Law

Law

Master of Laws (LLM)

Course-based program

Program overview

The course-based LLM program is designed for those seeking to deepen their knowledge of a particular area of law, whether for professional or academic reasons. Students take courses and complete a major research paper on a topic of their choice. The course-based LLM will also appeal to internationally-trained lawyers who seek an introduction to the Canadian legal system, although it is not usually especially helpful for students seeking to satisfy the National Committee of Accreditation’s requirements for legal practice in Canada. The program can be completed on either a full-time or a part-time basis. Full-time students should expect to complete their programs in 12-16 months. A specialization in Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law (NREEL) is available. Admission to this program is highly competitive: meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

The Faculty of Law has a wide range of research expertise. We have long been leaders in natural resources, energy and environmental law. Other areas of particular research strength include business and tax law, private law, administrative law and regulation, criminal law, Indigenous people and law, international law, human rights law, legal history and theory, and the law pertaining to privacy, security and technology. The Faculty of Law is a home of the Journal of Environmental Law and Practice and for our  acclaimed law blog, ABlawg.

Our LLM program was included in the LLM Guide's top 10 energy law programs worldwide (2019). Our program earns this recognition for strengths in examining the relationship between society and the environment, in defining the interests we claim in the world around us, and in shaping the consequences of using those resources. The faculty has endowed chairs in natural resources law, in business law, and in business regulation. Our substantial law library complemented by the internationally-renowned Canadian Institute of Resources Law, which hosts symposia and publishes research on natural resources and energy law.

Completing this program

  • Core Courses: Graduate Seminar in Legal Research and Methodology and Law 707 & 708, in which you complete your Major Research paper.
  • Additional Courses: Five additional courses are required. Students completing a specialization in Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law must complete these courses in this area.

Specializations

  • Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law

Outcomes

Private practice, in-house counsel, government, regulatory bodies and non-governmental organizations in the specialty area. This program is also an efficient springboard to doctoral programs in Law. For more information, email lawgrad@ucalgary.ca

 

Course-based program

Three core courses and five electives

Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar

Classroom delivery

Time commitment

Expected completion time of 16 months for full-time students. Five years maximum

 

Supervisor

No supervisor is required

Fees and funding

See the Graduate Calendar for information on fees and fee regulations, including program-specific fees and fees for JD courses, and for information on awards and financial assistance.

Virtual Tour

Explore the University of Calgary (UCalgary) from anywhere. Experience all that UCalgary has to offer for your graduate student journey without physically being on campus. Discover the buildings, student services and available programs all from your preferred device.


Admission requirements


GPA

A minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the Law degree. To be competitive, applicants will generally have GPAs considerably above the minimum.

International applicants should visit this website to determine whether or not their GPAs meet program minima.

Minimum education

Ordinarily, a JD, LLB or equivalent degree in law.

Work samples

None

Documents

  • A C.V.
  • Writing Sample: Should be approximately 10-30 pages long. It must be your own original writing. It should be reasoned scholarly or professional work that serves to demonstrate to a committee of professors that you have a well-developed capacity for writing, analysis and research. It may be published or unpublished. Do not submit writing that you co-authored with someone else: application files relying on co-authored work will be treated as incomplete. Be prepared to explain in your application the circumstances under which you wrote it. Do not submit any material that is confidential or to which others might have claims of privilege, e.g. confidential or privileged memoranda prepared for clients or employers.
  • Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions that you have attended, including any that you may currently be attending. Information about transcripts is available HERE

Reference letters

Two

Test scores

None


English language proficiency (ELP)

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

*Please contact your program of interest if you have any questions about ELP requirements

 Dates and Deadlines

For admission September 1:

  • Application portal (below) opens September 1.
  • Application deadline: December 1.
  • Deadline for submission of supporting documents and reference letters: December 15.

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements

Learn more about this program

The Faculty of Law

Law Graduate Programs
MFH 2380, 2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, ABT2N 1N4
403.210.8718

Contact the Graduate Program Administrator

Visit their website