Juris Doctor (JD) is a master's degree in Law programme offered by Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada. The programme runs for 3 years, delivered on campus.
At a glance
Degree:Master's Degree
Field:Law
Duration: 3 years
Delivery: On Campus
We have no tuition fees on record for this programme yet — see the official programme page.
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Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The Juris Doctor is Dalhousie University's entry-to-practice professional law degree, offered through the Schulich School of Law in Halifax with a September start. It takes three years to complete on a standard schedule, delivered in person, with both full-time and part-time enrollment available. The course-based curriculum allows students to tailor electives to their interests while building practical skills through legal aid and technology-law clinics, moot court competitions, specialized placements, and student pro-bono initiatives. Students can also pursue combined degrees, pairing the JD with a master's in health administration, information, business administration, or public administration. The program suits those preparing for varied legal careers — in private law firms, government, non-governmental organizations, academia, or social services — by combining a grounding in legal theory with hands-on advocacy and clinical experience before graduates seek admission to practice.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Dalhousie's Juris Doctor admits from an undergraduate degree already in progress or completed; the Schulich Admissions Committee calculates both a cumulative average across all years and institutions and an average of the applicant's most recent two years of study, using whichever is higher in the academic assessment alongside the LSAT. All applicants must submit a valid LSAT score, written within five years of application; only the highest score counts, and a test written after January 31 is not considered for admission beginning that September. No separate English-language test is required of international applicants because the LSAT's own verbal component is treated as sufficient evidence of English proficiency. The application further requires two reference letters (at least one academic for current or recent students) and three personal-statement essays of 250-400 words each.
Application Details
Start Date:September
Application Deadline:Dalhousie's live Dates and Deadlines page still shows the September 2026 entry cycle as of mid-September 2026, not the 2027 cycle. For that cycle, Bachelor of Science (Nursing), Bachelor of Health Sciences, Bachelor of Science (Medical Sciences) and Bachelor of Social Work close February 15, 2026; the Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies (Architecture) closes March 1, 2026; and the Health Sciences post-diploma option closes June 15, 2026. All other undergraduate programmes are considered on a rolling, space-available basis for both domestic and international applicants, with no separate international closing date published; May 15, 2026 is only the deposit and English-proficiency deadline, not an application deadline. Dalhousie has not yet published September 2027 entry dates. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
