Congrats @pcainti665!

I interviewed with them but not off the waitlist, so I can't speak to that specific context, but I'd be happy to answer any questions re: the interview and other stuff. This was 4 years ago, though, so my experience may not be super up-to-date. Regardless, good luck!

Yes, I'm planning on staying in Canada. I applied both to U.S. and Canadian law schools, but ultimately chose Canada because of that reason.

Wow, you're fortunate to have the advantage of local rates with either option.

> @deancvenpin520 said:

>

> > Sure, I know some that transferred mid-school and others that transferred following graduation. For the latter, there is a process called NCA which requires the transferee to take a few exams (they assess your application and then determine the amount of tests required - I think between 4 to 12 or so) in addition to taking the bar of course. Are you planning on going to a US school and then practicing within Canada?

>

> I am not 100% sure, but want to know what my options are :) Would I need to article upon returning to Canada? Would acquiring a Canadian LLM be of any help??

>

> THANK YOUU

>

>

The NCA process applies to all transferees, as far as I know. A Canadian LLM does not evade the process, but it may reduce the amount of tests you would need to take to 4 (which is the minimum). That alone would likely not be a good reason to do an LLM, since taking a few tests is much easier than a year-long graduate degree. (Also, it's possible you'd only need to take 4 anyhow; they evaluate each applicant independently.)

If you transferred back to Canada right after law school, you'd need to article. I believe if you worked for some time in the U.S., you can evade articling but I'm not sure the length of work necessary for this.

I should probably add that I'm speaking of the Ontario process. I'm not familiar with the regulations of other provinces.

Yeah, those are all great, accurate points @ashleighkong22327. I've worked with the admissions office as well, volunteering to assist them with their programs and tours. I've also found the admissions officers really helpful, transparent and informative for prospective students. I'm sure other schools are like that too, and it really reflects the benefit of communicating with the admissions representatives. Are you planning to stay in Canada for law school?

@parham1373475 said:

I’m starting law school in September (in Canada) and I was wondering if anyone had recommendations on books to read before starting 1L.

If you also have personal advice about how to handle first year, i would appreciate that too!

Thank you!

Hi fellow Canadian! For Canadian law, I think you'd enjoy and gain a lot from reading Stephen Waddams, Introduction to the Study of Law. Waddams is an expert on contracts and his book is reader-friendly. I read it prior to law school and liked it. Don't overburden yourself too much before law school, though. Enjoy your freedom and reserve your reading superpowers for when it counts most.

The Economist is a good idea. It might also depend on which passages trouble you the most. I had issues with science passages, so I read Scientific American and another similar magazine (in addition to The Economist). I also remember taking out some very dry, academic books on random, unfamiliar topics from the library.

> @gracetangca361 said:

> @torahisland910 , I'm going to be pursuing a combination of corporate, health and IP law :) Those are the areas of interest for me as a science and business major. The Law School I'll be attending has a patent clinic and health clinic, so I'll be sure to check them out!

That's awesome! It's nice that you already know your area of interest prior to law school. Many of my fellow students changed their plans during law school, so it might be good idea to still explore other areas during law school, in addition to progressing further in your specific area.

> @ashleighkong22327 said:

> Just chiming in to say, thank goodness there's an active Canadian thread, eh.

Yup, welcome! I like your profile name.

> @deancvenpin520 said:

> Question for you, do you know of any Canadians who studied in The US and then came back to Canada and are practicing?

Sure, I know some that transferred mid-school and others that transferred following graduation. For the latter, there is a process called NCA which requires the transferee to take a few exams (they assess your application and then determine the amount of tests required - I think between 4 to 12 or so) in addition to taking the bar of course. Are you planning on going to a US school and then practicing within Canada?

> @deancvenpin520 said:

> Hello fellow Canadians! EYYYYYYY!

>

> I'm also a STEM graduate trying to apply to law schools in the US solely because of the sheer difference in pharmaceutical market / IP industry between US vs Canada.

>

> What are some splitter-friendly schools in Canada?

Oh, that's really cool. Sounds like some of your interests might overlap with @gracetangca361

If I'm not mistaken, I believe McGill is such an example. I can only speak to U of T's admissions with certainty: they assess your application by 1/3 LSAT score, 1/3 GPA, and 1/3 Personal Statement. Although I suppose that the last third might include the life experiences included in the statement, I like the fact that they place equal weight on the personal statement. A true personal statement can really reflect a lot about the person writing. It's like Frost's definition of style as representing how the writer takes her/himself and what s/he is saying. "It is the mind skating circles around itself as it moves forward."

> @shivtomer149 said:

> > @deancvenpin520 said:

> > @shivtomer149 Thank you so much for this information. Really helps. If you don't mind me asking, are you planning on applying to Canadian schools as well?

