Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) Program

Eligible candidates for the S.J.D. program hold a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD) and a Master of Laws (LLM) from recognized universities with an excellent academic record and have demonstrated, through substantive writing, their ability to engage in and generate high-level quality research and writing.

Coursework

Students must complete the mandatory graduate seminar LAW1000H Alternative Approaches to Legal Scholarship.
Additional coursework is optional and shall be determined upon consultation with the thesis supervisor. 

Area requirement

Before being allowed to proceed with formal research on a thesis topic, a student must demonstrate competence in a broader area within which the topic falls by completing an area exam within the first year of the SJD program. The student's supervisory committee  assists in framing that area and compiling an appropriate plan for carrying out the research. The research undertaken by the student either culminates in a written exam, based on the reading list, or a research project, which is either a draft of a chapter of the thesis or an overview of the general argument. Both paths lead to an oral exam based on the written work and the reading list (the "area exam"). Students must satisfy the area requirement by the end of the first year of registration.

Research and writing

A student will not be allowed to continue in the doctoral program, where, in the opinion of the Area Committee, the student is not capable of demonstrating the capacity for independent legal research and writing at an advanced level, including through the satisfaction of the area exam.

Second-year presentation

At the end of the second year of registration, students must present an abstract of their work in progress or a draft chapter to an audience of their peers and interested faculty. The purpose of the meeting is to provide the student with a forum to collect feedback from a broad audience.

Annual meetings

Students must meet with their entire supervisory committee at least once a year every year they are registered in the program.

Thesis

Students must write a thesis which, in the opinion of the Faculty of Law, constitutes a distinct contribution to legal research or scholarship, and the student must pass a Doctoral Final Oral Examination based on the thesis.

Residence

Students must be in full-time attendance for at least two academic sessions during their first year in the S.J.D. program.

The program requirements with which doctoral students at the Faculty of Law must comply are as follows:

FIRST YEAR:

• Coursework: Students must complete the mandatory graduate seminar LAW 1000H Alternative Approaches to Legal Scholarship (0.75 full-course equivalents [FCEs]). Other coursework requirements are optional and shall be determined upon consultation with the supervisor. All coursework shall be subject to the approval of the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, Law.
• Area Exam requirement: Before being allowed to proceed with formal research on a thesis topic, a student must demonstrate competence in a broader area within which the topic falls. The student's supervisory committee (established by the student and approved by the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies at the Faculty of Law) assists in framing that area and compiling an appropriate plan for carrying out the research. ​The research undertaken by the student either culminates in a written exam, based on the reading list, or a research project, which is either a draft of a chapter of the thesis or an overview of the general argument. Both paths lead to an oral exam based on the written work and the reading list. Normally, a student will have satisfied the area requirement by the end of Year 1 of registration.
  • A student will not be allowed to continue in the doctoral program, where, in the opinion of the Area Exam Committee, the student is not capable of demonstrating the capacity for independent legal research and writing at an advanced level.

SECOND YEAR:

• Second Year Presentation: At the end of Year 2 of registration, students must present an abstract of their work in progress or a draft chapter to an audience of their peers and interested faculty. The purpose of the meeting is to provide the student with a forum to collect feedback from a broad audience.

YEAR 1 to COMPLETION:

• Annual Committee Meetings: Students must meet with their entire supervisory committee at least once a year every year they are registered in the program.

THESIS COMPLETION & DEFENSE:

Students must write an SJD thesis that is between 300 and 400 pages (approximately 90,000 to 120,000 words). In every case, however, the particular requirements of the thesis are established in conjunction with the thesis supervisor and supervisory committee, and may vary with the subject matter of the thesis. Once the thesis has been approved by the supervisory committee student will need to successfully defend their thesis.

Program Length: 3 years full-time. 
Program Time Limit: 5 years full-time. Registration beyond 5 years requires a program extension.

Eligible candidates for the S.J.D. Direct-Entry program hold a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD) from recognized universities with an excellent academic record and have demonstrated, through substantive writing, their ability to engage in and generate high-level quality research and writing. An LL.M. is not required for admission to the SJD-Direct-Entry program.

Coursework

Students must complete at least 8 credit hours (2.0 full-course equivalents [FCEs]) including the mandatory graduate seminar: LAW1000H Alternative Approaches to Legal Scholarship within the first year of the program. Any additional coursework is optional and shall be determined upon consultation with the thesis supervisor. 

Area requirement

Before being allowed to proceed with formal research on a thesis topic, a student must demonstrate competence in a broader area within which the topic falls by completing an area exam within the first year of the SJD program. The student's supervisory committee  assists in framing that area and compiling an appropriate plan for carrying out the research. The research undertaken by the student either culminates in a written exam, based on the reading list, or a research project, which is either a draft of a chapter of the thesis or an overview of the general argument. Both paths lead to an oral exam based on the written work and the reading list (the "area exam"). Students must satisfy the area requirement by the end of the first year of registration.

Research and writing

A student will not be allowed to continue in the doctoral program, where, in the opinion of the Area Committee, the student is not capable of demonstrating the capacity for independent legal research and writing at an advanced level, including through the satisfaction of the area exam.

Second Year Presentation

At the end of the second year of registration, students must present an abstract of their work in progress or a draft chapter to an audience of their peers and interested faculty. The purpose of the meeting is to provide the student with a forum to collect feedback from a broad audience.

Annual meetings

Students must meet with their entire supervisory committee at least once a year every year they are registered in the program.

Thesis

Students must write a thesis which, in the opinion of the Faculty of Law, constitutes a distinct contribution to legal research or scholarship, and the student must pass a Doctoral Final Oral Examination based on the thesis.

Residence

Students must be in full-time attendance for at least two academic sessions during their first year in the S.J.D. program.

Program Length: 5 years full-time. 
Program Time Limit: 6 years full-time. Registration beyond 6 years requires a program extension.