Study at Southampton Law School and develop your legal knowledge in the country in which common law began and experience a different way of life. Studying abroad expands your world, giving you a network of friends, colleagues and professional contacts that will benefit you for life.
Our relatively small size and friendly, informal culture means that academic staff and students build strong relationships and each and every one of our students are able to play an active and recognized part in our Law School community. Our Canadian students form a big part of this community and we currently have around 50 students from Canada studying with us.
Southampton Law School offers an opportunity to study for an undergraduate law degree with a JD pathway, which can be taken as part of the 2 year accelerated programme. This provides a distinctive edge to Canadians studying law in the UK returning home, where JDs are becoming more prevalent at Canadian law schools. The flagship feature of the JD Pathway programme is the specifically designed module Constitutional Law of Canada, providing students with an opportunity to examine the system of constitutional law of Canada and excellent preparation for the NCA exam on the subject.
Please note: JD pathway students are still responsible for getting the Canadian NCA conversion of their degree – as is required for any law degree undertaken outside of Canada. We provide regular information sessions on the NCA conversion and accreditation processes for our students
Successful completion of a four year Bachelor degree at a minimum GPA of 3.0 will be considered for programmes requiring a UK Bachelor (Honours) degree at 2:1.
This programme involves a rigorous study of the law, in which you will learn both the content of the law and develop sound skills of legal analysis. It also provides a platform for careers in other areas
University of Southampton is a founding member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities
Study Canadian Constitutional Law (reducing NCA exam study time)
Flexible programmes allow you to specialise in the areas that interest you most, optional modules include: Family Law, Healthcare Law and Criminal Justice No LSAT or LNAT required
Guaranteed university accommodation for each year of study
Study in an open, green, campus-based environment
Build professional networks with ease, with the city of London just over one hour away by train
No LSAT or LNAT required
Ryan
Law School alumni, Ryan, tells us about his time at the University of Southampton and his career since he has been back in Canada.
I chose to study at Southampton because of the 2 year LLB JD programme, the inclusion of the Canadian Constitutional module was very appealing. Aside from the academic staff, the location of the city in relation to London was also a significant factor for me.
My experiences at Southampton have been an adventure. As a young girl straight from high school, moving to the UK was a test, very challenging one at that too, but I have learned to be bold, I have matured and I have become fearless.
All law degrees taken outside of Canada; whether it is at Southampton, Oxford, Harvard or Yale; must be accredited by the "National Committee on Accreditation”.
After you complete your law degree, the NCA will review and assess your credentials. Based on this assessment, the NCA will require you to complete certain assignments or rectify particular deficiencies. What is required will depend on the courses you have completed (e.g., whether you have taken the 3-year or 2-year degree accelerated programme and the grades you received). Southampton Law School offers a Canadian Constitutional Law course (which includes components on federalism, rule of law, Aboriginal rights and the Charter), which functions as excellent preparation for the NCA exam.
After you have completed your NCA assessment, you will then need to be licensed to practice. As with most jurisdictions, in order to practice law, one must not only have a law degree but also complete a licensing process that involves an experiential training program. The relevant provincial or territorial law profession authority regulates this process. For instance, in Ontario, it is regulated by the Law Society of Upper Canada.
This experiential training requirement is accomplished through the process of articling. In some provinces, such as Ontario, this is an alternative pathway that can be taken instead of articling called the Law Practice Programme (LPP). Completion of either the articling or the LPP process will satisfy the experiential training requirement.
Be sure to consult the policy and guidelines of the jurisdiction(s) you wish to practice in for full and up-to-date requirements.
The Law Society of England and Wales is also a great resource of information on how to practise in Canada.
Returning to Canada: how we support you
We recognise that the process of returning to Canada with an international law degree can be daunting and so we offer a range of activities designed to prepare Canadian students for a career in Canada, or elsewhere in the world. These include seminars on the process of getting your law degree accredited with the NCA for when you return to Canada, and extra-curricular and employment opportunities focused on the Canadian law market. The University can also arrange for your transcripts to be sent directly to the NCA upon graduation. We also have experienced Canadian faculty members who are also always on hand to provide advice to our Canadian students.
