Specialized Graduate Diploma in Canadian Law
This program intends to meet the training needs of students who hold a common law degree and who are seeking to enter a bar admission program in a Canadian province (except Quebec) or territory. It is designed to provide a solid foundation in the methodology as well as the substantive and procedural rules of Canadian law. This includes a working knowledge of the Civil Law system of Quebec, a definite asset for the Canadian legal profession.
Courses are specifically designed to meet the requirements of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada’s National Committee on Accreditation (NCA). In order to receive a Certificate of Qualification, an individual application must be made to the NCA which will assess it on its merit. The NCA may require applicants to complete additional courses that are not included in this Graduate Diploma. In such a case, students should apply for admission in the LLM in Comparative Common Law.NCA policy requires all applicants who plan to complete their assigned requirements at law school to seek approval of the NCA prior to starting the courses. To do so, please email nca@flsc.ca. [CR1]
After having successfully compeleted the Specialized Graduate Diploma Program, students can be admitted to the LLM in Comparative Common Law. To complete this program, they will need to follow two additional graduate studies courses and write an essay (9 credits). This can be done during the summer term, from May to August. [Note: this option will be added during the Winter term of 2024].
Detailed overview (link in French, English version to come shortly)
Program content
The Specialized Graduate Diploma in Canadian Law is a full-time 8-month program that runs from September to April.
The program requires the successful completion of 30 credits, allocated as follows*:
- DRT 6466 - Legal research and drafting seminar (3 cr.) - Recherche juridique et séminaire de rédaction
- DRT 6583 – Ethics and professionalism (3 cr.) - Éthique et professionnalisme
- DRT6200 – Quebec's civil law system (3 cr.) - Système de droit civil québécois
- DRT6502 – Foundations of Canadian and Indigenous law (3 cr.) - Fondements du droit canadien et autochtone
- DRT6593 – Canadian criminal law 1 (3 cr.) - Droit criminel canadien 1
- DRT6594 – Canadian criminal law 2 (3 cr.) - Droit criminel canadien 2
- DRT6597 – Canadian constitutional law 1 (3 cr.) - Droit constitutionnel canadien 1
- DRT6598 – Canadian constitutional law 2 (3 cr.) - Droit constitutionnel canadien 2
- DRT6595 – Canadian administrative law (3 cr.) - Droit administratif canadien
*Course titles will appear in French in the transcript.
Students must also choose a 3-credit elective course among the courses offered in other graduate law programs, with the approval of the dean or his or her representative, or from the undergraduate language course repertoire.
Language
All courses in this program are taught in English.
Students are welcome to take French language courses. The first one can be considered an elective course of the program, while subsequent courses will be followed in addition to the regular program.
Admission requirements
- Juris Doctor or LL.B in common law with high academic standing; civil law degrees do not meet the admission requirements of this program
- Average of at least 2,7 on 4,3 or equivalent
- Thorough knowledge of the English language. Students whose primary language is not English or who have not completed an undergraduate degree at a recognized institution where English is the language of instruction are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or an equivalent test, and should achieve a score judged satisfactory by the Dean of the Faculty of Law
- Meet the other admission requirements specified in the academic regulations of the Faculty of Graduate Studies on this page (in French only).
Duration
2 terms, full-time, September to April.
Fall admission only.
Possibility to study part-time will be available as of Fall 2025.
Tuition
Tuition will vary according to your status, whether you are an international student or of Canadian nationality.
For tuition details, please visit this page (in French only).
A fee increase is anticipated for 2024-2025 following a new government policy, to be confirmed in the Spring of 2024. Expected tuition for Canadian students non resident of Quebec is approximately 12 000$/year (for two terms, from September to April).
Other fees are charged (approximately $600/semester) to all students enrolled at Université de Montréal. For details, please visit this page (in French only).
For scholarships and financial aid, please consult these links (in French only):
Scholarships and Financial aid from the US and other Canadian provinces
Application procedure
Deadline: June 1st to start the following September
When applying, select program number 2-328-1-3.
