Early Degree Conferral Process for Students in the Faculty of Law

JD Students may request early conferral of the JD degree ahead of the Spring Convocation date if degree requirements were completed in the previous fall term and if there is a valid and pressing reason to seek the early conferral as an exception to the usual conferral process. 

 

If you are planning to write the February and March Barrister's and Solicitor's examinations: 

Before December 5: 

  • Send a request seeking early conferral of your JD degree to Margie Gordon, Director, Student and Academic Services.
  • Margie will notify the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) about your anticipated early conferral by December 15. This will serve as a letter in lieu. 

December 1: 

  • Complete the application to graduate in SOLUS.
    • Your degree checkout status will show as 'applied' until your degree is conferred in January.
  • Enter your official transcript order via SOLUS.
    • Select the processing option 'degree confer date'.
    • Select 'digital’ delivery option.
    • Enter the LSO email address: transcripts@lso.ca.
    • The transcript will be sent shortly after the degree is conferred in January.

Note: If you have debts owing to the University you will need to ensure they are paid or request an exemption by emailing transcpt@queensu.ca referring to the Senate Policy on Student Debtors, so that a transcript showing the degree conferral may be released to the LSO, notwithstanding the debt.

January 12: 

  • Fall term grades will post to transcripts on January 12.
  • Margie will send a letter to the Registrar's Office requesting the early conferral of your degree.
  • Students will receive an email from the Registrar's Office when their degree has been conferred.
  • Ensure that your mailing address is updated in SOLUS. Your diploma parchment will be mailed to that address. If you attend Convocation in the spring you will be presented with a diploma tube, however it will be empty as you should have received your diploma by mail months earlier. 

LSO Key Dates: 

  • The Barrister's examination is scheduled for February 12, 2026. The deadline to register is January 6, 2026.
  • The Solicitor’s examination is February 25, 2026. The deadline to register is January 20, 2026.
  • Final transcripts, confirming degree conferral, are due by February 1, 2026. 

Note: This timeline will be adjusted for students studying on exchange. Degree confirmation will take place after fall term grades have been received from the host university.