Does where you go to law school matter in Canada?
Asked by: Dr. Chelsea Hudson | Last update: February 14, 2026Score: 4.2/5 (60 votes)
Yes, where you go to law school matters in Canada, but its importance is regional and depends heavily on your career goals (like BigLaw vs. smaller firms) and desired practice location, with top schools like UofT and UBC holding sway in major markets like Toronto/Vancouver, while strong grades and experience often outweigh prestige, especially outside of Ontario's competitive legal landscape. Your success hinges more on performance, networking in the local market, and specialization than just the school's name.
Does law school ranking matter in Canada?
Law school rankings can be a useful indicator of a school's reputation, resources, and job market performance, but they should not be the sole factor in choosing a law school. It's important to consider personal fit, specific legal interests, geographic preferences, and financial implications as well.
Does it truly matter where you go to law school?
Does It Matter Where You Go to Law School? Law school rankings do matter to employers. Typically, the higher your school is ranked, the greater your chances of securing a post-graduation career—especially when it comes to prestigious large law firms.
Does it matter what school you go to before law school?
In summary, while the reputation of your undergraduate college can play a role in law school admissions, it is not a major factor in the decision-making process.
Does undergrad school matter for law school in Canada?
Even if the law school you are applying to does not require it, your application will be more competitive if you have completed your undergraduate degree. Most successful applicants have completed their undergraduate degree by the time they begin law school.
yes, where you go to law school matters.
What is the hardest law school to get into in Canada?
The University of Toronto is often cited as the hardest law school to get into. This is taking into account all other factors like the median LSAT and the median GPA.
Does it matter what school you graduated from to become a lawyer?
What Law School Applicants Should Know About the Bar Exam. However, if you don't graduate from a top-ranked law school, it can be hard to get clerkships and job openings in a different part of the country from where you study.
Do law firms care where you went to law school?
For generic big law firms, it is: (1) your school; (2) your grades, and (3) your ability to act like a normal person during your interviews. Networking might get you a screener interview, but not a full on job.
How did Kim Kardashian become a lawyer?
But Kim Kardashian did not graduate from law school. Instead, she endeavored to complete the study requirements of California's Law Office Study Program (LOSP) to be eligible to take the California Bar. This is a process we at Esq. Apprentice call legal apprenticeship.
Does the location of your law school matter?
And it's true, location matters. For law students, it can be easier to start your career near where you went to school. Through classes, clinics, and externships, law students tend to make connections with professors, students, and business owners who live and work near where they went to law school.
Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?
Yes, many lawyers earn $500,000 or more annually, especially Big Law partners, senior corporate counsel, specialized litigators, and successful solo practitioners in high-value fields like IP or medical malpractice, though this is not the norm for all attorneys, with median salaries being much lower. Reaching this income level requires specialization, strategic business growth, marketing, and often working in major markets, with top-tier law firms (Big Law) offering high starting salaries and significant bonuses that can push senior associates past the $500K mark.
Is going to a low-tier law school worth it?
Downsides of Attending a Low-Ranked Law School
Unless they have personal connections or career experience, graduates of lower-ranked schools face steep odds on the job market. Graduates of top-ranked law schools have a leg up on securing legal internships, clerkships, and job interviews—even with mediocre grades.
What is the best university to go to if you want to be a lawyer?
The best universities for lawyers consistently include Yale, Stanford, Harvard, and the University of Chicago, often leading top rankings, followed closely by schools like University of Pennsylvania, Duke, NYU, and UC Berkeley, offering strong employment prospects and prestigious legal education, though the "best" depends on your specific legal interests (e.g., business, criminal, IP).
What is the toughest year of law school?
Most law students agree the first year (1L) is the hardest due to the steep learning curve, new teaching methods (Socratic/Case Method), intense reading/writing, and high-pressure environment designed to build foundational skills, though 2L brings different stressors like career planning and internships. 1L is a "bootcamp" for thinking like a lawyer with unfamiliar concepts and high stakes for grades, making the transition from undergraduate studies particularly challenging.
What does 1L, 2L, and 3L mean in law school?
In law school, 1L, 2L, and 3L refer to a student's year: 1L is the first year (first-year law student), 2L is the second year, and 3L is the third and final year, replacing typical undergraduate terms like freshman or sophomore. These abbreviations help identify a student's level of experience, with 1Ls focusing on foundational subjects like Torts and Contracts, 2Ls gaining more course freedom, and 3Ls preparing for graduation and the bar exam.
How many times did Kim Kardashian fail the bar exam?
Kim Kardashian failed the California "baby bar" (First-Year Law Students' Exam) three times before passing it in December 2021, and has failed the main California Bar Exam once as of November 2025, vowing to retake it again in 2026. Her failures, particularly with the baby bar, were public, but she persevered to pass that first hurdle on her fourth attempt.
Does passing the baby bar make you a lawyer?
No, passing the California "Baby Bar" (First-Year Law Students' Examination or FYLSE) does not make you a lawyer; it's a hurdle for non-traditional law students to continue their studies, allowing them to sit for the actual California Bar Exam, which, along with character and fitness, is required to become a licensed attorney. You must pass the full California Bar Exam, which tests more subjects, and meet other requirements before you can practice law and call yourself a lawyer.
How can Kim be a lawyer without going to law school?
Kim Kardashian is becoming a lawyer through California's Law Office Study Program — a legal loophole that lets you skip traditional law school by studying under a practicing attorney for 4 years 👩⚖️📚. To qualify, you have to pass the Baby Bar first 🧠✍️, and then the California Bar Exam — but it's 100% legit ✅.
Does it really matter what law school you attend?
School rankings matter because they matter to employers. There are always exceptions to the rule, but students at higher-ranked schools generally have better post-graduate outcomes.
Where is the hardest place to become a lawyer?
The 12 Hardest Law Schools to Get Into
- Yale University. ...
- Stanford University. ...
- Harvard University. ...
- University of Pennsylvania. ...
- Columbia University. ...
- University of Chicago. ...
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. ...
- University of California-Berkeley.
What disqualifies you from law school?
What disqualifies you from law school often involves dishonesty, serious criminal history (especially crimes of moral turpitude like fraud), significant financial irresponsibility, or academic misconduct, all falling under the "character and fitness" evaluation, though a single minor issue usually isn't a bar if disclosed honestly and explained well; failure to disclose, lying on the application, or misrepresenting facts is often a more significant reason for denial or later disbarment.
Did Michelle Obama pass the bar?
Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the Illinois bar exam, but she failed it on her first attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School before passing it on her second try, later becoming a licensed attorney in Illinois and having a successful legal career before becoming First Lady. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1989 and went on to work in intellectual property law at a firm where she met her husband, Barack Obama.
Can you call yourself a lawyer after graduating law school?
In the U.S., finishing law school makes you a lawyer, but you're only considered an attorney after passing a bar exam and gaining admission to a state bar.
What percentage of law school students become lawyers?
The latest ultimate bar pass data also reveals that 97 percent of all law school graduates sat for a bar exam within two years of graduation and that some 200 ABA-accredited law schools were able to track 98.5 percent of all graduates.