Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. As of 2021, the population of the city was 1,017,449, it had a metropolitan population of 1,488,307. This makes it both the fourth-largest city and the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Canada.
The city has the most educated population of all the other Canadian cities. It has several colleges and universities, and research and cultural institutions.
Some of these schools include the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, and Algonquin College, to mention a few.
The city is one of the most visited in the whole of Canada. This article will be about education in Ottawa. If you would like to attend law school in Ottawa, then keep on reading.
When we say the city of Ottawa is the most educated in Canada, what we mean is that over half of the population graduated from a college or a university.
It also has the highest per capita concentration of engineers, scientists, and residents with PhDs in Canada.
You will not only find the best law schools in Ottawa, but Ottawa also offers everything one would expect from a major city: a thriving arts scene and local food and drink that is among the best in Canada. It also offers natural wonders, outdoor activities, and a charm that is one of a kind.
A law school is a university-level institution that trains people to become lawyers. To start a career in law means that you have plans of attending one of the best law schools in Ottawa.
A law school that challenges you academically and puts you in the right position for a successful career in law. This would be better for both you and your career as it would offer you a wide range of alternatives.
The employment outlook for lawyers in the Ottawa region for the period of 2021 – 2023 shows that employment will grow and therefore lead to a moderate number of new positions.
Also, new positions will become available because of retirement.
The average salary a lawyer makes in Ottawa is $168,020/year (CAD). This translates to an average of $81/hr (CAD).
The Benefits of Studying Law
The benefits of studying law are numerous. From teaching you how to speak, read, write, deliberate, debate, and even research. The benefits can also include teaching you how to be good at:
- Negotiation:
Studying law would help you develop your negotiation skills, both in written and verbal forms. This is so that your ability to argue a point or challenge a decision successfully will be made better. This will also help in securing higher-level job positions.
- Analysis:
Law students are expected to gather data and come to conclusions that are based on the analysis of facts and figures. This skill will help you in many roles.
- Presentation:
The importance of this skill cannot be overemphasized. For lawyers to have the ability to communicate or pitch ideas to people is a skill that is considered invaluable. This will be a bonus and will help you move forward in your career.
- Problem-Solving:
The ability to find solutions to problems is seen as an invaluable skill by employers. It does not matter if you are a lawyer or not. A law degree program has a curriculum that teaches you how to think outside the box and solve problems.
- Working Under Pressure:
The nature of a law course makes students work under pressure. This is so that they can meet strict deadlines and complete assignments on time. As a result of this, they learn how to excel in environments that are high in pressure.
Requirements to Study Law in Ottawa
The requirements to get admission into a law school in Ottawa would include your academic performance (transcripts), LSAT report and writing sample, reference letters, personal statement, and autobiographical sketch.
- Transcripts:
These are used to evaluate your academic performance, especially your GPA. Your cumulative GPA will be calculated by combining all the grades you earned while you were studying for an undergraduate degree at the university.
These grades are from all your semesters in school and they will be divided by the total number of grade points by the number of credits. The most successful applicants usually have a cumulative GPA of 3.7.
- LSAT:Â
This means the Law School Admission Test. The score you get from the LSAT is used to test your legal reasoning ability. This is a trait you must have that improve your chances of getting accepted.
Although, some schools will use your highest LSAT score if you have taken the test more than once.
- Letters of Recommendation:
You would then be required to submit letters of recommendation that should be from academic sources. If you decide to submit one from someone who is not academic, then your best options for referees should be employers, managers, supervisors for internships or placements, coaches, tutors, or volunteering coordinators. You should avoid making use of friends or family.
For referees, you would have to use individuals who can attest and speak well about your skills and personality as this would help your future studies and career in law.
Your academic referee should be someone who was a teacher to you and can speak about your performance in class. All in all, you should choose your referees carefully.
- Personal Statement:
A personal statement for an application into a law school is an opportunity for you to make your case to the admissions that you are someone who will succeed in your program and your career. Although some law schools might ask for an optional essay or an interview, the personal statement is still a way to make an impression on the school.
Personal statements are evaluated based on the capacity for creative or original thinking, strong communication skills, and potential to manage, extracurriculars, community involvement, career experience, diverse experiences or perspectives, and career aspirations.
Finally, to make your statement stand out, try to make use of terminology that is found in the program curriculum. What this means is that you should research the program to find what they value and use the information in your statement.
The List of Law Schools in Ottawa
University of Ottawa Faculty of Law:
The University of Ottawa Faculty of Law is the law school at the University of Ottawa, located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
It was founded in 1953, and the Faculty is divided into the two formally recognized legal traditions in Canada, the Civil Law and Common Law sections, which prepare students to start careers in the two legal systems of the country.
The Common Law offers a three-year program in both English and French, while the Civil Law Section offers a three-year program in French.
The Common Law provides an academic and professional education that is broad for people interested in the practice of law, government, international service, legal scholarship, conflict resolution, or any career that takes the knowledge of legal principles is an advantage.
The faculty is a highly rated one and it maintains close links with the legal communities in Quebec, Ontario, and abroad.
The faculty is home to two elite bilingual law journals. One of which is produced by the civil law section and another is produced by the common law section. They have significantly contributed to the development of law by the Supreme Court of Canada.
The university itself is the oldest and largest bilingual university in Canada. The Information about the tuition fee can be accessed here.
