Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Faculty of Law

Since 2011, Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Faculty of Law has offered a three-year Juris Doctor (JD) degree for aspiring lawyers. The degree, which is accredited by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, is recognized in all Canadian provinces and territories except Quebec. While the majority of Canadian provinces and territories practice common law, Quebec is the only province that practices civil law. The primary differences between the two are that common law focuses most on historic legal cases and the precedents set by their outcomes, whereas civil law relies most on existing laws and statutes which establish legal decision-making processes.

Before you can apply, you will have to either complete an undergraduate degree or three-years towards a degree from an accredited institution. When applying you need to include your resume, a personal statement, two references, your highest LSAT score (including the LSAT test date and name of referees) and pay a non-refundable application fee. Applications can be sent via mail, email or completed online. You can expect tuition to be in excess of CAD $11,000 per semester before factoring residency or living costs.

Note that the fall 2020 semester is strictly online, with plans for upcoming semesters yet to be announced. While a variety of courses are offered for the full-time three-year program, first year lessons teach a fundamental and well-rounded base of nine-courses including Fundamental Legal Skills, Constitutional Law, and Contracts. Students are then required to take ten-courses of their choice in their second and third years of study, electives are offered though there are required courses depending on the students’ selected specialization.

There are also opportunities to participate in legal research projects with faculty members, and potential to study abroad with one of the faculty’s European partner institutions – with further possibilities to do exchanges in Asia and Australasia to come. Other notable opportunities for immersive learning include moots (mock legal trial competitions), judge shadowing, and participating in TRU Community Legal Clinic to assist the local community with free legal advice. 

Leading up to the completion of your JD, the faculty can help you find work and articling opportunities with private and public practice in firms of various sizes. They too can offer insights into becoming a sole practitioner or pursuing clerkships with judges and courts. Ultimately since the faculty’s establishment, more than 94% of graduates from TRU’s Faculty of Law who were actively searching secured articling positions within nine months of graduation.

Interested in becoming a law practitioner in Canada? Keen to learn with TRU’s Faculty of Law? Global Study Guide is here to help your searching and decision making, register your student account today and begin to plan your law education and career.