Juris Doctor (JD)
Facts checked 7 September 2026
Part of the route toLawyer·Degree
A 3-year professional common-law degree preparing graduates for legal practice, trial advocacy, and admission to the Law Society of BC.
Ways to get this paid for
Government money that can cover this course. Check who qualifies before you pay.
Free adult upgrading
FreeGrade 11 and 12 courses and English classes are free at public colleges and school districts. This covers the Grade 11 and 12 prerequisite courses, not the program itself.
Canada Training Credit
Half your tuition back, up to $5,000 in your lifeFederal tax credit. $250 a year builds up from age 26. Claim it on your tax return.
THE ROUTE
How this program works, step by step
Grade 11 to the job. Open any step to see what is inside.
The route (8 steps)
For the best view, open the map full screen.
STEP BY STEP
Step by step
The same route as the map, as a list.
Step 1 of 8
Grade 11
⏱ 1 school year- General BC secondary school curriculum and coursework at the Grade 11 level.
Step 2 of 8
Grade 12
⏱ 1 school year- General high school graduation (BC Dogwood Diploma) or equivalent mature student status.
Step 3 of 8
What you need to get in
- At least 3 years (90 credits) of undergraduate university coursework (bachelor's degree strongly recommended)
- Competitive grade point average (typically 80%+ / 3.7+ GPA on upper-year academic courses)
- Valid Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score written within the past 5 years
- Personal statement of interest, academic transcripts, and letters of reference
- Minimum 90 post-secondary credits (bachelor's degree held by over 90% of admitted students)
Step 4 of 8
How to apply
- Write the LSAT examination through LSAC prior to the November 1, 2026 application deadline for the September 2027 intake
- Submit online application directly to each law school's admissions portal (typically by November 1 for following fall entry)
- Provide official post-secondary transcripts and confidential reference evaluations
- Tuition: $11,450 to $22,166 per year (domestic rate varies by university)
Step 5 of 8
Juris Doctor (JD)
⏱ 3 years- First-year mandatory curriculum: Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Torts, Property Law, Civil Procedure, and Legal Research & Writing
- Second and third-year upper-level electives: Corporate Law, Administrative Law, Evidence, Family Law, Environmental Law, and Taxation
- Experiential clinical programs, moot court trial simulations, and pro bono legal advice clinics
Step 6 of 8
Where to take it
⏱ 3 schools in BC- Thompson Rivers University — 3 years (Not published on the school page)
- University of British Columbia — 3 years ($14,517 (2026, domestic, whole program))
- University of Victoria — 3 years (Not published on the school page)
Step 7 of 8
Exams and registration after
- Law Society of British Columbia admission program examinations and Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP) assessments
Step 8 of 8
Leads to: Lawyer
- Explore Lawyer wages, job outlook, and career pathways
SCHOOLS
Where you can take this(3 schools)
Compare tuitions, campus locations, and delivery formats across approved institutions in British Columbia.
Checked 7 September 2026; the school does not list a figure. Ask the school.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 7 September 2026.
Checked 7 September 2026; the school does not list a figure. Ask the school.