Master of Laws (LLM)

The Queen's Master of Laws (LLM) degree is a nine- to twelve-month program that deepens students’ legal knowledge and research skills with a view to further studies at the doctoral level or careers in legal practice, research, or policy work.

Candidates should have obtained high standing in a first law degree (LLB, JD, or equivalent). In exceptional circumstances, we may accept candidates without a prior law degree but who have one or more degrees in a related field.

Students have considerable freedom to design a course of study that meets their needs and aspirations.

Students interested in legal theory and legal philosophy should consider pursuing an LLM with a Specialization in Political and Legal Thought. 

There are two streams in the Queen's LLM: 

  • Thesis (research-based): two mandatory graduate seminars plus one additional course and a master's thesis not to exceed 35,000 words in length, exclusive of footnotes, endnotes, bibliography, appendices, tabulated data, tables of cases, and tables of contents, that must be defended orally before an examination committee.
     
  • Course-Paper (course-based) option: two mandatory graduate seminars plus five additional courses and a graduate paper of 9,000-10,000 words.

All LLM students are required to complete two graduate seminars—Legal Research Methods & Perspectives and Advanced Legal Research—which are offered in the Fall Term. 

Students in the Course-Paper option are not assigned a faculty supervisor, but do have full access to all Faculty of Law academic resources and supports available to other LLM students. Students in the Course-Paper option are required to write a research paper in at least one of the courses they take. Those who wish to pursue a research project outside of the other courses they take are welcome to enroll in an individualized Reading Course supervised by a professor with appropriate expertise.

While the Law Faculty offers some dedicated graduate-level courses, most graduate courses are offered in conjunction with upper-year JD courses (though methods of assessment may differ for graduate students in these classes). Admission on a part-time basis is limited. Degree requirements for part-time students vary slightly from those for full-time students.

LLM students who enroll in Queen's Law's summer International Law Program may complete three courses in May-June, before commencing their LLM at Queen’s, allowing them to start—and potentially finish—their studies three months earlier. The International Law Programs take place at the Queen's-owned Bader College ("the Castle") in England and the American University of Paris. Separate fees apply, in addition to the regular LLM tuition and related fees. 

More information

The School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs offers a full list of learning outcomes on their website.

Practicing Law in Canada

Please note that obtaining an LLM or PhD in Canada does not qualify students who do not have an LLB or JD from a Canadian university to practice law in Canada. International students who are interested in practising law in Canada should contact the National Committee on Accreditation.

Potential Applicants

If you are a potential applicant please see our Graduate Admissions Process for information and a link to the application portal.

Applicants should not contact potential supervisors prior to applying for admission. Supervisors are contacted by the admissions committee during the admissions process, and are assigned when we admit applicants to our Thesis-based LLM. However, our application form allows applicants to request potential supervisors, and we take such requests seriously; if there is someone you are interested in working with, please add that professor’s name to the application form. On the Research Interests webpage, you can find potential faculty supervisors under the various research areas. Availability of supervisors cannot be guaranteed, as it depends on current supervision numbers and on sabbaticals and other leaves.