Top law schools in Canada 2026
| Canada Law Rank 2026 | Global Law Rank 2026 | University | Overall | Teaching | Research Environment | Research Quality | Industry | International Outlook |
| 1 | 23 | University of Toronto | 72.4 | 73.6 | 80.6 | 61.1 | 55.9 | 79.7 |
| 2 | 33 | McGill University | 68.2 | 73 | 73 | 58.8 | 41.4 | 73.2 |
| 3 | 43 | University of British Columbia | 63.1 | 56.6 | 59.2 | 73 | 36.5 | 83.9 |
| 4 | 65 | York University | 56.3 | 53.1 | 53.3 | 59.1 | 47.1 | 73.8 |
| 5 | 80 | University of Ottawa | 52.3 | 51.4 | 48.4 | 52.8 | 57.6 | 64.3 |
| 6 | =85 | Dalhousie University | 51.4 | 42 | 49.6 | 60.6 | 49.1 | 67.2 |
| 7 | 95 | Queen’s University | 50 | 45.5 | 37.3 | 64.6 | 53.8 | 66 |
| 8 | 101–125 | University of Victoria | 47.3–49.4 | 42.4 | 38.2 | 61.4 | 30.7 | 65.7 |
| 9 | 126–150 | Université de Montréal | 44.4–47.1 | 29 | 38.3 | 61 | 46.8 | 77 |
| 10 | 151–175 | University of Alberta | 42.5–44.3 | 32.9 | 33.7 | 68.2 | 60.2 | 46 |
| 11 | 176–200 | Western University | 40.6–42.4 | 32.1 | 21.7 | 67 | 51.9 | 63.3 |
| =12 | 201–250 | Toronto Metropolitan University | 37.7–40.5 | 32.3 | 23.1 | 70.8 | 17.5 | 39.5 |
| =12 | 201–250 | University of Calgary | 37.7–40.5 | 32.8 | 22.8 | 55.8 | 77.2 | 56.8 |
| =12 | 201–250 | Université Laval | 37.7–40.5 | 23 | 29.7 | 56.5 | 44.1 | 67.8 |
| =12 | 201–250 | Université du Québec | 37.7–40.5 | 28.8 | 29.7 | 56.6 | 40.3 | 62 |
| =16 | 251–300 | Carleton University | 34.7–37.6 | 18.9 | 27.1 | 60.1 | 55.5 | 67.3 |
| =16 | 251–300 | University of Saskatchewan | 34.7–37.6 | 29.6 | 20.7 | 60.6 | 58.3 | 42.7 |
Key Insights into the best law schools in Canada
- The University of Toronto is the top university in Canada for law degrees.
- Université de Montréal dropped from seventh place in 2025 to ninth place in 2026, despite maintaining strong international recognition.
- There are 17 universities from Canada featured in the law ranking.
- The University of British Columbia scores highly for international outlook.
Choosing the right university in Canada for law
Canada is both a French- and English-speaking country, which makes it an ideal place for students wishing to study law in a diverse, global environment.
Like in the US, students who study at a Canadian law school will graduate with a juris doctor (JD) degree, which takes three years to complete. Before applying for law school in Canada, students are required to sit the LSAT test to ensure they have enough prior knowledge of Canadian law.
Because it was once a colony of England, Canada’s legal system is based on the British common law system. Canada has a parliament, like Britain, and the federal government has jurisdiction over certain areas of the law.
Selecting a good law school in Canada requires careful consideration of multiple factors. The Times Higher Education rankings are based on five core pillars:
1. Research environment – quality of academic research output and support.
2. Teaching quality – faculty expertise, student engagement, and learning resources.
3. Research quality – influence of published legal research in the field.
4. Industry collaboration – links with the legal profession and practical opportunities.
5. International outlook – global partnerships, diversity, and academic exchange.
The table for the best law schools in Canada was derived from data collected from the THE Subject Rankings: Law. For more insights and a detailed breakdown of our ranking methodology, visit our methodology page.
Comments