OsgoodePD’s Professional LLM in Criminal Law and Procedure is a graduate program designed specifically for working professionals. Each of our distinct specializations focuses on interdisciplinary learning and provides you with a unique mix of academic, applied, and theoretical perspectives.  You will learn through interactive discussions and explore practical issues related to your specialization. You’ll have access to a wide range of elective options to broaden your legal knowledge or explore new areas related to your professional interests.  

The Criminal Law and Procedure specialization offers an in-depth examination into the pressing and challenging issues affecting the Canadian criminal justice system. Required courses address the implications and expectations of criminal law and the charter, issues in criminal law, advanced perspectives on the law of evidence, and the theory and practice of punishment. You will explore the historical roots and practices of these institutions, and the current doctrinal approaches to them.

Who is the Specialization for?

Lawyers or law graduates with legal work experience who have a strong demonstrated interest in criminal law and procedure and wish to establish or expand a practice in this area of specialization 

Senior professionals who do not have a law degree but have more than five years of professional experience in teaching, research, and policy 

Alumni Spotlights

Jacob Stilman, graduate of Osgoode's Professional LLM in Criminal Law and Procedure.

Jacob Stilman

Jacob practises as a litigation lawyer and has represented thousands of clients at trials, appeals, and hearings. Jacob shares how Osgoode’s Professional LLM in Criminal Law and Procedure re-kindled his enthusiasm for law after having practiced for over two decades.

Pamela Santora, alumna of the part-time Professional LLM in Criminal Law and Procedure

Pamela Santora

Pamela is the lead at the Toronto Region Internet Child Exploitation team at the Crown Attorney’s office. She shares her story on how she finally took the leap to in enrolling on the part-time Professional LLM in Criminal Law and Procedure, and how it was one of the best professional decisions she made.

Student Services

All Professional LLM students can benefit from our wide range of student services:

Academic Services

Program Orientation

Introductory Courses

Workshops & Resources

Confidential Academic and Wellness Counselling

Career Support

Job Postings

Resources/Guides

Workshops & Events

Counselling

Campus Life

Student Social Activities

Osgoode & York U Extra Curriculars

Professional Networking Events

All of our academic and career development services are available remotely, and counselling hours have varied schedules to suit the needs of part-time students.

Information Session

Interested in our part-time Professional LLM in Criminal Law and Procedure? In this on demand session, you will learn more about course offerings, degree requirements, what to expect during your studies and the steps to apply.

Course Requirements

The Professional LLM in Criminal Law and Procedure requires completion of  36 credits including a research requirement.  The program is designed to be completed in two years (six active terms) through a combination of required courses, related electives and up to 6 credits of outside electives. 

What You Can Expect

The program is designed to be completed in two years (six active terms) by completing 6 credits (one or two courses) per term.  

Many of the courses in the Criminal Law and Procedure specialization are scheduled as weekly evening courses (typically in 7-10PM sessions). However, you will encounter intensive courses as well (typically Thursday evening, all-day Friday and all-day Saturday).   

In your first term of admission, you may be assigned a course as a condition of your admission. Admission condition courses count towards your degree requirements. Students with the following profiles usually have required introductory courses: 

Required Courses

Required courses are typically offered once every two years: 

Elective Courses

Elective course offerings vary from term to term. Some options include Corporate and Financial Crimes and Compliance, Mental Health and the Criminal Law, and Aboriginal People and the Criminal Justice System. To see course offerings for upcoming terms, review the Course Planning information below. 

You must complete at least 30 credits in total from Criminal Law and Procedure courses. Up to 6 credits may be drawn from courses in unrelated specializations, so long as you have any required prerequisite knowledge for those courses.

Research Requirement

The research requirement can be fulfilled through one of the following three options. Most students elect to fulfill the requirement through option 3: 

  1. A Major Research Paper (70 pages, 6 Credits) 
  2. An Independent Significant Research Paper (30 pages, 3 Credits) 
  3. A Significant Research Paper (30 pages) completed as the means of assessment for one of the courses within the specialization. 

Course Planning

Course plans are typically provided for the next two calendar years. Specific course schedules are subject to change without notice until the course enrollment process for an upcoming term begins. Please check course schedules immediately before making your enrollment request to ensure you have the most current schedule information.

This tool is for planning purposes only. Selecting courses using this tool does not enroll you in the course or reserve a space in the course for you.

Application Dates

The Criminal Law and Procedure specialization accepts new students once each calendar year, in the Winter term. 

Winter 2025

Applications Closed

If you would like to be considered for late application, please Contact Us.

Winter 2026

Applications Not Currently Open

Applications will open on February 01, 2025

Faculty

Program director

Benjamin L. Berger

Instructors include

Kimberley Crosbie

Stephanie DiGiuseppe

Elizabeth Kirley

See full faculty list

Tuition and Fees

Part-time students pay in six installments over six active terms. 

You will be billed an installment for each term in which you enroll in courses.  If you complete the program in fewer than six terms, you’ll be billed your remaining installment(s) at the end of your program.  If you need more than six terms to complete your credits, extra term fees will apply. 

Please note that the tuition/fees displayed here are subject to change, and may vary depending on your entry term.

Domestic

$3,800.79per term for 6 terms

$22,804.74total

$8,008.59per term for 6 terms

$48,051.54total

Students are also subject to supplementary fees including health benefits. Find out more about supplementary fees here.

Admission Requirements

Admission to Professional LLM specializations is competitive. At OsgoodePD, we can help you navigate the process.  The Admissions Committee reviews each applicant’s completed file and takes into consideration criteria such as academic background, professional work experience, and whether the program fits your stated goals. The information below represents the minimum requirements for admission consideration to our graduate degree programs – meeting these criteria does not guarantee admission. 

JD/LLB degree or undergraduate degree (a graduate degree is an asset to non-legal professionals) 

Overall B (75%) average (or equivalent) 

Professional work experience (JD/LLB graduates require at least 2 years, while non-legal professionals require at least 5 years of related senior-level experience) 

Acceptable English language proficiency (see requirements) 

How to Apply

Create Your OsgoodePD Applicant Profile

Create an applicant profile in our online application portal. This portal allows us to gather your information, transcripts, and other documents electronically. You will receive an email with directions outlining how to create a new password for your application, along with a link to access the application.

Upload Application Documents

The following documents are required:

  • Resume/CV
  • Writing Sample
  • Contact Information for Two References
  • Transcripts
  • Official Proof of Language Proficiency (if applicable)

For more information, see our Application Documents to Upload section.

Pay and Submit

Once your application is completed, you will be required to pay a non-refundable $130 CAD application fee.

Wait for Review

Timelines for decisions vary by program, but we will be in touch if we have questions about your application or need more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Us

Have questions? We’re here to help! Click here to get in touch.