Join us at Laurier

Becoming a Golden Hawk means more than just cheering on our (really good) varsity teams – it means being a student who cares about your community, who works hard in the classroom, and who takes advantage of all the learning opportunities that can happen outside the classroom, too.

Steps to Apply

Undergraduate Admissions Graduate Admissions

Steps to Apply

Undergraduate AdmissionsGraduate Admissions

Law Degree (University of Sussex, UK) and Arts Degree (Laurier)

waterloo  and  brantford

In only six years, earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from Laurier and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom. Complete a BA in Criminology, English, History (new for 2024!), Human Rights, or Law & Society on Laurier’s Brantford campus, or in English, History (new for 2024!), Philosophy, or Political Science on our Waterloo campus.

Gain international experience by studying abroad in the United Kingdom for your LLB without the requirement of the LSAT exam. In your final year, return to Canada and take courses to prepare you for the national accreditation exams and a future career in law.

Apply Your Learning

Once at Sussex you can get involved in legal competitions to develop legal practice skills, giving you the opportunity to boost your employability and, as appropriate, network with law firms. Where offered, you can take part in these competitions during your studies, and some can be taken across more than one year of study. Sussex runs a range of contests, typically including:

  • client interviewing
  • criminal advocacy
  • mooting
  • negotiation

By taking part in these Sussex-run events, you will gain valuable experience and enhance your skills before competing at national and international levels. Sussex law students have a strong history of success in various competitions in the UK and internationally.

Sussex Clinical Legal Education

The program’s range of clinical legal work also will allow you to use your developing expertise in the real world. Sussex Clinical Legal Education has links to a variety of not-for-profit legal projects and offers you the opportunity to expand your education and skills in a practical way. Some of the current legal projects include:

  • Criminal Justice Law Clinic
  • Employment Law Clinic
  • Family Law Clinic
  • Migration Law Clinic

 

Sussex Law School ranked in the top 100 worldwide*

 

percentage of the student body at Sussex who are overseas students

 

students attending Sussex who are Canadian LLB students

*World University Rankings, 2019

Admissions

Format: full time      Duration: six years     Start: September (fall term)

OUAC codes: ULA (English, History, Political Science and Philosophy); ULC (Criminology); ULL (English, History, Human Rights or Law and Society)

Your Next Steps

Apply Now Strengthen Your Application Important Dates

Program Details

About the Laurier-Sussex Law Program

In this program, you'll earn an Honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from Laurier and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom (UK) in six years. You are guaranteed an offer of admission to Sussex’s Law School if you maintain a minimum B average (73-76%) when at Laurier.

With over 120 Laurier students currently studying at Sussex, this innovative, competitive-entry program, gives you the opportunity to study alongside other high-achieving students. You’ll also have access to supports dedicated to your academic and professional success. Because the LSAT is not a requirement to study law in the UK, your focus during your first two years at Laurier can be on your studies and getting involved on campus.

At Sussex you will develop an international perspective on the law and legal systems while being immersed in a different culture. In addition, you will benefit from research-led teaching by academics who bring extensive knowledge and passion to what they do, and from the numerous professional development opportunities available. 

Practising Law in Canada

When you return to Laurier after studying at Sussex, you will take credits to complete your undergraduate degree, which will include for-credit courses that will help prepare you for the national accreditation exams that you’ll need to write to have your international law degree recognized here in Canada. This accreditation process is a national process that is separate from Laurier and the BA degree. Learn more about practising law in Canada after graduation.

Supporting Your Journey

The Laurier-Sussex program emphasizes student support and engagement. We have dedicated faculty and staff who will help you academically and professionally while at Laurier, assist you in preparing to study abroad and stay in contact while you are in the UK. Through special workshops, events and meetings, you'll have ample opportunity to meet your Sussex peers before embarking on your studies abroad.

Program Schedule and Options

Overview of Schedule

  • The first two years of your studies will be spent at Laurier.
  • The next three years of your studies will be spent at the University of Sussex attaining your LLB.
  • Your sixth and final year you will return to Laurier to complete the requirements of your BA.

The Final Year Advantage

In your final year at Laurier, you will take courses that prepare you to write the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) exams. These are required for legal practice in Canada when a law degree is earned abroad. The final year is tailored to this unique program, so you receive academic support with the accreditation process upon returning to Canada. Learn more about practising law in Canada after graduation.

Your Sussex Years

Year 1: Start developing your legal knowledge with modules in:

  • Canadian Constitutional Law
  • Justice, Equality and Society
  • Law of Contract
  • Law of Tort
  • Public Law
Year 2: Continue building your foundation and explore new areas of legal system with modules in:
  • Business Law and Practice
  • Criminal Law
  • Equity and Trusts
  • Land Law
  • Law and Policy of the EU

Year 3: Choose from dozens of optional modules which reflect the faculty’s research expertise.

BA + LLB Pathways

The Laurier-Sussex BA + LLB pathway is available in seven Laurier Honours BA programs:

The Laurier-Sussex program is also offered in combination with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree, which focuses on providing you with scientific knowledge and critical inquiry skills alongside your law degree.

Tuition and Scholarships

Getting a university education is an investment in your future.

At Laurier, we take financial health seriously by providing a wide variety of funding opportunities for you throughout your degree, such as scholarships and bursaries, and by equipping you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

Tuition Discount for Year 1 at Sussex

Starting fall 2021, Sussex Law School is offering a 15% tuition discount to Laurier students enrolled in the Laurier-Sussex Law program. The tuition discount is for your first year at Sussex only and is worth approximately $4,900 CAD. The amount of tuition a Canadian student can expect to pay for Law School at the University of Sussex is approximately $32,800 CAD per year (at exchange rates from July 2023, equivalent to £19,050). 

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"I chose to come to Laurier because of this program, the idea of earning two degrees in six years was too great of an opportunity to pass up. The international experience I have gained at the University of Sussex in Brighton was incredibly eye-opening and informative. I am thankful for the connections this program has allowed me to make here at Laurier, at the University of Sussex and across the globe."

Tyra Julien, current LLB and BA student

"I enjoyed the challenge of a condensed workload. This program offers you the opportunity to finish both your undergraduate degree and attain a law degree in a shorter time period. Also, you gain many other cultural experiences that you will cherish for a lifetime."

Carly Slaughter, current LLB and BA student

Your Career Awaits

It’s not only about the journey; it’s about the destination. Let us help you get to where you’re going.

Here are just some examples of our graduates' destinations. What’s yours?

Sample Career Options

Note: Additional training and education may be required.

  • advocacy-government relations
  • contract specialist
  • corporate social responsibility manager
  • in-house legal counsel
  • intelligence agent
  • lawyer
  • management consultant
  • political strategist
  • trade negotiator

Support After Graduation

Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.

University of Sussex

The University of Sussex is a leading research-intensive university near Brighton, in the Southeast of the UK Surrounded by the South Downs National Park.

The campus combines award-winning architecture with green open spaces. The University of Sussex has more than 17,000 students. About 24% of the student body are overseas students, with more than 100 different nationalities represented.
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"When I moved to Brighton it was the first time living in a country outside of Canada and, initially, it was a scary experience. But it forced me out of my comfort zone, and I gained so much independence. There are many people in the same boat as you as the majority of Sussex students are international, so you will meet new people every day from all over the world."

Aric Mototsune, current LLB and BA student

Interested in More Info?

Email chooselaurier@wlu.ca, call 548.889.8888 or see all contact information.

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