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Location: Murray Fraser Hall
Program number: 403.210.8718
Fax: 403.210.9662
Email address: law@ucalgary.ca
Web page URL:

Master of Laws (LLM), thesis-based and course-based

Specializations:

• Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law
• Energy and Environmental Systems (Interdisciplinary, thesis-based only. See the calendar section on Interdisciplinary Specializations for further information)

Thesis-based LLM students may elect not to have an area of specialization.

The Faculty also offers a Graduate Certificate in Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law.

The course-based LLM program and the Graduate Certificate program are available for part-time enrolment.

In addition to the requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, the Faculty of Law requires, for both the thesis-based and course-based LLM degree programs and the Graduate Certificate program:

a) An academic degree in law.

b) For applicants required to provide proof of proficiency in English, a minimum TOEFL Internet-based score of 97, of which the reading, listening and writing component must total 75; or the minimum IELTS overall band score of 7.0, with a reading and writing band minimum of 7.0; or a MELAB score of 83; or a PTE score of 68. This requirement can also be met by completing Tier III of the with a minimum grade of "B" on Academic Writing & Grammar III, "B" on Reading Comprehension & Proficiency III, and "B" on Listening Comprehension & Oral Fluency III.

c) Applicants to the LLM program must submit a brief statement of their proposed thesis or major paper and indicate their proposed supervisor. Forms and details are available from the Faculty. For applicants interested in the specialization in Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law, the proposal must be in this area.

d) Two reference letters.

Deadlines for submission of completed applications are available on the Future Students website:

LLM (thesis-based):

LLM (course-based):

The applicant must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for courses taken as part of another completed degree/diploma/certificate or for courses taken to bring the grade point average to a required level for admission. Credit may be given for courses taken towards the Faculty of Law's thesis-based or course-based LLM degree program or as part of the Faculty's Graduate Certificate program when transferring between programs.

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, the Faculty of Law requires:

LLM (thesis-based)

a) Law 703: Graduate Seminar in Legal Research and Methodology. Students must receive a passing grade in this course to advance in the program.

b) Law 705: Graduate Seminar in Legal Theory.

c) At least two additional 600-level courses (6 units) approved by the Graduate Director. For students in the specialization in Natural resources, Energy and Environmental Law, the courses should be in the areas of natural resources, energy or environmental law or in a related area or from a related discipline with the approval of the Graduate Director.

d) A substantial research thesis, approximately 100 to 125 pages (30,000-38,000 words) in length, exclusive of the bibliography, prepared under the supervision of a faculty member or other suitable person appointed by the Graduate Director. For students in the specialization in Natural resources, Energy and Environmental Law, the thesis should be on a topic in that subject area.

e) Two terms in residence, normally consecutive and normally from September to April. Students usually require at least 15 to 18 months from initial registration for thesis completion and defence.

LLM (course-based)

a) Law 703: Graduate Seminar in Legal Research and Methodology. Students must receive a passing grade in this course to advance in the program.

b) An additional five courses (15 units) in the areas of natural resources, energy or environmental law or in a related area or from a related discipline with the approval of the Graduate Director. At least two of the five additional courses must be at the 600 level and at least two of the five additional courses must include a research paper evaluation worth at least 50 per cent of the course grade. One of the additional courses may be Law 705, the Graduate Seminar in Legal Theory.

c) Law 706: A major research paper, approximately 50 to 60 pages (15,000–18,000 words) in length, prepared under the supervision of a Faculty member or other suitable person appointed by the Graduate Director and evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis.

Graduate Certificate Program

The completion of four courses (12 units) in the area of natural resources, energy or environmental law or a related area, including at least one with a research paper evaluation worth at least 50 per cent of the course grade and including at least two at the 600 level. All courses require the approval of the Graduate Director.

Some of the JD courses may be eligible for credit toward the LLM program.

a) All requirements for the thesis-based LLM degree must be completed within three calendar years of initial registration.

b) All requirements for the course-based LLM degree must be completed within five years of initial registration. It is expected that full-time students will complete the program in one calendar year.

c) All requirements for the Graduate Certificate program must be completed within three calendar years of initial registration.

Contact the Faculty of Law Graduate Director for information.

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies regulations for thesis examinations, the program requires:

Thesis Examination

Thesis examinations are open.

Scheduling of the Examination
All members of the Supervisory Committee (where applicable), must have reviewed the student’s draft thesis document before an examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee
The Internal Examiner may be internal to the home program.

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students, although funding for course-based LLM and Graduate Certificate students will very rarely be provided. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this calendar or the Faculty of Law Calendar or website.

Students applying for scholarships must submit their scholarship applications to the Faculty of Law by the deadlines for completed admission applications.

Attaining an LLM degree without a Canadian LLB degree will not qualify graduates to practice law in Canada. Inquiries on this issue must be addressed to the appropriate provincial governing body for the legal profession. In Alberta, contact the Law Society of Alberta.