What is the travel time between the law schools?
The University of Windsor Faculty of Law and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law are located approximately six kilometres from each other. The typical travel time ranges from 12 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on the amount of traffic at the border.
Students are strongly encouraged to acquire both a NEXUS Pass and NEXPRESS Pass. During peak travel times, these significantly reduce the wait times at the border.
Do students in the Program live in Windsor or Detroit?
Students typically choose to live in Windsor, Ontario during their three years in the Program because of the lower cost of living and the greater availability of housing both on and off campus. Although UDM Law does not have on-campus housing, there are housing options in nearby apartments.
What is the average age of the incoming class?
The average age is approximately 25 years.
How many students are in the Program?
Presently we have 188 students enrolled in the Program.
How long is the Program?
Completion of the Program takes three years, including the summer following first year. Law classes at the UDM begin mid-August each year. In the summer semester, which runs from the end of May to mid July, you are required to complete two courses typically, US Civil Procedure and comparative CDN & US Professional Responsibility, at the University of Detroit Mercy.
Are summer courses mandatory?
Yes, all students in the Program must typically complete US Civil Procedure and CDN & US Professional Responsibility in the summer following first year. Generally, these courses are scheduled from the end of May until mid July. There are no required courses in the summer following second year.
What is the focus of the Program?
The Program is based on a comparative study of the laws of Canada and the U.S. Students can choose electives from a diverse selection of law topics.
For those students interested in the area of Intellectual Property, they are permitted to take courses in this area at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law, the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, and Wayne State University Law School. There is no added cost for courses taken at Wayne State; however, such courses will not reduce the 104 required credits that students must complete for the Program.
Can I speak to a current student? Can I visit, view a lecture?
Contact Mary Mitchell at mary.mitchell@uwindsor.ca to be put in contact with a Dual JD student representative or to schedule a tour and/or meet a current student or Director of the program.
I have an inquiry regarding visa matters, is there someone I can speak to?
We have an American Immigration firm which works closely with the Canadian & American Dual J.D. Program. Immigration services are provided to every student at no additional cost. If you have any concerns about your eligibility or status with respect to granting of student visas, please contact the Program Director who can provide you with more information.
What, if anything, is required in order to apply to the Program?
Applicants must have successfully completed their undergraduate degree no later than the beginning of August in the year of entry into the Program. The applicant must also take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The last LSAT that can be taken is February to meet the April 15 deadline.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline for the Program is April 15 of each year.
Please note that the Admissions Committee works on the basis of rolling admissions; thus, the earlier your complete application is submitted, the earlier the Committee will review it.
Is it possible to apply for both the Canadian & American Dual JD Program and the JD Program at the University of Windsor?
Yes. When applying through OLSAS, please ensure that you check the boxes for both the Canadian & American Dual JD Program and the JD Program.
Is it possible to apply for both the Canadian & American Dual JD Program and the JD Program at the University of Detroit Mercy?
Yes. If you are NOT applying to another law school in Ontario, then you are permitted to apply for both the Canadian & American Dual J.D. Program and the JD Program at the University of Detroit Mercy through LSDAS. When applying through LSDAS, please ensure that you check the boxes for both the Dual JD Program referred to as Dual JD Program, and the JD Program.
If you are also applying for a law school in Ontario, then you would apply for this school and the Canadian & American Dual JD Program through OLSAS, and apply for only the JD Program at the University of Detroit Mercy through LSDAS.
Is it possible to apply for the Canadian & American Dual JD Program, the JD Program at the University of Windsor, and the JD Program at the University of Detroit Mercy?
Yes. For students who want to apply to all three Programs at the two schools, you are required to apply through both OLSAS and LSDAS.
You apply for both the Dual JD Program and the Univeristy of Windsor Faculty of Law JD Program through OLSAS. You apply for the University of Detroit Mercy JD Program through LSDAS.
If I have applied to both the Canadian & American Dual JD Program and the JD Program at the University of Windsor and I am rejected by the single degree JD Program, am I automatically rejected by the Canadian & American Dual JD Program?
No. Admission procedures for these two Programs operate separately and independently of each other. An applicant can conceivably be rejected by the single degree J.D. Program at the University of Windsor and yet still be accepted for the Canadian & American Dual J.D. Program. The inverse of this can also occur.
Is it more difficult to get accepted to the Canadian & American Dual JD Program than the JD Program at the University of Windsor?
It is not possible to compare the above two Programs in this manner because the methodology used by each Admissions Committee is quite different.
In assessing applicants, the JD Admissions Committee and the Canadian & American Dual JD Admissions Committee use the following seven criteria:
- Grade Point Average and University Program;
- Work Experience;
- Community Involvement;
- Personal Accomplishments;
- Career Objectives;
- Personal Considerations; and
- Law School Admissions Test Score.
However, the manner in which the two Admissions Committees use these criteria is slightly different. The single degree JD Admissions Committee seeks applicants who will excel in the study of law and who have the potential to contribute creatively and meaningfully to the law school and community. No one single factor is solely determinative of admission to the JD Program.
The Dual JD Admissions Committee assesses applicants in light of all of the above admission criteria however, it places greater weight on the applicant's Grade Point Average (GPA) and Law School Admission Test Score (LSAT). Please bear in mind, however, that a high GPA and a high LSAT will not garner automatic acceptance to the Canadian & American Dual J.D. Program as all seven criteria are considered.