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?
Lawyers or law graduates with legal work experience 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.
Our full-time Professional LLM options are geared to applicants who are in a career transition period or wish to take time away from work to focus on their studies. While full-time students are welcome to work part–time during their studies, we encourage those working full–time to consider our part-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.
| Area | Fall 2024 | Winter 2025 | Fall 2025 | Course Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | N/A |
| Business Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | N/A |
| Canadian Common Law* | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | N/A |
| Constitutional Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | N/A |
| Construction Law | ✓ | CNLW 6400 in Fall 2024 | ||
| Dispute Resolution | ✓ | x | ✓ | ALDR 6300 (in your first Fall term) and ALDR 6301 (in your first Winter term) |
| Energy and Infrastructure law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | N/A |
| Financial Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | N/A |
| Health Law | x | x | ✓ | LAWH 6861 and LAWH 6860 in Fall 2024 |
| International Business Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | BLIS 6501 |
| Intellectual Property Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | N/A |
| Labour and Employment Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | N/A |
| Privacy and Cybersecurity Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | N/A |
| Securities Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | N/A |
| Taxation Law | ✓ | x | ✓ | TXLW 6100 (in your first Fall term) |
*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
Courses are not available every term, so we advise planning your courses in advance.
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 General Law specialization accepts new students twice each calendar year, in the Fall term and the Winter term.
Fall 2024
Application Deadlines:
International Applicants are Encouraged to Apply by: February 1, 2024
Final Deadline: May 1, 2024
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)
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
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