Dalhousie Law School
6061 University Avenue
Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4H9
Phone: 902.494.2068, Fax: 902.494.1316
Internet: www.dal.ca/law, E-mail: law.admissions@dal.ca

Introduction

Dalhousie Law School, located in the beautiful maritime city of Halifax, is the oldest university common-law school in the British Commonwealth. In 1983, Dalhousie Law School celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding. It is one of the three common-law schools in Atlantic Canada and enjoys a stellar reputation for scholarship and innovation. Dalhousie is a national school and accepts large numbers of students from all parts of the country. Over the years, graduates of Dalhousie Law School have had a distinguished influence on the development of law, legal education, and public institutions throughout Canada and internationally. Its LLB degree is recognized for the purposes of bar admission in all common-law provinces.

Enrollment/Student Body

1,400 applicants
163 enrolled first-year class 2006 492 total full time
9 part time 10 provinces represented

Faculty

88 total 42 full time 58 part time or adjunct
19 full-time women 4 full-time minority

Law Library

285,038 library volumes and equivalents
library hours: Mon.–Thurs., 8:00 am–10:45 pm; Fri., 8:00 am–9:00 pm; Sat., 9:00 am–6:00 pm; Sun., 11:00 am–10:45 pm. Library hours are extended during the exam periods.
LexisNexis, Quicklaw, WestlaweCARSWELL, Maritime Law Book
5 full-time professional staff, 8 support staff library seats 282
information commons seating: 20
access provided to all major Canadian and American legal databases plus electronic access to over 2,200 law journals and subject specific materials

The Sir James Dunn Law Library opened in the summer of 1989 adjacent to the Weldon Law Building following a serious fire in 1985. The combination of a professional staff, a solid collection, and the latest in technology has created an excellent environment in which to pursue the study of law.

The library collection in both print and digital form supports the teaching and research interests of the faculty, law students, and the graduate law student program at both the Masters and Doctoral level. In addition, the library collection supports the scholarly and research programs of the Health Law Institute, the Maritime and Environmental Law Institute, and the Law and Technology Institute affiliated with the Faculty of Law. The International Law collection and the Maritime and Environmental Law collection are particularly strong and attract scholars and researchers from around the world.

Curriculum

Academic Support Program 90 credits required to graduate 90 courses available
degrees available: LLB, LLM, JSD, LLB/MBA, LLB/MPA, LLB/MLIS, LLB/MHSA
range of first-year class size—15–160

The first-year program is entirely compulsory and includes an eight-week course orienting students to the study of law by introducing them to four fundamental perspectives on the law: the comparative, the historical, the philosophical, and the professional. The second and third years of the program are, for the most part, optional, compulsory courses limited to Legal Profession and Professional Responsibility, Constitutional Law, and Civil Procedure.

Students have the opportunity to concentrate their studies in one of four areas: health law, business law, marine and environmental law, and law and technology.

Dalhousie Law School is known for its offerings in the marine and environmental law area, with emphasis on law of the sea. The Marine and Environmental Law Program now offers numerous courses in marine and environmental law and related areas—perhaps the largest curricular offering within the field in North America. The Law School is also known for its two research institutes: the Law and Technology Institute and the Health Law Institute. Dalhousie Law School is home to three prestigious journal publications: the Dalhousie Law Journal, the Canadian Journal of Law and Technology, and the Ocean Year Book.

The Law School offers a Legal Aid Clinic, which, in addition to a comprehensive seminar program, provides a practical educational experience emphasizing the development of professional skills and the refinement of substantive and procedural knowledge in a real-life context of individual cases.

Students may participate in one of several national and international mooting programs. As well, the school has established exchange programs with a number of universities in North America and abroad. Selected students may do one term at these schools for academic credit at Dalhousie.

Admission

minimum of two years of university required
application deadline—(2) November 30 and February 28
rolling admissions LSAT required
multiple LSATs—highest score used
oldest LSAT score accepted—June 1991

In addition to submitting LSAT scores, university transcripts, and an application form, candidates must arrange for at least two letters of reference and must submit a personal statement indicating why they wish to attend law school and what qualities they think they will bring. Applications are reviewed by a committee comprised of both faculty and student members. Most offers of admission are made on the basis of the information in the student's application. However, in some circumstances, the admissions committee may require applicants to submit to an interview. The decision to interview rests with the committee. The interviews take place in May and June, and in recent years, they have been conducted in Halifax, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver.

Most applicants have obtained an undergraduate degree before they begin law school, though applicants who have just two years of university work will be considered if their academic standing is exceptionally high. Achievements in extracurricular and employment activities are an asset for all applicants, and candidates who, despite economic, cultural, racial, or ethnic disadvantages, have made exceptional contributions to the community or who have shown exceptional capacity to respond to challenges may be given special consideration. First Nations applicants who do not meet the regular admissions criteria may be admitted on the successful completion of the Native Law Program in Saskatchewan. Special consideration is given to applicants who are members of Nova Scotia's black or Mi'kmaq communities. Dalhousie also admits a small number of students who have not attained the formal academic requirements, provided they are at least 26 years of age and have demonstrated by the length and quality of their nonacademic experience the equivalent of the academic requirements.

Student Activities

All law students are members of the Law Students' Society, which appoints representatives to faculty committees, arranges for speakers to visit the school, and organizes social events and programs. It also oversees publication of a law student newspaper, The Weldon Times, and the annual yearbook. Dalhousie has an active sports and social program with something to appeal to most students. Some of the student organizations active at the school are the Association of Women and the Law, the Environmental Law Students' Society, the Society for the Advancement of Law and Technology, the John Read International Law Society, and the Speakers Committee. The Domus Legis Society, a pub open for membership to all law students and graduates, generally serves as a social center for law students.

The Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies is published by the law students.

Expenses and Financial Aid

tuition and fees—full time, $12,464
extensive need-based and merit scholarships available
financial aid available

Career Services

The school operates a Career Development Office, which provides resource material to assist students and graduates seeking articling positions, court clerkships, permanent jobs, summer jobs, and other law-related employment. Assistance with résumé writing is available, as well as general career counseling and information about graduate legal studies and scholarships. Annual recruitment surveys of law firms in most provinces are conducted. The Student Career Development Committee assists with on-campus interview days and career development seminars. Articling receptions are held by alumni in major cities to introduce students to practicing lawyers. Representatives from many law firms from across Canada travel to Dalhousie to conduct interviews.

Dalhousie graduates find positions in every province and internationally. Preliminary placement surveys of students conducted in June of their graduating year indicate that placement has been approximately 96 percent in the past several years.