The Law Advantage 

Today's knowledge economy is being shaped by analytical, integrated thinkers who can employ different intellectual perspectives, who can forecast change and understand how laws and the regulatory environment will affect the goals and strategies in their fields. 

A Foundational Understanding of Law 

The Certificate in Law focuses on case law, statutes and policies for each area addressed by certificate courses.

Students will learn the historical, social and economic forces shaping the law; methods of legal reasoning; how to develop, articulate and justify a position; and how recent domestic and international trends and agreements affect the law.

About the Certificate in Law

  • Designed and optimized for online learning to meet your learning objectives anytime, anywhere. 
  • Courses are taught by Queen's Faculty of Law instructors who are experts in their field and are TA'ed by law students. 
  • The program offers seven courses, each covering a unique aspect of Canadian law. 
  • Current Queen's students can have two courses counted as electives towards your degree program. 
  • Apply as an interest student - no supporting documentation required! 

Reference Guide - Current students and alumni 

Reference Guide - Distance and non-degree interest 

Benefits of the Certificate in Law

The Faculty of Law believes everyone should have a basic understanding of the law and how it can impact you on both a personal and professional basis. professional development, for those pursing law school, a way to learn more about Canadian Law or to stand out in a competitive job market. 

Take any four courses to complete the Certificate in Law!

The Certificate in Law is a part-time undergraduate program offered entirely online including final assessments. Students can benefit from individual courses or work towards completing the Certificate in Law.

Law courses can be completed in any order, but it is strongly recommended students begin with Law 201/701 as it provides a good background to  Canadian law and will introduce you to other LAW courses. 

The Certificate in Law is comprised of seven courses, you would be expected to complete four courses for a total of 12 units. 

Certificate Structure

On-Campus Students 

To graduate from the Certificate in Law, students must complete four of the seven courses with a minimum final grade of "C+" in each course, and an overall GPA of 2.6. You can finish before or after graduation. 

If you are a current undergraduate Queen's student*, two Law courses at the 200-level may count as electives towards your degree requirements and assessed home faculty tuition rates. 

The Certificate in Law is a second credential, the two remaining courses must be taken at the 700-level and at the Faculty of Law tuition rate. Courses at the 700-level do not count towards degree requirements, however, are included in your overall GPA. Once courses are completed, students are not able to retroactively change a 700-level course to a 200-level course. 

When enrolling in 200-level Law courses in SOLUS, please select your home faculty when choosing the academic program (I.e. BAH, BCOM, FEAS). 

If you are an Arts and Science student, please read the following: 

  • Two courses at the 200-level can count as the 6.0 units of non-Arts and Science courses that can be applied towards your Arts and Science degree (no further non-Arts and Science courses will be permitted). Arts & Science students in the Certificate in Law are strongly advised to complete the first two Law courses at the 200-level.
  • For students in the Applied Economics program through the Faculty of Arts & Science, please consult with an Academic Advisor before enrolling in Law courses at the 200-level. 
Step #1 Take oneLAW 200level course Home facultytuition feesStep #2 TakeanotherLAW 200level courseOR*Substitute one200-level coursefor…COMM 382EMPR 210PHIL 318 Home facultytuition feesStep #3 Finally, take two LAW 700level courses toreceive your certificate Note: 700-level courses do not count towards your degree requirements, but are included in your GPA.Faculty of Law tuition fees

*Only one of the following courses can be chosen: 

  • Students cannot take both COMM 382 and LAW 204/704 OR EMPR 210 and LAW 203/703 for credit
  • PHIL 318 can be substituted for any 200-level Law course 

You must complete your first year of studies before you are eligible to enroll in the Certificate in Law, however, you can begin adding courses at the 200-level starting in summer between first and second year. 

One core 200-level undergraduate Law course can be substituted for either PHIL 318, COMM 382 or EMPR 210 (only full time on-campus students can enroll in substitution courses). PHIL 318, COMM 382 and EMPR 210 cannot be taken in place of a 700-level Law course.

