| Location | Email Address | Program Website |
|---|---|---|
| 2033 Ignat Kaneff Building | resGPA@osgoode.yorku.ca | osgoode.yorku.ca/programs/graduate-program/ |
Osgoode Hall Law School offers a PhD program and two distinct LLM programs. The PhD and research LLM programs are centred on a major written work and are normally done on a full-time basis, at least initially. The Osgoode Professional Development LLM program is primarily course-based; its programs focus on a variety of legal specializations, with most specializations done on a part-time basis and several available on a full-time basis.
Admission Requirements
Research Program
Master of Laws
To be eligible for admission to the LLM Program, candidates normally must possess an academic degree in law, having achieved a level of proficiency which, in the opinion of the Graduate Studies Committee, makes successful completion of graduate studies likely. Normally this will be at least the equivalent of a B average. Candidates must also possess the ability to work with legal materials in the English language. A very limited number of places are available to candidates with superior academic records, but without an academic degree in law, if the Graduate Studies Committee is satisfied that their previous studies have prepared them to undertake legal studies at a graduate level. Applicant admissions are recommended by the Law School for approval by the Faculty of Graduate Studies at York.
Doctor of Philosophy
To be eligible for admission to the PhD Program, candidates normally must possess an academic degree in law, having achieved a level of proficiency which, in the opinion of the Graduate Studies Committee, makes successful completion of graduate studies likely. Normally this will be at least the equivalent of a high B average. Candidates must also possess the ability to work with legal materials in the English language. Normally, an LLM is a precondition to admission, but exceptional candidates may be admitted directly to the PhD from the JD or its equivalent. A very limited number of places are available to candidates with superior academic records, but without an academic degree in law, who have completed a graduate degree in another discipline and whose studies are related to law. Applicant admissions are recommended by the Law School for approval by the Faculty of Graduate Studies at York.
Degree Requirements
Master of Laws
Candidates for the LLM degree by thesis must fulfill the following requirements:
1. Successfully complete at least nine credits in course work, including Law 6610 3.0: Graduate Seminar, and one three credit Study Group on themes that, in any given year, include law and social justice, law in global context, theoretical perspectives on law, law and regulation, and law and economics (Law 6131 3.0, Law 6135 3.0, Law 6139 3.0, Law 6151 3.0 or Law 6155 3.0). Students entering without an LLB are normally required to take at least one additional course as determined by the Graduate Program Director of Law in consultation with the student’s supervisor.
2. In addition to the foregoing coursework, candidates must then, guided by a two-person supervisory committee, successfully complete a thesis of approximately 125 pages in length. Candidates are expected to defend the thesis by oral examination before a three-person examining committee.
3. Acceptable thesis formats are a) standard scholarly monograph thesis; and b) manuscript-based thesis in the form a collection of published scholarship (the “Portfolio Option”).
Candidates for the LLM degree by major research paper must fulfill the following requirements:
1. Successfully complete at least 15 credits in course work, including Law 6610 3.0, Graduate Seminar, and one three credit Study Group on one of the themes listed above under LLM by Thesis (Law 6131 3.0, Law 6135 3.0, Law 6139 3.0, Law 6151 3.0 or Law 6155 3.0). Students entering without an LLB are normally required to take at least one additional course as determined by the Graduate Program Director of Law in consultation with the student’s supervisor.
2. In addition to the foregoing coursework, candidates must then successfully complete a major research paper, of approximately 65 pages in length, to be evaluated normally by two faculty members chosen by the Graduate Program Director of Law.
Law Major Research Paper. Upon completion of coursework, Master of Laws non-thesis candidates remain enrolled in the major research paper until completion of the program. No course credit.
Entry to the LLM program is fall term, on a full-time basis.
The expected degree completion time for full-time master’s students is three terms (the equivalent of one full year). For those students who complete degree requirements earlier than three terms, they must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of three terms of full-time study. All requirements for a master’s degree must be fulfilled within 12 terms (the equivalent of four full years) of registration as a full-time or part-time master’s student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.
PhD
PhD students must take at least three courses, two of which are normally Law 6610 3.0: Graduate Seminar and Law 6611 3.0: Graduate Seminar II: Advanced Legal Research Methodologies, and the other an elective course. In addition, they must also participate in two Graduate Study Groups (see themes and course numbers listed above under LLM by Thesis). Participation in the study group is required in the first or second year of PhD studies and one year thereafter, provided PhD students are registered full-time.
Students entering the PhD program without an LLM normally must take at least four courses. In addition, they must participate in study groups on the same basis as described in the preceding paragraph. One of those courses must be the graduate seminar. Note that these are minimum requirements. Often it is in the student’s interest to take additional courses, and very occasionally students are required to do so.
In addition to the foregoing coursework, PhD candidates must then, guided by a three-person supervisory committee, submit an extended dissertation proposal (EDP), normally by the end of their second year (to wit, the end of term 6) and defend the EDP by the end of term 7; and a dissertation. The extended dissertation proposal of approximately 50-70 pages is then examined orally by the student’s committee. Except under circumstances requiring a delay, the examination and any required revisions must be completed before a student is allowed to register for term 8. In the case of circumstances requiring the delay of this submission and/or examination, the supervisor indicates an appropriate timeframe for completion. Following successful completion of the EDP, the dissertation, of approximately 300-350 pages in length, is produced. Candidates are expected to defend their dissertation by oral examination before, at minimum, a five-person examining committee.
Acceptable dissertation formats are a) standard scholarly monograph dissertation; and b) manuscript-based dissertation in the form a collection of published scholarship (the “Portfolio Option”).
Entry to the PhD program is fall term, on a full-time basis.
Normal degree completion time for full-time PhD students is 12 terms (4 years). Doctor of Philosophy students must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of six terms (the equivalent of two full years) of full-time registration. All requirements for a doctoral degree must be fulfilled within 18 terms (the equivalent of six full years) of registration as a full-time or part-time doctoral student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.