Our Equity & Trusts module allows students to take 1 less exam
Returning to Canada: the process
All law degrees taken outside of Canada; whether it is at Southampton, Oxford, Harvard or Yale; must be accredited by the "National Committee on Accreditation”.
After you complete your law degree, the NCA will review and assess your credentials. Based on this assessment, the NCA will require you to complete certain assignments or rectify particular deficiencies. What is required will depend on the courses you have completed (e.g., whether you have taken the 3-year or 2-year degree accelerated programme and the grades you received). Southampton Law School offers a Canadian Constitutional Law course (which includes components on federalism, rule of law, Aboriginal rights and the Charter), which functions as excellent preparation for the NCA exam.
After you have completed your NCA assessment, you will then need to be licensed to practice. As with most jurisdictions, in order to practice law, one must not only have a law degree but also complete a licensing process that involves an experiential training program. The relevant provincial or territorial law profession authority regulates this process. For instance, in Ontario, it is regulated by the Law Society of Upper Canada.
This experiential training requirement is accomplished through the process of articling. In some provinces, such as Ontario, this is an alternative pathway that can be taken instead of articling called the Law Practice Programme (LPP). Completion of either the articling or the LPP process will satisfy the experiential training requirement.
Be sure to consult the policy and guidelines of the jurisdiction(s) you wish to practice in for full and up-to-date requirements.
The Law Society of England and Wales is also a great resource of information on how to practise in Canada.
Returning to Canada: how we support you
We recognise that the process of returning to Canada with an international law degree can be daunting and so we offer a range of activities designed to prepare Canadian students for a career in Canada, or elsewhere in the world. These include seminars on the process of getting your law degree accredited with the NCA for when you return to Canada, and extra-curricular and employment opportunities focused on the Canadian law market. The University can also arrange for your transcripts to be sent directly to the NCA upon graduation. We also have experienced Canadian faculty members who are also always on hand to provide advice to our Canadian students.
If you are Canadian and looking for a world class law degree, look no further than Southampton. Everything you need is here.
Our alumni
Southampton Law School alumni are an important part of our community – especially those that return to Canada after completing their studies. We stay in contact with our alumni, allowing graduates to remain up to date with the Law School and to have a network of other Canadians who are currently articling, doing the LPP, practicing as lawyers or working in other industries.
Support for Canadian Students
We offer tailored support for Canadian students, from the point of application to your arrival in the UK and throughout your study with us. We even stay in touch after you have graduated through regular in country alumni events.
Southampton Law School makes regular trips to Canada to speak to applicants and our agents in Canada provide application and Visa support free of charge. Our staff members focus on bringing law-based extra-curricular and professional opportunities to you. We also ensure that guidance and support is provided for students who wish to return to Canada to get their degree accredited by the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA), as well as securing articling positions and work as lawyers.
Staff and students unite for Canadian Law Society welcome reception
Canadian Law Society
Canadian students at the Law School benefit from the student-run Canadian Law Society, which acts as the professional and social hub for Canadian students at Southampton Law School. The Society arranges a wide range of activities including social events, academic workshops, information sessions, career development and personal support activities.
Southampton Law School students are able to take advantage of an extensive careers and employability programme, which is run by our dedicated careers coordinator. The programme offers an impressive range of opportunities in which to engage and forge relationships with legal and business professions and gain invaluable work experience.
Southampton Law School and the University of Southampton offer numerous extra-curricular activities that provide opportunities to develop professional skills and gain valuable experience – as well as provide social and recreational activities to meet new people and enjoy your time.
The Canadian Prestige Scholarship is available to all students who have Canadian citizenship applying to study any of our undergraduate Law programmes in 2023. The Prestige scholarship grants £1,000 per year of study, provided that you apply before 1 August and meet or exceed the terms of your offer.
*Please note, if you have applied after 30th June through UCAS Clearing, you will need to add the University of Southampton as your Clearing choice in UCAS and be accepted in order to qualify for the scholarship
