Graduation Guide

Comment déposer une demande pour obtenir son diplôme

1. Consultez les dates limites et la procédure pour déposer votre demande.
2. Si vous avez l'intention de vous joindre à un barreau après vos études, assurez-vous de connaître leurs dates limites et processus d'admission au moins un an d'avance. Veuillez vous référer à la section du site du CDO sur les barreaux (connexion requise).
3. Faites votre demande sur Minerva (Apply to graduate). Si vous êtes actuellement en échange, sao.law [at] mcgill.ca (contactez le Secrétariat des études en droit) directement.
4. Visitez le site web Graduation and Convocation pour toutes les information dont vous avez besoin concernant la cérémonie de collation des grades, comment vous assurer que votre nom est épelé correctement sur votre diplôme, quand venir chercher votre diplôme, et plus encore.
5. Passez en revue votre dossier universitaire afin de vous assurer que vous avez rencontré toutes les exigences de votre programme d'étude.

If you are in your final year

Students in their final year are strongly advised to verify that they will have satisfied the degree requirements for graduation by the end of that year. Use the Program Requirements (degree audit) Form found on the SAO's Forms webpage to assist you.

Students expecting to graduate should complete the following steps in their last term:

1. Verify that you meet the total credit requirement:
   • 105 credits for the BCL/JD;
   • 120 credits for the BCL/JD with Honours;
   • 123 credits for the BCL/JD with Major
   • 123 credits for the BCL/JD with Minor.
2. Verify you have met/registered for ALL Required and Complementary courses for your program, INCLUDING the writing requirement.
3. Verify that your “Expect to Graduate” flag is on your record via MINERVA. See McGill's Graduation and Convocation: Applying to graduate.

Convocation ceremonies

See McGill's Convocations website for convocation schedules, diploma distribution, guests and seating, picking up and returning your regalia, parking and accessibility, and more.

Accreditation & BCL/JD program changes

The Federation of Law Societies of Canada has implemented a process for accreditation of Canadian common law degrees. Students who began their degrees in September 2012 or later will need to show that their common law degrees (LLB or JD) meet the Federation’s accreditation requirements if they wish to join a law society in a common law province.

For a full description of your program requirements, see our Program Requirements form.

Do you still have questions? sao.law [at] mcgill.ca (Email the Student Affairs Office). 

Admission to the Bar

For complete information on admission to the Bar in Canada and in some US states, visit the Career Development's Office Bar Admissions section (LOG-IN REQUIRED)

The New York Bar

For those who wish to apply to the New York Bar: The NY Bar confirmed with us that they will be accepting eTranscripts. Please complete the Bar Attestation Letters form, directions below, by DATE TBD. The SAO will prepare a Letter of Attestation for you and email the NY Bar the letters, after the graduation list is approved by Faculty Council.

What you must do:

1) Follow all instructions from the New York State Board of Law Examiners.

2) Complete the Bar Attestation form to allow us to attest to the date for the completion of your degree.**

3) As soon as your McGill transcript indicates “Degree Conferred”, you must send the updated official transcript to the New York Board (on NSC, indicate The New York State Board of Law Examiners (transcripts [at] nybarexam.org) as the recipient).

**If you have already graduated, you must arrange for official transcripts to be sent directly to NY; the SAO is unable to do this for you.

Below are the steps for requesting the eTranscript from McGill. You can use the following email: transcripts [at] nybarexam.org. Note that in step #12, you can also indicate your BOLE ID.  

Request an electronic official transcript (see info here: https://www.mcgill.ca/student-records/transcripts/etranscripts): 

1. Log into Minerva 

2. Select the Student Menu 

3. Select the Student Records Menu 

4. Select Request Official Transcript 

5. Select Request Electronic Official Transcript 

6. Select I agree and click Submit to consent to be transferred to the transcript ordering page of the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), a US-based, non-profit corporation 

7. On the NSC interface, click on the Order a Transcript link 

8. When in the Transcript Ordering Center, click on the Order Transcripts (green button) at the bottom of the page 

9. Enter your Personal Information and click Continue 

10. Enter your Contact Information and click Continue 

11. In the Recipient field, select Employer or Other 

12. Enter the name as: The New York State Board of Law Examiners and click Continue 

13. Processing details – select Current Transcript and the reason for ordering your transcript 

14. Accept the School’s Terms and Conditions 

15. Indicate transcripts [at] nybarexam.org as the recipient email address, confirm email and Add to Cart 

16. Confirm your order and checkout by providing your payment details 

17. Your eTranscript will be sent to the recipient the same day and in as little as 15 minutes (provided you have no holds on your student account and you didn’t include any attachments with your order for review)

Official Transcript(s). Submit a final, official transcript directly from every law school attended that includes the dates of attendance for each period of study, the courses taken and passed for each period of study, the grades, the degree awarded, and the date the degree was awarded.

English translation. If the law school transcripts, degree certificate, or any of the other documentation requested above are not in English, you must also furnish English translations of the documents prepared by an official translator. nybarexam.org/Foreign/ForeignLegalEducation.htm

Ontario Law Society-Lawyer Licensing Process 

Students that have submitted the online registration for LSO, kindly complete the Bar Attestation Letters form on the SAO website so that we may provide attestation letters confirming that the degree requirements of the BCL/JD Program have been met. 

SAO will email the letters Jan​uary TBD, 2024. (Deadline to complete the form, Jan​uary TBD, 2024). – eTranscripts are accepted, use the following email licensingprocess [at] lso.ca.

Students will need to order an official transcript to be sent directly to LSO as soon as the Degree Granted notation appears on your record.

Information regarding the application process, the Licensing Examinations, study tips, rules, policies and dates to remember is posted on the Law Society's website. You are strongly encouraged to review the information to ensure you are aware of all the requirements. This webcast will touch upon these and other aspects of the Licensing Process however more fulsome information is available at:

https://www.lso.ca/becoming-licensed/lawyer-licensing-process.

If you require further information, please contact Licensing and Accreditation at the Law Society of Ontario by email to:
licensingprocess [at] lso.ca
 

L'École du Barreau

L'École du Barreau communique directement avec la Faculté de droit de McGill concernant la preuve de diplômation des étudiants et étudiantes de McGill qui fréquenteront l'École pour la session à venir. C'est donc la Faculté de droit qui confirme avec l'École du Barreau que ces personnes ont bel et bien complété le programme d'étude.

DATES À CONFIRMER.

En janvier 2024 (Date à determiner), la Faculté de droit fournira les attestations pour les candidat.e.s de McGill qui confirment que ces personnes ont terminé leur programme, réussi tous les examens et satisfait aux autres exigences nécessaires à l'obtention du diplôme. 

L'attestation étant une preuve temporaire, tout.e candidat.e doit fournir à l'École son relevé de notes officiel démontrant l'obtention de son diplôme dès que ce dernier est disponible.

Pour toute autre information, nous vous conseillons de consulter le site web de l'École du Barreau.

How to request an attestation letter for LSO, Barreau, or NY Bar exams

To request an attestation letter from the SAO for the LSO, QC and/or NY Bar exam, complete the online request form for Bar Attestation Letters.