OsgoodePD’s Professional LLM program is a graduate program in law 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 Professional LLM in General Law provides an option for lawyers to combine two to three specializations to customize their learning for their own personal and professional goals.
Who is the Specialization for?
The LLM in General Law is designed for experienced lawyers who have knowledge and expertise in two or more areas of specialization that cannot be effectively combined through one of OsgoodePD’s existing full-time options.
Alumni Spotlight
Solange Márquez Espinoza
Solange is co-founder of Freymar Consulting. Solange helps Canadian companies and other organizations understand Mexico’s legal/policy environment. The Professional General LLM helped her apply her deep knowledge of Mexican law in Canada.
Student Services
As a full-time General LLM student, you’ll benefit from a wide range of student services designed to help you meet your academic and career goals.
Career Development: We understand that our full-time students are often interested in making a career transition after their studies, so we place significant emphasis on providing a range of resources, events, and one-on-one counselling to help our students meet their goals.
Academic Success: Full-time Professional LLM students come from across the globe and from many different professional backgrounds. To help you achieve academic success, we offer resources and counselling throughout your program.
Student Life: Our students are uniquely positioned to participate in student life on York University’s Keele Campus and through Osgoode Hall Law School groups and events, as well as in professional legal events and networking through the Osgoode Professional Development centre.
Our full range of services and more details about each one can be viewed below.
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.
Join an information session to learn more!
Select the option that best describes you:
Course Requirements
The Professional LLM in General Law requires completion of 36 credits including a research requirement. The program is designed to be completed in one year (three active terms). General students must declare two or three specializations from which they will take courses.
Keep in mind – some specializations only have starts at particular times and some specializations require General Law students to take a required course:
Specializations that start in Fall or Winter:
· Administrative Law
· Business Law
· Canadian Common Law*
· Constitutional Law
· Energy & Infrastructure Law
· Financial Law
· International Business Law – Students must take BLIS 6501 in their first term
· Intellectual Property Law
· Privacy & Cybersecurity Law
· Securities Law
*Only those with a law degree from outside Canada who are working toward accreditation can select Canadian Common Law.
Specializations with a Fall start:
· Taxation Law – Students must take TXLW 6100 in their first term
· Dispute Resolution – Students must take ALDR 6300 in Fall and ALDR 6301 in Winter
Specializations with a Fall 2024 start:
· Health Law – Students must take LAWH 6861 and LAWH 6860 in Fall 2024
· Construction Law – Students must take CNLW 6400 in Fall 2024
*Only those with a law degree from outside Canada who are working toward accreditation can select Canadian Common Law.
What You Can Expect
The program is designed to be completed in one year (three active terms) by completing 12 credits (two to four courses) per term. Full-time students usually take all their courses in person and are expected to visit campus on a regular basis.
Because course offerings within your chosen areas of specialization will vary from term to term, it is particularly important for General students to plan their courses in advance but also remain flexible within their areas of specialization.
In your first term of the program, 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:
- Internationally-trained lawyers: GNRL 6209 Legal Research and Writing (3 Credits)
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:
- A Major Research Paper (70 pages, 6 Credits) on a topic related to one of your designated specializations
- An Independent Significant Research Paper (30 pages, 3 Credits) on a topic related to one of your designated specializations
- 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.
Request an Application
Students can start the program in the Fall or Winter term, depending on their areas of interest.
There is not an open application process for the Full-Time LLM in General Law – applications are considered on a case by case basis. To request an application please complete this form. You are encouraged to submit as early as possible. Generally, we will not consider applicants after the following dates:
| Fall | Winter | |
|---|---|---|
| International Applicants | December 1 | April 1 |
| Domestic Applicants | April 1 | September 1 |
Tuition and Fees
Full-time students pay in three installments over three 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 three terms, you’ll be billed your remaining installment(s) at the end of your program. If you need more than three 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
$7,601.58per term for 3 terms
$22,804.74total
$16,017.18per term for 3 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 with Overall B (75%) average (or equivalent)
Professional work experience (at least 2 years of experience related to their chosen areas of specialization)
Acceptable English language proficiency (see requirements)
Frequently Asked Questions
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