The Admissions Committee uses the writing sample to assess your readiness for graduate-level legal research and writing. For applicants who have not previously studied law, or who have not completed university-level study in English, the writing sample is a particularly important part of the application.
It is also the application component that generates the most questions. Depending on your academic and professional background, it may not be immediately obvious what would make a strong writing sample.
General Guidance
As a starting point, here’s what we commonly recommend.
If you are a practicing lawyer (out of school for more than five years)
If you have a paper from your law degree, you are welcome to submit it. If you do not, you may submit something drawn from your current professional work rather than writing something new solely for the application.
A redacted legal memorandum or factum can work well. Please do not submit court pleadings or other largely procedural legal documents, as these do not usually demonstrate the analytical and research skills the Committee is assessing.
If you completed university-level studies in English within the past five years
We recommend submitting a paper or longer assignment completed as part of that program.
Keep in mind:
- You must be the sole author of the work. Co-authored papers will not be accepted.
- The work does not need to be about law. For example, an MBA paper would be appropriate.
- The work should demonstrate research and analysis. Short reflections, opinion pieces, or unresearched commentaries are not strong options.
Submitting Translated Work
We strongly discourage submitting a direct translation of a paper written in another language. A translation does not reliably reflect your current ability to research, analyze, and write at a graduate level in English.
If your academic writing experience is primarily in another language, you will usually be better served by writing a new piece specifically for the application.
If Neither of the Above Applies
You have three options:
1. Submit an older paper
You may submit a paper that is more than five years old if it still reflects your current abilities. The same expectations regarding authorship, research, and analysis apply.
2. Submit professional work
You may submit something written in the context of your work. However, suitability depends on your role.
The Committee is evaluating graduate-level research and writing ability. Internal policy documents, marketing materials, or short workplace memos are unlikely to be persuasive. The work must also be solely authored by you.
If you are unsure, we recommend seeking feedback before applying.
3. Write something new
Writing a short paper (approximately five pages) on a topic that interests you is often the strongest option if you do not have a suitable existing piece.
This process also helps you assess your interest in graduate-level legal work. Developing an argument and supporting it through research mirrors the type of work you will do in the program.
Keep in mind:
- The Committee is looking for a researched piece, not just an opinion.
- The Committee is looking for an analytical piece, not just a summary of the law.
Topic Suggestions
If you choose to write something new, the following topics may help you get started. You are not required to select one of these.
Administrative Law
- Comment on Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) v Vavilov, including the reformulated standard of review.
- Comment on India v Badesha, 2017 SCC 44.
Banking and Financial Services Law
- Comment on recent amendments to regulations under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act.
- Comment on Bank of Montreal v Marcotte, 2014 SCC 55.
Business Law
- Comment on proposed changes to the Canada Business Corporations Act.
- Comment on BCE Inc. v 1976 Debentureholders, 2008 SCC 69.
Canadian Common Law
- Comment on Saadati v Moorhead, 2017 SCC 28.
- Comment on Law Society of British Columbia v Trinity Western University, 2018 SCC 32.
Constitutional Law
- Comment on the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act Reference.
- Comment on Trinity Western University.
Construction Law
- Comment on Ontario’s prompt payment and adjudication regime.
- Comment on risk allocation in construction contracts.
Criminal Law and Procedure
- Discuss mandatory victim surcharges (R v Boudreault, 2018 SCC 58).
- Discuss media rights and criminal investigations (R v Vice Media Canada Inc., 2018 SCC 53).
Dispute Resolution
- Discuss modernization of dispute resolution using technology.
- Comment on Uber Technologies Inc v Heller.
Energy and Infrastructure Law
- Comment on the Greenhouse Gas Reference.
- Discuss climate change class actions.
Health Law
- Comment on Saadati v Moorhead.
- Comment on Hopkins v Kay, 2015 ONCA 112.
Intellectual Property Law
- Comment on AstraZeneca Canada Inc. v Apotex Inc., 2017 SCC 36.
- Comment on Google Inc v Equustek Solutions Inc, 2017 SCC 34.
General Topics (All Specializations)
You may also choose a broader topic such as legal ethics, professional responsibility, or access to justice.
Examples include:
- The proposed Crown Liability and Proceedings Act, 2019
- The balance between zealous advocacy and civility (Groia v Law Society of Upper Canada, 2018 SCC 27)