Disclaimer: If you are currently on the waitlist, please note that additional emails expressing continued interest or submitting new reference letters will not impact your position or the Admissions Committee’s review. We appreciate your enthusiasm; however, no further materials are required at this stage unless specifically requested.
For questions not listed here - please contact lawadmissions@uwindsor.ca
PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS - GENERAL QUESTIONS
Windsor Law and Detroit Mercy School of Law offer the Canadian and American Dual JD degree option. In this program, students earn both a Canadian JD and an American JD in three years through comparative and interactive studies on the campuses of the University of Windsor Faculty of Law and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
The Dual JD degree option provides an opportunity to study within two legal systems and academic environments. As legal practice increasingly involves cross-border issues, the Dual JD prepares graduates to understand and navigate both Canadian and American legal frameworks. Students complete the requirements for two law degrees in the same three-year period in which law students earn a single JD.
General inquiries can be sent to lawadmissions@uwindsor.ca
Windsor Law offers a limited-enrolment Half-Time Law Study Program designed for individuals unable to pursue law studies on a full-time basis. The program cannot be completed through evening courses alone.
Applicants must meet the Faculty’s general admission requirements or the special admission requirements for Indigenous applicants. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate that they are unable to attend law-school full-time due to one or more of the following circumstances:
- Exceptional family responsibilities, such as caring for youngchildren or dependents, including individuals with disabilities or those requiring specialized care, where the applicant’s presence at home is necessary.
- Significant financial hardship, including loss or reduction in employment that creates substantial financial strain. Consideration may be given to single-income households or individuals with limited or unstable income.
- Health or disability-related needs that require a reduced academic workload.
- Occupational commitments in especially limited circumstances, where the applicant is established in a public service career and legal education would meaningfully support and enhance their professional role.
Please note that a part-time or half-time study option is not available for the Dual JD Program.
APPLICANT FAQ
Most information about the application process can be found on the Ontario Law School Application Service webpage.
All Ontario law schools use a common electronic Application for Admission to An Ontario Law School.
This Application, other admission materials and a Personal Profile for the University of Windsor, may be obtained from:
The Ontario Law School Application Service
P.O. Box 1328, 170 Research Lane Guelph ON N1G 5E2
Telephone: 519-823-1940
Facsimile: 519-823-5232
Website: www.ouac.on.ca/olsas
The application deadline for the JD program is November 1.
The application deadline for the Canadian & American Dual JD Program is April 15.
Deadlines for joint JD and MSW/MBA programs can be found here.
You will receive an acknowledgement email from the Office of the Registrar, with your UWin Student number and personal access code, so that you can track the progress and admissions status of your application. Once you receive the acknowledgement email, follow the instructions to activate your UWin ID.
You are able to track the status of your application using your UWin ID and access code through the University of Windsor website, or through OLSAS. Contacting the office by phone does not speed up the process. Our registrar's staff and members of the Admissions Committee work diligently to process and review all applications received. News will be communicated via email.
We thank you for your patience.
- OLSAS Application
- University of Windsor Personal Profile (Found in the application in “School Submissions”)
- All Official Transcripts
- Current official LSAT score report; LSAT scores written in the previous 5 years
- 2 letters of reference (1 academic and 1 non-academic) on the forms specifically provided for this purpose.
- Electronic reference forms are provided by, and should be forwarded directly to, OLSAS by the referee.
- Canadian & American Dual JD program Supplemental Application Form (if applicable)
For more detailed information click here.
The application and personal statement are designed to give you the opportunity to present a clear and compelling case for admission.
Your personal statement consists of responses to five (5) questions four (4) required, one (1) optional). These can be found in the School Submissions Section of your OLSAS application. Members of the Admissions Committee review these responses to assess:
1. Whether the applicant is likely to succeed in law school;
2. Whether the applicant demonstrates strong interpersonal skills, time management, and relatability to others;
3. Whether the applicant has a well-developed and focused career plan based on a sound understanding of their capabilities; and
4. Whether the applicant demonstrates leadership potential
5. Whether the applicant demonstrates strong writing and analytic skills.
In the application, applicants are expected to identify significant experiences and accomplishments and explain how they relate to the admissions criteria. Relevant lived experiences such as work, academic, cultural, community, or athletic involvement should be described in sufficient detail to allow evaluators to assess their significance.
Applicants are also encouraged to highlight experiences that demonstrate self-discipline, commitment to excellence, and personal growth. The Admissions Committee is particularly interested in experiences that reflect self-improvement, community engagement, and service to others.
Windsor Law requires two (2) letters of reference. If you attended a postsecondary institution during the three (3) years prior to the application, you are required to submit one (1) academic reference and one (1) non‑academic reference.
If you did not attend a postsecondary institution during the three years prior to the application, you may submit two non-academic references.
Visit the Referee Requirements section of the OLSAS website for more information.