LAW courses at the 700-level (I.e. LAW 704-700) only count towards your Certificate in Law requirements and do not count towards your undergraduate degree, however, are included in your overall GPA. 

 

External, Interest and Letter of Permission Students 

For external, interest and letter of permission students, the four courses must be taken at the 700-level (I.e. Law 701) and you will be assessed the Faculty of Law tuition rate .

The Certificate in Law is a part-time program. There is no specific duration in which you need to complete the four required courses for the program, finish in two terms or two years. 

Students in the Certificate in Law program are not permitted to take courses in another faculty. 

Step #1 Take any 4 LAW 700-level courses(Intro to Canadian Law 701 course is recommended) Faculty of Law tuition feesInterest Students: If academic progression is met after completion ofthe first two courses, you may be matriculated into program to complete the two remaining courses. Note: Academic progression is “C+”.If you don’t meet the criteria,you can re-take or enroll in another course

Tuition Fees/Payment Methods 

Full-time on campus students are assessed home faculty tuition fees for 200-level Law courses. 

Below are tuition fees for one 700-level Law course.  

Domestic Tuition Fees  $1,134.00
Domestic Tuition Fees (outside of Ontario)  $1,249.98
International Tuition Fees   $3,594.24

You will also have be charged a $10.00 Student Assistance Levy (SAL) which is a fee applied on a per term basis. Further information and policies are located on the Office of the University Registrar Tuition and Fees website. Tuition is due September 1 for Fall term, January 10 for Winter term and May 1 for Summer term. 

To better understand tuition and fees at Queen's University, please visit the How to Pay page on the Office of the University Registrar website.

Financial Aid - Ontario 

The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) is a financial aid program assisting students with the costs of post-secondary studies. For further information and to see if you are eligible for government student financial assistance, please visit Student Awards.  Non-degree interest Law students are not eligible for financial assistance. 

Financial Aid - Other Provinces/Territories  

To see if you are eligible for government student financial assistance and further information, please visit Student Awards. Non-degree interest Law students are not eligible for financial assistance. 

Law Course Offering Schedule 

The below chart outlines when Law courses will be offered in Fall, Winter or Summer term. May be subject to change. 

Distance students are not permitted to take the in-class version of Introduction to Canadian Law or any 200-level Law course. 

Course Name

Course Number

Fall term (September)

Winter term (January)

Summer term (May)

Introduction to Canadian Law (In-class)

LAW 201

 X X  

Introduction to Canadian Law

LAW 201/701

 X X X

Aboriginal Law 

LAW 202/702

 X   X

Workplace Law 

LAW 203/703

   X  

Corporate Law 

LAW 204/704

 X   X

Public & Constitutional Law

LAW 205/705

   X X

Intellectual Property Law

LAW 206/706

   X X

International Law 

LAW 207/707

 X    

Academic progression requirements

  • Students must achieve a minimum grade of C+ (GPA 2.3) in each completed Law course 
  • Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.6 to be granted the Certificate in Law

If you do not meet academic progression in a course, you have the option to either re-take course or enroll in another Law course. 

Certificate application dates

  • February 1-April 1 are the open dates for Certificate applications for summer (courses beginning in May)
  • May 1-July 31 are the open dates for Certificate applications for fall (courses beginning in September)
  • October 1-November 30 are the open dates for Certificate applications for winter (courses beginning in January)

    Course registration without admission to the Certificate in Law

    Law courses can be taken without admission to the Certificate in Law program or as a non-degree Interest Law student through the Faculty of Law. For more information on the admission criteria, please visit our Apply page. 

    Transfer Credits 

    Law courses associated with the Certificate in Law are completed at an undergraduate level, and as such, cannot be applied for transfer credit to any professional degree program including the Juris Doctor or Master's degree program.

    Undergraduate Law courses completed at any post-secondary institution will not be assessed for transfer credit when applying to the Certificate in Law.