Carleton University:
Carleton University is an English-language public research university that is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The institution was founded in 1942.
The University moved to its current campus in 1959 and started growing rapidly in size during the 1960s as the Ontario government showed more support for post-secondary institutions and also expanded access to higher education.
Carleton University offers a wide range of academic programs including a Department of Law and Legal Studies.
This department offers top-notch programs for the interdisciplinary study of the law and beyond. These programs are innovative and they explore the dynamic interaction between law and society nationally, transnational, and internationally.
The school offers many full-time professors who are engaged in researching and teaching in the field of law. You can take a look at the domestic costs here.
Algonquin Careers Academy:
Algonquin Careers Academy provides career training diplomas, certificates, and continuing education programs in Ottawa, Ontario, and also online.
The institution was established in 1981 and has been changing the lives of students by providing them with career training that is of high quality and industry-specific.
Algonquin offers law programs and career courses that are focused on disciplines that are in constant demand in the law sector. This can be either a paralegal course or a course on law clerks.
You can take a look at the cost to attend this institution over here.
Herzing College, Ottawa:
Herzing College, Ottawa is located on the Herzing College Ottawa campus and is equipped with everything that is needed for an optimum student experience.
The institution offers diploma programs in healthcare, business, legal, design, and technology. The curriculum is a practical one with hands-on training for its students.
The legal studies programs are fast-paced and quite intensive. They are designed to quickly prepare students for the legal workforce.
Students who graduate from these programs are qualified to join the legal teams in government, private practice, non-profit organizations, and corporations.
The curriculum also has internships for the students so they can get real work experience.
What Is The Highest Degree Of Law?
The highest degree of law is the J.D. degree. It is a Doctor of Juridical science degree. It is seen as the highest level of a law degree and is mostly designed for professionals who want to gain an advanced legal education.
Is Law School Hard?
The straightforward answer to this is yes. Law school is hard. When you compare careers, there are only a few educational experiences that can beat this one, both in the work you are required to put in and the amount of stress you will most definitely face.
You would need to put in a lot of work throughout the program if you want to graduate.
So, yes, law school is hard but the degree and how hard it is is all dependent on how well-suited you are for it and how much work you are willing to put in.
How long is a law school in Ottawa?
The Dual J.D. program is four years, the first two years will take place in Ottawa, while the last two years of study will take place with partner institutions in the United States.
Although the Common Law Section at the University of Ottawa and the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA) at Carleton University both offer a combined 4-year program that allows students to obtain J.D. degrees and an MA (International Affairs).
How Do I Become A Lawyer In Ottawa?
To become a lawyer licensed by the Law Society of Ontario, you have to be licensed. For you to become licensed, you have to:
Meet Academic Requirements:
You would have to complete a J.D. or LL.B. degree from an approved law school anywhere in Ottawa, Ontario, or any other Canadian province. Or you can also obtain a certificate of Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation.
Apply To The Licensing Process:
This process consists of two licensing examinations, hands-on experiential training, a good character requirement, and licensure.
All aspects of the process must be completed in three licensing years. The process of licensing runs every year from the 1st of May of one year to the 30th of April of the following year.
The deadline to send in an application is usually at the start of December.
Pass The Barrister And Solicitor Licensing Examinations:
These examinations are self-study and open-book examinations that are comprised of multiple-choice questions. The programs are offered in the Summer, Fall, and Winter.
The good news is that you do not need to write or pass the examinations before you get to attend the Law Practice Program but you would have to make sure you have submitted both parts of the application.
Be Deemed To Be Of Good Character:
To get licensure to become a lawyer in Ottawa, the Law Society Act of Ontario, would require you to be of good character.
This requirement is used to protect the public and maintain high ethical standards in the law profession.
This is done by ensuring that the lawyers who are licensed would show respect for the rule of law and also the administration of justice. They are also expected to conduct themselves with honesty, integrity, and candor.
Licensure:
Once you have passed your examinations, completed articling or the Law Practice Program, paid your fees, submitted your forms, and have no good character issues, you are eligible to be licensed to practice law. Eligible candidates must be in attendance for a live call to the bar ceremony.
They are presented with the Degree of Barrister-at-Law by the Law Society and a Court Certificate. They are then required to swear or affirm the oath they would need to practice law in Ottawa.
What Is The Hardest Part Of Law School?
There are several viewpoints that concern this question. It would depend on who you are asking, what year level you are in, or what subjects you are currently taking.
But if we were to look at it from another angle, we could say that the hardest part of law school is the study itself. This is because of the many required readings of the texts of the law.
Most students become overwhelmed with whY they are expected to read, understand and memorize.
Can An Average Student Study Law?
Yes, an average student can study law. You can easily consider a degree in law as a good choice.
Although, you should make sure it is what you want to do because it requires putting in hard work and dedication into it.
Any other thing will turn into a complex course if you choose to neglect it and not pay attention to it.
What Skills Do Law Students Need?
For you to study law, you would need several skills. It might be intellectually challenging but it is also highly rewarding.
You are not expected to be good or brilliant at everything from the first day but with help and support, you would develop and perfect these skills.
It is necessary because they would prepare you for a career in law after school.
So here is a list of some of the skills you would need to possess to become a successful law student:
- A thirst for knowledge.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Independent Learner.Â
- Teamwork.
- Research skills.Â
