National Program (JD-LLL)

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The Common Law Section offers a special double degree program under which selected civil law graduates, through subsequent studies, may be awarded the JD degree. Applicants apply to the one-year program after completing a civil law degree or during the third year of their civil law studies.

The number of places in this program is limited. Priority is given to applicants who have completed their civil law studies at the University of Ottawa, though a number of spaces are reserved for out of province students. Applicants are evaluated primarily on academic performance in the LLL program. By way of reference, in the past few years, successful applicants had had on average a 6.0 (or "B") GPA. Applicants may use a personal statement to highlight discrepancies in their transcripts which resulted from circumstances beyond their control.

Active knowledge of French and English is necessary. Students must therefore be able to read and express themselves in both official languages, otherwise they may encounter difficulties.

Students must obtain at least 30 credits during the academic year
The 30 credits must include the following courses:
CML2309 Civil Procedure I 3
CML4140 Foundations of Common Law 3
CML4141 Contracts 4
CML4142 Torts 4
CML4143 Property 4
12 optional CML credits1
The 30 credits must not include courses taken by the student before entering the program or courses that are substantially the same as courses taken by the student before entering the program.
Students who have taken a required course before entering the program may not repeat that course as part of their minimum 30 credits.
Students must satisfy the major-paper requirement of the Common Law Section.
Note(s)
1Among the 12 credits, students must take a course during the January intensive session.

Students cannot enroll simultaneously in the National Program and any other full-time program such as the Barreau du Québec.

National Program students are not permitted to enroll in courses that are essentially identical in content to those that the student has already completed before commencing the National Program;

Competitive Moot courses except where, in the opinion of the Director of the Program, the student has evidenced that demonstrable common law content exists;

School Sponsored or Student-Proposed Internships except where, in the opinion of the Director of the Program, the student has evidenced that a demonstrable common law content exists; or

Courses that, in the opinion of the Director of the Program, contain a substantial civil law component.

Students who have taken common law courses (CML course codes), including National Program mandatory courses, before being admitted to the program must replace those courses with elective credits to satisfy the minimum requirement of 30 credits.

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Last updated: 2014.04.01