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Sussex LLB Frequently Asked Questions

Sussex LLB Frequently Asked Questions

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General questions:

Program questions:

Tuition and finance questions:

Practising law in Canada questions:

General Questions

What is the difference between a Juris Doctor (JD) and an LLB (Bachelor of Laws)?

An LLB is historically a degree that is taken right out of high school, which is still common in the UK; a JD, which is common in the United States, is entered after the completion of a bachelor's degree. For this program, you enter the LLB at Sussex after two years of your BA or BSc at Laurier.

Where will I live while attending Sussex?

Students attending Sussex from Laurier are guaranteed access to university-managed accommodation in their first year, as long as they submit their application and deposit by the deadline and make Sussex their firm choice on their application. In your subsequent years at Sussex, you can choose to live off campus in the town of Brighton, or reapply to live in the university residences.

What types of law can I study in the University of Sussex's LLB program?

Students will spend their first two years at Sussex studying all areas of law, providing them with a firm foundation in commonwealth law. In their third and final year of the program, students can choose to focus their studies in a particular law module, or explore a many different aspects of law. Some of the current Sussex Law modules include: Environmental Law, Employment Law, Family Law, Hate Crime and the Law, Intellectual Property Law, International Business Transactions, Public International Law, and Sports Law, just to name a few. To view a full list of the available modules, visit the University of Sussex website and select ‘Year 3 at Sussex: Modules List.’

Program Questions

Is this considered a double-degree program?

This is not a double-degree program through Laurier. The University of Sussex will deliver and award the LLB degree. Laurier will deliver and award the honours BA degree in Criminology, English (Brantford), English (Waterloo), Human Rights, Law and Society, Philosophy or Political Science; or the honours BSc degree in Honours Science.

Am I guaranteed admission to the Sussex Law School by being accepted into Laurier’s LLB and BA/BSc program?

Students who meet the progression and eligibility requirements may apply to the Sussex law degree program and are guaranteed an offer of admission to Law School. If you do not meet the progression and eligibility requirements for the program, you will continue in your honours BA or BSc program at Laurier.

Will I have to write the LSAT exam in order to attend law school at the University of Sussex?

No. One of the perks of studying in this program is that you do not have to spend time or money on the LSAT exam. As long as you meet the progression and eligibility requirements in our program, you’ll be admitted into the University of Sussex’s Law program.

Tuition and Finance Questions

How much is a year’s tuition for Law School at Sussex?

The amount of tuition a Canadian student can expect to pay for Law School at the University of Sussex is approximately $32,000 CAD per year (at current September 2024 exchange rates and equivalent to £18,060). Laurier students who go to Sussex as part of this program receive a 20% tuition discount for all three years of study. The discount is worth approximately $8,000 CAD.

Learn more about the cost of tuition at Laurier.

Can I use the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) to help pay for my expenses while studying at the University of Sussex?

Yes. Ontario residents can use OSAP funding to assist in paying for their expenses while studying at the University of Sussex. That being said, when you are studying abroad at Sussex, you will only be eligible for the federal government portion of OSAP funding. You will not be granted the provincial funding which is only provided for students studying at an Ontario institution. In order to receive OSAP funding, you must apply each year on the OSAP website and search for the University of Sussex when asked to select your school. Your application will be processed directly by OSAP and any inquires related to your OSAP processing for the time that you are at the University of Sussex will need to go through the Ministry directly. The application opens the spring before the fall term start. We suggest that you apply as soon as you have determined what school you will be attending the following fall to receive your funding early enough to assist in paying for your tuition and living expenses.

Practising Law in Canada Questions

When you return to Laurier after studying at Sussex, you will take credits to complete your undergraduate degree, which will include for-credit courses that will help prepare you for the national accreditation exams that you’ll need to write to have the international law degree recognized here in Canada. This accreditation process is a national process that is separate from Laurier and the Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree.

How many exams will I need to write in order to be accredited to practise law in Canada?

At time of writing, students graduating with a common law degree at the required grade from an accredited UK university (such as Sussex) need to write five exams to have that international degree accredited as equivalent to a Canadian law degree. NCA candidates must also now complete a course in legal research and writing. NCA candidates can complete this course through an approved Canadian common law program or through the NCA legal research and writing course offered through the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED). Please refer to the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) website for further information on the process and timing. Once you have completed these exams — if you want to be a practising lawyer — you will also have to complete your articling and bar admission process before practising law in Canada.

Does Laurier’s program prepare students to write the NCA exams?

We will offer courses that you may take to complete the BA or BSc degree that will also help prepare you to write the NCA exams (e.g. Canadian Constitutional Law). These courses go through the NCA curriculum so that you are familiar with the NCA content before the writing of the NCA exam.

Are the NCA exams based on the nationality of a student?

The NCA exams are not based on nationality of the student, but instead on where the student obtained his or her law degree. That also determines the number of exams that need to be written. In order to practise law in Canada, students currently are required to successfully complete five exams and a legal writing and research course to have their UK law degree from Sussex accredited in Canada.

What is articling?

Articling is a separate process from the law degree from Sussex and the BA or BSc from Laurier. Anyone who wants to practise law will need to complete the articling and bar admissions process for the province in which the student wants to work. Articling is similar to an internship and provides real-world experience for law students. For information on the process in Ontario, please see the Law Society of Ontario website.

When do I apply for an articling position?

Applications for articling positions in Ontario typically happen a year in advance, so students in this program will apply in the summer between finishing at Sussex and their last year at Laurier. You are be able to complete the NCA requirements and your final year at Laurier before starting your articling position.

How long will it take me to complete the accreditation process?

The length of time that it takes a student to successfully complete the NCA accreditation process will depend on the student; however, the exams are offered four times each year and we believe that you will be prepared to write the NCA exams during your final year of the Laurier BA or BSc degree.

Are there any other ways to become accredited if I don’t want to write the NCA exams?

There may be alternatives to writing the NCA exams that involve completing courses at a Canadian law school. Laurier does not have a law school and anyone interested in exploring these other options should review the NCA website.

After completing the program, can I return to the UK and practise law there?

It is possible to practise in the UK but you would require a visa to do so and complete the licensing requirements in the UK.

Can I practise law in any province or territory in Canada?

You can practise law in any province or territory, with the exception of Quebec. Quebec has its own law practices and would require additional study and examinations. When you decide where you would like to practise law, you’ll need to complete your articling and pass the bar admissions process in that specific province or territory.

Note: The advice on this page is correct to the best of our knowledge at time of writing. NCA guidelines are subject to change at any time.

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