Law schools in Québec: Admission requirements, tuition fees, and legal education

Québec is a unique province in Canada. Not only is it a Francophone province, it’s also the only province in the country that uses the civil law system. Their approach to legal education is, therefore, distinctly different from common law provinces like British Columbia and Ontario.  

So, what does this mean for aspiring lawyers who want to practice in Québec? While there are differences, the core process is almost the same. In fact, lawyers practicing in other provinces can gain admission to the Québec bar with additional requirements. 

If the goal is to learn and practice in Québec, however, here’s what you should know about their legal education system. 

What is a law degree called in Québec? 

The law degree that is necessary to practice law in Québec is the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Licentiate in Law (LLL). This is based on Québec’s civil law – the main legal system in the province – as taught by most law schools in Québec. In contrast, common law provinces grant Juris Doctor degrees to their graduates. 

For purposes of taking the bar and practicing law, the JD and LLB are the same in Canada. However, if you are an LLB degree holder wanting to practice in common law provinces, there may be additional requirements. The same is true if you’re a JD holder and want to practice law in Québec. 

Law schools in Québec 

There are five law schools in Québec. All of them offer legal studies for aspiring lawyers who want to be admitted to the Québec bar. These law schools use the French language when teaching law. Outside of Québec, there’s the University of Ottawa – Civil law program. This also caters to students who want to practice in Québec after graduating. 

The five law schools in Québec are: 

• McGill University – Faculty of Law 
• Université de Montréal – Faculté de Droit  
• Université de Sherbrooke – Faculté de droit  
• Université Laval – Baccalauréat en Droit 
• Université du Québec à Montréal – Faculté de science politique et de droit 

In these schools, the applicant must prove degrees of proficiency in the French and English language.  

Université Laval – Faculté de droit 

Located in Québec City, the Université Laval – Faculté de Droit (Laval University – Faculty of Law) is one of the oldest law schools in Canada. Called ULaval for short, this law school offers the following law degree programs: 

• Certificate of Law 
• Bachelor of Laws / Baccalauréat en droit (LLB) 
• Doctor of Laws (LLD) - research doctorate equivalent to a PhD 
• Master of Laws (LLM) 
• Master of Laws (LLM) in Notarial Law – specific for those who want to be notaries 

Its LLM program can be studied with or without the following concentrations: 

• Business Law 
• Environmental Law, Sustainable Development, and Food Security 
• Fundamental Rights 
• International and Transnational Law 

Do not be confused between ULaval’s Certificate of Law and Bachelor of Laws. The Certificate of Law is a short program meant for those who want to expand their knowledge of the law. Certificates usually take just one year to complete and do not qualify holders to practice law. 

The Bachelor of Laws, on the other hand, is the pre-requisite degree for those who are aspiring to become lawyers. 

Admission requirements 

Law schools in Québec have different admission requirements based on the category of student. Often, these students are divided based on whether they are residents of Québec or not. Here’s how admission is usually determined: 

McGill University – Faculty of Law 

The Faculty of Law of McGill University is one of the law schools in Québec which offers the BCL/JD Program. As a bilingual degree program, students are able to learn both common law (JD) and civil law (BCL). This allows graduates to also take the bar exam for common law provinces.  

The BCL/JD Program can be completed within three and a half years, or around four years for full-time students. In addition, the BCL/JD Program may be studied with a Joint Degree Program, which may be completed within four to five years. These Joint Degree Programs are: 

• BCL/JD and Master of Business Administration (MBA) 
• BCL/JD and Master of Social Work (MSW) 

Master of Laws is also being offered in the following: 

• General Law – Thesis or Non-Thesis 
• Air and Space Law – Thesis or Non-Thesis 
• Environment – Thesis or Non-Thesis 
• Bioethics – Thesis-based 

Finally, there’s a Doctor of Civil Law with concentrations on the following: 

• Law 
• Comparative Law 
• Air and Space Law 

Admission requirements 

Minimum admission requirements in law schools for Québec include: 

Here’s a great guide if you’re considering McGill: 

Université de Montréal – Faculté de Droit 

The Université de Montréal – Faculté de Droit is a Québec law school which offers Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and certain graduate studies, such as: 

• Master of Laws (LLM) 
• Master of Laws (LLM) in Comparative Common Law 
• Master of Laws (LLM) in Comparative Private Law 
• Master of Laws (LLM) in Notarial Law 
• Business Law in a Global Context (LLM) 
• Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD) 

Université de Montréal’s LLB students may also obtain a graduate degree through simultaneous study during the third year. These joint LLB-graduate degrees include: 

• LLB – Graduate Studies 
• LLB – Common law 

One of the unique offerings of Université de Montréal is its Juris Doctor (JD) in North American Common Law. This is a 32-credit graduate program where Québec-native lawyer can study both the Canadian and US common law. 

