Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility in Admissions

We welcome and are actively recruiting applicants from communities that experience historical and present-day systemic discrimination and marginalization, and who are committed to social justice, equity, anti-racism and decolonization. True equity means that lawyers and the Canadian legal system should reflect the people and communities they represent.

Admission changes

We recognize that real equity, representation, inclusion and accessibility in admissions means consistent review of policies and ways of approaching review. Over the past several years, our Admissions Team has taken a deep dive into what it means to address equity, representation, inclusion and accessibility in our processes.  All Admissions Committee members, as well as members of the Admissions Team, undergo anti-oppression training annually. This is important to ensure we use an appropriate and equitable lens when dealing with the very important everyday work of law admissions.
 
Some of the changes we have made in the past few years include examining our use of language. This has led to updating language in all admissions streams to adopt a strengths-based approach to admissions, rather than a deficit-based approach, particularly when it comes to admissions considerations other than LSAT or grades. We also changed our admissions “categories” to “streams” as a switch from exclusionary to inclusive language. We recognize that language matters, and we aim to use the most inclusive language possible to ensure that diverse students actually see themselves as part of this community.
 
In September of 2023 we launched the Black Admission Stream. With the Black Admission Stream we acknowledge that our admissions processes have inadequately responded to the systemic discrimination experienced by Black students, and the underrepresentation of Black students in Canadian law schools. We created this stream to respond to these historic and ongoing inequities within the UVic Law community, and the profession more broadly, by intentionally seeking to admit more Black students. Students who self-identify as Black may, but are not required to, apply through our Black Admission Stream and submit a Black Admission Statement. The Black Admission Stream takes its place next to our General, Indigenous, and Inclusive Admission Streams.

In September of 2024, we began inviting all applicants to share their personal pronouns in Part B of their Personal Statements. Sharing pronouns is completely optional, and whether or not applicants choose to share will have no bearing on the assessment of the merits of their applications. Sharing pronouns with the Admissions Team will, however, help the Faculty correctly address applicants during the admissions process and later while they are students. This serves several purposes. It allows applicants (and students) to be addressed as they wish, which is a matter of respect. Secondly, it creates space for applicants who may not have otherwise seen themselves in post-secondary education due to institutional rules which have maintained a gender binary. Thirdly, it normalizes pronoun introduction, which is a helpful practice for those in the LGBTQ2+ community or are otherwise gender non-conforming. This information will not be shared beyond the Faculty, which means it will not affect communications from the rest of the university.

In December 2020, the Provincial Court of British Columbia and the Supreme Court of British Columbia implemented new practice directives clarifying how parties and lawyers advise judicial officers and other parties and lawyers of their pronouns and form of address. This shifted the Courts to a more inclusive process where everyone who comes before the Courts provides this information. Pronoun introduction is a normative practice at UVic Law, in part to practice inclusivity, but also in part because it is the professional requirement for practicing lawyers.

The Faculty is committed to continuing growth of a portfolio of resources to students, including bursaries, awards, and scholarships that are specifically for members of equity-seeking groups.

Admission streams

In our admission decisions, our holistic approach takes into consideration not only LSAT and GPA, but who you are as a person.

The different admission streams below provide opportunities for everyone to find a pathway to law school. Each application goes through a holistic review. 

Student Support

The Amicus program is a unique UVic Law student support initiative that plays an active role in engaging, advising and supporting you during your law school journey. There are four overlapping components in the program:

  • Academic support & mentorship
  • Cultural support
  • Personal support
  • Accommodation support 

Resources

Law Student Clubs

The Law School offers a seemingly endless variety of clubs and student groups to be involved and build community with on campus. UVic is well recognized for our work to create safe and inclusive spaces for all people, with an emphasis on our support for BIPOC, 2SLQBTQ+ and students who have endured discrimination and marginalization for being who they are. 

These clubs are great spaces to get to know your academic and professional colleagues in a more informal and fun environment that emphasizes how broad the concept of law can be. If you have an idea for a club that does not already exist, the faculty is very supportive of putting together your own. Below are just a few of the groups and clubs that you can be a part of at UVic:

  • Racialized Law Students Collective
  • Indigenous Law Students Association (ILSA)
  • Black Law Student Association (BLSA)
  • OUTLaws
  • FemLaw
  • Pan-Asian Law Society
  • South Asian Law Students Association
  • National Black Law Students' Association of Canada (not part of LSS)

You can find resources and more information about clubs and how to get involved on our Law Students Society website.

Opportunities to make a difference

At UVic Law we have experiential learning opportunities, clubs and research centres that allow students to really make an impact. 

Contact us

We have a large and devoted team of staff and faculty to assist you through your law school journey. We know that law school is tough, and we are committed to removing as many barriers as we can to help you have a successful and enriching experience here at UVic Law. 

Please reach out to any member of our support team below if you have further questions: