No disrespect to current law students, lawyers and professors in Canada, but are Canadian law schools out of touch in terms of their teaching methods? Many law schools around the world are already starting to implement distance learning LL.Ms. I am wondering why Canada hasn't taken this step yet. There's virtually no flexibility - LL.B. or LL.M.

I have recently completed my LL.B. degree at the University of Ottawa, so perhaps I can provide some insight regarding law degrees in Canada.

In general, distance learning degrees are not viewed positively in Canada. There is a significant promoting of classroom hours, which must be completed for students to get there degrees. The quality of distance learning degrees is relatively poor.

You have to ask yourself "why do I want a Canadian law degree"? The LL.B. is the professional qualification that allows you to sit for the Bar exam in respective Canadian provinces and subsequently leads to you becoming a lawyer in Canada, subject to an article of clerkship for a short period of time (ranges from 6-12 months depending on the province).

The LL.M. unlike schools in the United States is not designed for foreign lawyers and does not permit you to sit for the Bar exam or participate in articles of clerkship. In Canada, the LL.M. is designed for further knowledge exclusively for those who want to either pursue academia or obtain specialized knowledge for practice as a lawyer.

While almost all Canadian law schools are highly regarded internationally, I'm not sure what the value of a Canadian LL.M. would be to a foreign lawyer unless they are trying to obtain specialized knowledge for their practice (i.e. I.P. or International Law).

Nevertheless, there is something to be said about learning in the classroom and the quality of education is highest in this atmosphere. I think most Canadian law schools place a high value on learning in the classroom or under the direct supervision of faculty members. They want to "see" their students and their progression in order to ensure the best quality education possible. I think this is part of the reason why Canadian law schools are highly regarded.

A distance learning LL.M. from a Canadian law school would be virtually useless and would not provide any professional qualification in terms of being called to the Bar in a Canadian province. So, what is the point? A distance LL.M. would be nothing more than a cash cow that would provide minimal substantive education to the student. Obviously, this is not the goal or mandate of Canadian law schools, so they don't participate in distance LL.M.'s. They probably also do not want to risk their good reputations being tarnished on programs of this nature. I hope this provides some insight but it is only my opinion of course.

I'm looking into doing an LLM and I'm curious as to whether or not I can actually be called to the Bar in a Canadian province with such a degree. I'd be taking the LLM in China and getting articling experience abroad.

Does anyone have details about this/done this before?

hill_3:

I think you will find some useful information here:

http://www.llm-guide.com/board/21014/last/#post-21382

It doesn't seem like a Canadian LL.M will qualify you to sit for a Canadian bar exam, but your foreign law degree might. This thread has to do with US lawyers, but it may point you in the right direction also. Good luck.

P. Martini

I agree with most of what Wade said above - great post!

Practically speaking, most LLMs in Canada are thesis based research degrees... which makes sense to wonder why physical residence would be required... ie much of the thesis is done on your own and supervisors use email like everyone else...

There is typically some course work/seminar work and depending on the university, this can probably be completed in 8 months... if not 4... and while they might not publicize it, they probably won't kick you out of the program if you are not resident after completing the course work.... so in that sense the time committment is not too onerous... Most LLM's however, will have a full year seminar course.

Like Wade I agree that part of completing a degree is participation in the academic environment and the university that you are attending. No disrespect to distance learning - if done well it can be no different an education, but I don't think it is being out of touch with reality to ask people to attend 4/8 months at the university they are getting a degree from...

A final point - most LLM (and LLBs) offer part time degree options to accomodate those who don't want to quit their jobs/locals who don't want to move/etc...

Sean

I agree with what is set out above. I would caution, however, that much like distance learning, part time learning can have implications on the percieved quality of your LLM. I am a Canadian, but this point goes for all schools, not just those in the great white north.

It's not that a part time degree will be useless' it's just that in this hyper competative market (whether academia or practice or business), it's hard to argue that your B+ average from school x is as valuable as my B+ average from school y, if you straggled the degree over several years with a reduced courseload. With Less on the plate, academically at least, employers ex[pect better results. Maybe it's not fair, sicne you are working at the same time and a probably just as busy as the full tiem student, but I do believe there is a perception that part time degrees are less rigorous and thus the marks may be inflated.