>

> I am! Not planning on applying for the upcoming cycle, though. I'm headed to grad school at U of T first, and then planning on applying to law school (probably the cycle after the upcoming one).

Awesome! Great to see someone plunging in on the pursuit of knowledge.

Hi @gracetangca361 I think most of the areas of law I can think of are practiced in Canada just like in the US, though your point re: size of Canadian market vs US is of course true. Is there a particular area of law that you're thinking of?

Unlikely Princeton Review has access to those, but I'm all for hoping.

Bumping this thread to the front as I'm on here again after a long time away and I would be happy to help anyone if I can.

No idea (though I'd imagine different) - but welcome!

Don't get too stressed out about reading prior to 1L. You'll have enough opportunity for that once school starts. Try to enjoy your pre-law school summer. Try to spend more time with friends and family - things will get busy at the beginning of 1L as you adjust to all the newness (and then after a bit things will hopefully become less hectic as you develop your own rhythm and process for studying).

Some of this stuff depends on each person and their particular skills - but for me I think I felt LR might have been slightly more difficult in earlier versions of the test.

I wouldn't visit a second time. You seem to have communicated your interest satisfactorily via visit and letter. I hope you get the decision you want.

If you have access to all I'd stick mostly with new material, though reusing PTs is still very helpful. As long as you are still going through the proper thought processes and techniques, you will still be sharpening your skills and the patterns will be sinking into your mind.

Yes there is quite a range for 1L summer. While optimally you want to gain legal experience in your field of interest, many even try non-legal positions and some fill their summer with travel and other interesting things to speak of on interviews for 2L positions.

I'm sorry to hear that - I hope the remainder of applications turn in your favour.

Take the leap and open it - hope it's good news

Law has general qualities but much depends on the area of law as well as the process adopted. Logical thinking certainly has its place and value, but I wouldn't put too much emphasis on the specific designs of the LSAT as a paradigm to be re-encountered and responded to by reaching back to LSAT techniques.

I believe there are some other test centres than U of T. I live in Toronto, too, and took mine about a half-hour drive out of the city. If you'd like to take it in June, I would apply and pursue alternative test centres if U of T is full.

@aaronkeegan92975 Sounds like a plan! I think you will find that most lawyers remember being law students themselves, and many will be generous with their time and advice. Also, I am sure that law school itself will help clarify your area of interest. It's totally normal to allow time to figure it out. Even those who enter law school intent on a particular area often change their focus during law school.

@aaronkeegan92975 My pleasure! The specifics regarding how often they hire, etc. will likely depend on each market, so I'd recommend researching the particular area you're interested in.

During my first year of law school, I was also interested in learning about and perhaps working as in-house counsel. I reached out to and met with some GCs who kindly took the time to convey what the practicalities of the job were like. If interested, I'd recommend you also reaching out. These people are usually very busy, but many are generous with their time, esp. since you're asking for an informational meeting to learn more about their area. This should give you a good feel for the specifics of the market in your area.

I'll answer from the Canadian perspective, but much obtains across the border:

There are in-house positions available for law school graduates ("articling students" in Canada). Often, you will see senior lawyers leaving a firm to go in-firm with a large client, when the client thinks it's a better move financially and strategically, but the larger companies will generally have a legal department that takes on law students, generally with the plan on building careers at the company.

In-house counsel has transformed over the last 50 years, and is seen as more prestigious than it once was. It used to be seen as a job of routine and repetitive work, with the interesting and complex legal issues farmed out to outside firms. Now, in-house counsel will handle much more complex cases, and hire outside counsel if needed.

In-house counsel often has significant business roles at the corporation, and you'll see a lot of GCs that are also VPs. This is likely expected as they are employees of the corporation, unlike outside counsel who have allegiance to many clients. As employees, ethical conflicts are pronounced for in-house counsel, since the potential risk may mean losing their job as opposed to a client. Regulators in the U.S. and Canada have increased regulations for in-house counsel in the last 15 years, following some scandals implicating in-house counsel, particularly Enron.

Hi @476,

Good luck! I'm sure you will be fine. I interviewed back in 2014. It was pleasant and it's over before you know it. Although my interview was 3 years ago, feel free to PM me if I can help with anything.

I received the following response when I emailed Columbia for a fee waiver in 2014. I was never notified of a fee waiver, but when I submitted my Columbia application via LSAC I saw that my application had been waived by Columbia (I didn't request an general LSAC fee waiver).

"Thank you for your interest in Columbia Law School.

Should you satisfy the requirements for a merit-based fee waiver, you will be contacted by us directly via email.

Additionally, we provide application fee waivers to those prospective applicants who have received a fee waiver through LSAC. To learn more about LSAC fee waivers, please visit http://www.lsac.org/jd/lsat/fee-waivers.asp

We hope to review your application in the coming months."