The Admissions Committee at Windsor Law considers seven (7) criteria when assessing an applicant’s file. An applicant’s LSAT score is only one of the seven. No single criterion is a determinative of admission.
Applications are assessed holistically by the committee considering all seven criteria together evaluating each file. The primary source of information about an applicant is the material provided in the Personal Profile.
Applicants are therefore encouraged to present a comprehensive and well-rounded account of their experiences, achievements, and qualifications in their Personal Profile. This information assists the Admissions Committee in assessing the applicant across the full range of admissions criteria.
How many students are accepted at Windsor Law?
Windsor Law receives several thousand applications each year for a limited number of spaces across its programs. Admission to both the Single J.D. and Dual JD programs is competitive, and application volumes vary from year to year. All applications are assessed holistically using multiple criteria, and no single factor is determinative.
For the single JD programs: The latest LSAT score accepted is the January test score of the year of application.
For the Dual JD program: The latest LSAT accepted is the April sitting of the year of application.
Applicants should note that files are reviewed on a rolling basis once complete. As a result, choosing to write a later LSAT may delay file completion and could disadvantage an applicant, as earlier applicants may be considered and admitted in advance of later test results being released.
Admissions occur on a rolling basis. We appreciate the time and effort applicants take to submit a fulsome package. As such, the Admissions Committee are doing their due diligence in conducting a meticulous review of each application package and appreciate your patience through the process.
Due to the rolling nature of admissions, you can expect a response to your application any time between December and August.
Can I find out my position on the waitlist?
Are students ranked on the waitlist? Due to the fluidity of the admissions cycle, we do not provide information about your status on our waitlist. Students will be notified immediately of changes to their admissions status.
Are students removed from the waitlist without requesting it?
Once our incoming class is confirmed, students will be removed from the waitlist and changes to their admission status will be updated accordingly.
When is the latest an admission offer will be made?
Students could potentially receive an offer of admission up until the first day of our mandatory academic orientation, should there still be space available in the incoming class.
NO! If you are currently on the waitlist, please note that additional emails expressing continued interest or submitting new reference letters will not impact your position or the Admissions Committee’s review.
We appreciate your enthusiasm; however, no further materials are required at this stage unless specifically requested.
Tuition and fee information is updated annually and is available through the University of Windsor Fee Estimator.
Windsor Law also offers significant financial support through scholarships, bursaries, and awards. There are 120+ active annual law awards ranging in value up to $15,000+.
Many students receive funding in addition to provincial and federal student aid programs.
Where do I apply?
Transfer information can be found on the OLSAS webpage.
Similar to the regular JD applicants, transfer applicants use the electronic Application for Admission to An Ontario Law School. This Application, other admission materials and a Personal Profile for the University of Windsor, may be obtained from:
The Ontario Law School Application Service P.O. Box 1328, 170
Research Lane Guelph ON N1G 5E2
Telephone: 519-823-1940
Fax: 519-823-5232
Website: www.ouac.on.ca/olsas
What is the deadline?
May 1
When are decisions made?
The Admissions Committee will begin the review of applications after the May 1 deadline.
For more information on Letters of Permission, students can visit our webpage.
If you have completed your law degree at a foreign law school or are qualified to practice in a foreign jurisdiction, you may apply for a Certificate of Equivalence from the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA), which may be acceptable to some Law Societies in Canada.
Subject to the availability of places, you may be admitted into the program of study for less than 2 years of study if recommended by the NCA.
No degree is granted by the University of Windsor.
You are required to submit the NCA Assessment Result letter or the report from the NCA. You may obtain information by contacting the NCA.
You are also required to submit all transcripts as part of your application package. Where appropriate, the Admissions Committee may request a World Education Services (WES) academic record evaluation.
Application Deadline: May 1
Yes. Windsor Law welcomes applications from international applicants.
For admissions purposes, applicant status is determined by citizenship or permanent residency, not place of residence. Applicants who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents are considered international and will require a Study Permit from the Government of Canada in order to study in the J.D. program. A Study Permit can only be obtained after an offer of admission has been issued.
International applicants are assessed using the same admission requirements and holistic criteria as all other applicants. You are required to obtain an evaluation of your transcripts if you attended an undergraduate degree from outside of Canada or the United States. An evaluation can be obtained from World Education Services (WES) or another recognized evaluation service.
English is the primary language of instruction at Windsor Law. All applicants are expected to demonstrate a strong command of the English language prior to admission. Applicants whose primary language of instruction in their previous post-secondary studies was not English may be required to submit evidence of English language proficiency, such as TOEFL or IELTS test results.
Academic credentials must be from recognized and accredited post-secondary institutions and demonstrate an educational background equivalent to the Canadian standard required for admission.
Windsor Law does not apply quotas based on citizenship or immigration status.
A WES evaluation helps Admissions Committees understand how your international degree compares to Canadian academic standards.
If you completed your undergraduate degree outside of Canada or the United States, you are required to obtain an evaluation from World Education Services (WES) or another recognized evaluation service.