This includes Masteral and Doctorate degrees 

• Bachelor’s degrees: undergraduate degrees in legal studies or the like that are different from the JD program. It's often taken by students who are planning to get their JD degree 

How many law schools are there in Alberta? 

There are only two law schools in Alberta, Canada offering the JD program. However, other schools and universities in the province offer bachelor's degrees related to legal studies or legal education. 

The law schools in Alberta: 

• University of Alberta – Faculty of Law 
• University of Calgary – Faculty of Law 

Both offer the necessary JD program for aspiring lawyers and other graduate degrees for practicing lawyers in the province. Here’s a look at each one: 

University of Alberta – Faculty of Law 

The University of Alberta (also called UAlberta or U of A) is one of the public research universities in Canada. Its Faculty of Law being the oldest law school in Western Canada. This school ranks ninth among the top law schools in the country based on the latest world university rankings from Times Higher Education (THE). 

Aside from its Faculty of Law under the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, UAlberta has other Colleges that offer both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. 

UAlberta’s Faculty of Law offers these programs: 

• Juris Doctor (JD) 
• Master of Laws (LLM) 
• Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD) 
• Combined degrees 

The LLM is a one-year research degree program where students must articulate and defend a thesis for its completion. It is available for JD and LLB degree holders. 

LLM graduates of UAlberta or other universities in Canada may apply for its PhD program. The PhD program is a three-year research degree program offered for those who already have a postgraduate degree in law. Like the LLM, PhD students must articulate and defend a thesis. 

UAlberta has its own Internationally Trained Lawyer Pathway for foreign graduates of law schools who wish to complete their National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) requirements. 

One feature of UAlberta’s legal education is its MBA/JD Combined Degree, in partnership with the university’s Alberta School of Business. This is a four-year program, composed of courses from both the JD and MBA program. After the four-year period, the student will hold two different degrees. 

Admission requirements 

Requirements for admission include: 

• while there’s no minimum requirement, competitive LSAT scores are typically around the 161 range or within the 90th percentile 
• median range for GPA is 3.7 on a 4.0 scale 
• personal statement 
• references, preferably academic 

Here’s a look at what UAlberta has to offer its students: 

Head over to our complete list of all Canadian law schools for a quick comparison between law schools in Alberta, Canada and other provinces. 

University of Calgary – Faculty of Law 

The University of Calgary (otherwise known as UCalgary or U of C) is another public research university in Canada. It supports and offers research-based courses, from its undergraduate courses to its graduate programs. This school is in the top 15 of the best law schools in Canada in THE's rankings. 

Founded in 1976, its Faculty of Law offers the JD and other graduate degrees related to legal education. Aside from the main JD program, UCalgary offers two Joint JD Programs: 

• JD/MPP (Master of Public Policy): can be completed after three and a half years 
• JD/MBA (Master of Business Administration): can be completed after four years 

To be eligible for these programs, interested applicants must apply and be admitted by UCalgary’s Faculty of Law and one of these institutions: 

• School of Public Policy (for JD/MPP) 
• Haskayne School of Business (from JD/MBA) 

UCalgary offers other joint JD programs in partnership with other universities. These are: 

• International Energy Lawyers Program: joint JD program with the University of Houston Law Center, which allows graduates to take the Canadian and US bar; can be completed after four years 

• Dual JD program (LLB – JD): joint JD program with Jindal Global University that allows students to study both the Canadian JD and the Indian LLB; can be completed after four years 

Aside from the JD and its joint programs, UCalgary offers the following graduate degrees: 

• Master of Laws (LLM) (thesis-based or course-based) 
• Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD) 
• Master of Science (MSc) in Sustainable Energy Development 
• UCalgary’s LLM (thesis-based or course-based) has a specialization in Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law (NREEL).

UCalgary also offers other opportunities for current and future students who are interested in pursuing legal education: 

• Graduate Certificate in NREEL: students must complete its four courses and at least one with a research paper. To be admitted, one must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0-point system 

• Certification in Common Law in French (CCLF): this is in partnership with the University of Ottawa – Faculty of Law, where additional units must be earned during the second and third years in the JD program 

Admission requirements 

Requirements for admission include: 

• while there’s no minimum requirement, competitive applicants fall within the 84th percentile; all LSAT scores within the past five years are considered by the admission committee 
• median range for GPA is 3.7 on a 4.0 scale 
• personal statement 
• references, preferably academic 

Note that admission requirements vary per school. However, there are commonalities with what each school requires from students. 