Admission requirements 

To be admitted for Université de Montréal’s LLB, you must meet one of these requirements: 

Note though that these are just minimum requirements. Targeted programs may have additional conditions for entry. 

Université du Québec à Montréal – Faculté de science politique et de droit 

The Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) offers its Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with the following concentrations: 

• Women’s studies 
• Indigenous studies 
• Ethnic studies 
• International communications 

UQAM also offers other programs and graduate degrees related to legal education, such as: 

• Certificate in Social and Labour Law 
• Bachelor's in international relations and international law 
• Master of Laws (LLM) both as a thesis or non-thesis option 

Admission requirements 

To be eligible for UQAM’s LLB, you must meet the following minimum requirements: 

Université de Sherbrooke – Faculté de droit 

The Faculté de droit (Faculty of Law) of the Université de Sherbrooke (UDS) is one of the law schools in Québec that offers the Baccalauréat en droit (Bachelor of Law/LL.B.) and a range of graduate programs. 

Its Baccalauréat en droit offers several pathways: 

• General Path 
• Cooperative Path 
• Pathway in Life Sciences 
• Pathway with MBA in Cooperative Regime 
• Pathway with a Graduate Diploma (DESS) in Common Law and Transnational Law 

Aside from these degree programs, UDS offers the following graduate programs: 

• Doctorate in Law 
• Master of Law 
• Master in Notarial Law 
• Master of Health Law and Policy 
• Master in Common Law and Transnational Law 
• Master in the Practice of Criminal and Penal Law 
• Master in Applied International Law and International Politics 

Admission requirements 

The admission requirements for UDS’s Bachelor of Law have two categories: general and specific conditions. 

The general conditions for admission to first cycle programs require applicants to have diplôme d'études collégiales (DEC). This is different from the specific conditions, which are itemized per pathway. 

Aside from the usual admission or applicant categories, UDS offers the Intermediary category. Under this category, you may apply for the Bachelor of Laws if you have completed 30 credits or more of an undergraduate degree program other than a common law program. 

The degree program may either be offered by another law faculty in Québec or by the civil law section of the University of Ottawa – Faculty of Law. 

Common categories for law schools in Québec 

While each Québec law school has its own specific admission requirements and process, there are still some similarities between these schools. For example, all 24 law schools in Canada categorize the student admission process. 

Creating categories helps create a more diverse population within the school. Plus, it ensures that individuals from different recognized groups are given equal opportunity to study the law. Here’s how law school categories are usually defined: 

Other requirements include submitting references, giving a personal statement, or even submitting to an interview. Law school requirements help schools better choose students, especially if the slots are very limited. 

How much does law school cost in Québec? 

Law schools in Québec offer some of the cheapest tuition in the country. Significant subsidies for Québec residents make this tuition even cheaper by comparison to other law schools. Here’s a quick look at the tuition costs for full-time students who live in the province. 

The figures above exclude the cost of living on campus, ancillary costs, cost of living, and other extracurriculars. Tuition is also subject to changes on a routine basis.  

LSAT/GPA requirements for law schools in Québec 

The good news is that law schools in Québec do not require you to take the LSAT. However, it may still be considered if the information is voluntarily provided. This is why it's best to offer your LSAT only if you’re happy with the score. Even in Québec, preparing for the LSAT and getting a good score can still increase your odds of admission. 

GPA is a different story. You may find that some Québec law schools have minimum requirements before acceptance. To remain competitive, a GPA of around 3.7 is encouraged. Here’s what you should know about optimal GPA scores: 

Enrolling in Québec law schools 

Law schools in Québec have a high admission rate of close to 50 percent. However, that doesn’t mean that becoming a lawyer in this jurisdiction is easy. Aspiring legal professionals should study thoroughly if they want to be admitted to the Québec bar.  

Unsure about what law school to go to? If you’re still thinking about best law schools in Canada, check out the legal education page to help you make that all-important decision!