Top 10 Law Schools in Canada

According to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data for the year 2022, Canada saw 551,405 international students from 184 countries. Out of these, 226,450 students were Indian students. As the importance of Canada as a study-abroad destination grows, students who wish to study law in Canada must know about the top law schools in Canada including their rankings and important details.

Is Canada good for studying law? What are the best law colleges in Canada? These are some of the basic queries of a student who is considering Canadian universities to study law abroad. Law is one of the most demanding courses in Canada for international students. Multiple universities in Canada offer law courses to international students. In this article, we have covered information about the best law schools in Canada that you should consider including their latest ranking. Let us begin this article by looking at the law school rankings in Canada.

Law School Rankings Canada

Here is a list of the Top 10 universities for law in Canada, based on QS and THE Rankings 2024.

Best Law Schools in Canada

It is imperative for students to learn the details of the top law schools in Canada. In this section of the article, we will cover the details of the top 10 law schools in Canada.

University of Toronto

The University of Toronto is among the world’s top research-intensive universities, offering over 1,000 academic courses. With a total student enrollment of 95,055 at present (2022), the university has contributed $15.7 billion to the Canadian economy. It has three campuses, namely: St. George, Mississauga, and Scarborough. Most of the international students studying here are from the United States, China, India, Hong Kong, and South Korea. More than 700 UG programs, in Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Computer Science, Music, Commerce, etc. and over 300 graduate courses are being offered at the university.

Year of Establishment: 1827

Highlights

• International students from 170 nations and regions are studying at U of T.
• Total research funds awarded amount to $1.45B.
• Students entering the first year are guaranteed accommodation. 

McGill University

A renowned higher learning institution, McGill University is a public university known for its teaching and research programs. As per the latest data available (2021), a total of 39,267 students, out of which 26,765 are undergraduates and 10,411 are graduates, are studying at the university. International students from over 150 nations are studying here. McGill alumni have earned fame as popular world leaders, astronauts, Nobel laureates, etc. Among all the institutions in Canada, McGill Law obtained the highest score in the teaching category.

Year of Establishment: 1821

Highlights

• Have the highest average entering grades in Canada.
• The university's Law centre has been recognised as one of the world’s top study destinations to pursue a program in law by the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings in 2022.

University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia has been frequently ranked among the world's best 20 public universities. Apart from the Vancouver campus, the other campus is located in Kelowna, Okanagan Valley. Also, 28.6% of the students in Vancouver students are from abroad. The university also ranks 3rd in the world for its swift action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Year of Establishment: 1915

Highlights

• Has 1,436 research projects with industry partners.
• More than 375,000 alumni are living in 160 nations.
• 3 Canadian prime ministers and 8 Nobel laureates have passed out from the university.

University of Ottawa

The University of Ottawa is the largest bilingual university in the world. Various programs offered at the university have been recognised among the top 10 in Canada. At present, 42,000 students are studying here, out of which 35,000 are pursuing undergraduate courses and 7,000 graduate courses. Students can choose from 550 UG and graduate programs which the university offers. Out of these 350 are open to direct undergraduate entry.

Year of Establishment: 1848

Highlights

Université de Montréal

Université de Montréal is the leading higher education centre in Quebec with 10,000 foreign students, making it Canada’s third most international university. Some of the known alumni include Pierre-Elliott Trudeau, Louise Arbour, Denys Arcand, Joanne Liu, Roger Guillemin, Hubert Reeves, Jean Coutu, Kim Thuy, and Robert Bourassa.

Year of Establishment: 1878

Highlights

305,000 alumni are living in over 150 countries.

At present, there are 41,940 students studying here out of which over 4,493 are international students.

Has one of the highest 1st to 2nd-year retention rates in Canada.

Why Study Law in Canada?

If you plan to study law in Canada understand how it can benefit you as an international student

• Universities in Canada offer quality education that prepares students for jobs in international market.
• Law programs give a comprehensive understanding of legal principles, case law and legal reasoning skills.
• A law degree from a Canadian university is reputed and accepted globally. It opens opportunities for legal careers for practice.
• Studying law in Canada allows students to network with professionals and peers from around the world.
• Students may also stay back in Canada and work for up to 3 years with the help of a post-study work permit in Canada (PGWP Canada).
• Many Canadian law schools provide chances to learn through clinical programs and internships, which give students exposure to the practice of law.
• These opportunities can help students improve their practical abilities and build a network of business contacts.
• Compared to other countries US and UK, studying law in Canada can be more affordable.