Here’s a virtual campus tour of UCalgary: 

How many years does it take to complete law school in Alberta? 

For full-time students, law schools in Alberta offer JD programs in three years and another year of articling. After that, one must take up the bar examinations of the law society in the province where they want to practice law. 

The Bar Admission Program is administered by the Law Society of Alberta. However, instead of the bar exams, aspirants will have to complete the Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP) as part of the Bar Admission Program. 

In total, it may take four to five years of hard work to become a lawyer in Alberta, assuming all classes are passed at first take. This period excludes the time taken up during one’s undergraduate degree, as a pre-requisite for the JD program. 

Other schools offering law-adjacent studies in Alberta 

Aside from UAlberta and UCalgary, there are schools and universities in the province that offer undergraduate or graduate programs related to law:  

• NorQuest College: Diploma in Justice 
• MacEwan University: Diploma in Paralegal Studies 
• Northern Alberta Institute of Technology: Court Transcription 
• Southern Alberta Institute of Technology: Diploma in Legal Assistant 
• Red Deer Polytechnic: Diploma in Justice Studies and Diploma in Legal Assistant 
• Athabasca University: Bachelor of Professional Arts Major in Governance, Law, and Management 
• University of Lethbridge: Law Pre-professional Transfer Program (UAlberta or UCalgary) 
• Bow Valley College: Diploma Justice Studies – Correctional Studies Specialization or General Justice Specialization 

High school graduates may apply for any of these schools or universities. JD or LLB degrees are all physical classes. However, some undergraduate degrees or certificates can have an online or hybrid setup. Note that these colleges and universities do not offer the JD or the LLB program, which is the appropriate course if you want to sit for the bar exams. 

How can I get into a law school in Alberta, Canada? 

There are specific requirements to be admitted into any of the law schools in Alberta. The law society of Alberta is the primary source of information on the requirements to get into the practice of law. At the law-school level, however, most schools have slots designated for different student categories. 

Keep in mind that law schools in Alberta, Canada primarily teach common law. This means that after getting your JD degree, practice is limited to common-law provinces. That’s assuming you’ll take the bar exam for these jurisdictions. 

Admission categories 

These categories are rooted in the idea that legal education in the province must be inclusive. It also aims to accept a diverse set of law students every year. 

UCalgary offers the following admission categories: 

• Indigenous: for those who self-identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit 
• Black: for those who self-identify as Black 
• Persons with disabilities: for those with disabilities; on its website, the university states that "persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply and once admitted, we will accommodate you in accordance with university policy" 

UAlberta only offers the Indigenous admission category. 

How much does it cost to go to law school in Alberta? 

Tuition fees depend on a number of factors. Law schools in Alberta, Canada usually have tuition that falls within mid-range compared to other provinces. As for their JD program, below are the tuition fees for first-year domestic applicants: 

These costs and fees do not include other expenses such as non-academic fees, non-tuition costs, living costs, transportation, books and law materials, among others. You can also go directly to UAlberta and UCalgary webpages to check tuition rates for international students or out-of-province students. 

Financial aids and scholarships 

Students who are struggling with finances may apply for financial aid directly offered by law schools in Alberta, Canada. These are available upon admission during the first year or upon application. 

In UCalgary, there are entrance awards which automatically consider all students upon admission (e.g. UCalgary Law Entrance Awards of Excellence). There are also scholarships, awards, and bursaries that require express application. 

UAlberta offers three general groups of scholarships and awards that are either based on academic merit or financial need. UAlberta also offers merit scholarships, which are based on an incoming student’s academic record prior to law school. 

In addition to scholarships, there are other financial aids and loans available for new and current students. UCalgary offers separate financial aid to students from Alberta and those from other provinces. UAlberta offers Faculty of Law Bursaries and Faculty of Law Emergency Bursary. 

Preparing for law school in Alberta, Canada 

Residents of Alberta don’t have to go far if they want to become lawyers or be in the legal profession. Law schools in Alberta, Canada are some of the best in the country, giving you lots of options after graduating and passing the bar exam. Keep in mind that these schools set standards, so early preparation is best! 

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