I've been reading through the posts on this message board and have found people's advice very helpful. Which is why I thought I'd stop lurking and finally ask what you think my chances are for an LL.M. at Canadian universities, such as U of T and McGill? (I am also posting this in the US schools section.)

Here are my stats:

- LL.B. at UBC: 3.14 GPA so far (currently in my third year)

- Work Experience: 2 years at Service Canada writing and monitoring agreements for federal funding; summer position with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada and Department of Justice

- Extra-curricular/Volunteer Experience: Pretty good background in assisting marginalized groups (such as women, youth, and low-income families) in clinical law program, not-for-profit organizations, and community groups; Participated in UBC Criminal Law Program where I attended provincial court every week and conducted minor trials and guilty pleas

- References: Associate Dean of UBC; Counsel from the Ministry of Attorney General of BC; and past supervisors from the federal government

- Other Facts: I will be attending Sciences Po Paris on exchange next year (working on my French fluency); of Southeast Asian descent

I realize it might be a long shot, but I figure I should see what some of you think before I throw in the towel. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

I had a 3.2 GPA and 10 years work experience. No volunteer experience and references were nothing special. Applied to U of T and got accepted in a week. So...

Thanks for the response, Eagle!

You've definitely had way more experience than I have, so that factor probably won't weigh in my favour at U of T. What kind of references did you provide?

No trouble. I didnt have academic references. I thought I was out of school for too long. I used a co-worker and an associate in a law firm that I work with on occasion. Based on my application, you compare pretty well.

I might be wrong, but I would think that many programs put less emphasis on the numbers and more emphasis on what it is you want to do in your LLM (ie your thesis topic) and whether there are faculty who are approapriate supervisors.
I'm guessing the person in the post above with 10 years experience would have had something pretty good in terms of a thesis topic and a person with 10 years experience will bring so much more to the classroom/seminar than someone fresh out of an LLB who didn't get an articling position. That might be the reason they got an offer in a week (although this is all speculation!)
It's just my 2 cents but I think the grades and numbers are just basic minimum stuff - the faculty of grad studies has minimum standards for admission of any grad student in any faculty.
Being in seminar with 10 dull people who happen to have 3.3 gpas is worse in my books than bing in a class with 10 B students who have some experience, interest, passion and enthusiasm for their work. I think LLM programs (and faculty supervisors) know that for the most part and look for these things. That said, a lot of people think grades tell a lot about someone (I'm not one of those people)
The other thing to bear in mind is that many admissions committes will do a first screen and separate the good students from the chumps (that's where minimum GPA might matter) and then the applications go off to the various faculty who might potentially be suprevisors. Ultimately I suspect those faculty give the yay or nay to your application and they may or may not care (or even look) at your LLB grades. They are reading your personal statement or statement of intent or whatever and likely your reference letters.... For that reason, if you are set on a specific university and a specific faculty member it might be a good idea to shoot them an email, tell them who you are and what you are interested in doing and that you intend on applying to the LLM program. If they know who you are, they might even look out for your application - or at least be familiar with your name. Or you might annoy them in which case don't!
Good luck!

Well, they actually rejected my thesis topic and "assigned" me another. I was OK with it as it actually made more sense.