FAQs

General law school questions:

Q: Where is the Allard School of Law located?

Allard School of Law is located in the purpose built Allard Hall, a building which the law school occupied in August 2011.

Allard Hall is located at 1822 East Mall, Vancouver, BC. For directions and a detailed map showing the location of Allard Hall on the UBC campus visit the UBC Wayfinding website.

Q: Can I go on a tour of Allard or speak to an upper year student?

Allard School of Law has a “Law Ambassador” program designed to provide prospective students with information about the Allard School of Law. You can contact a Student Ambassador regarding the law school experience, life at Allard School of Law, or living in Vancouver, at ambassadors@allard.ubc.ca.

Q: Is there someone I can speak to about financing my studies?

For more information about financing your education, visit the Allard School of Law Scholarships and Financial aid webpage.

Additionally, the Allard School of Law has a team of Enrolment Services Professionals (ESPs) dedicated to providing financial aid advising to law students. The Law ESPs can assist students to research and apply for various forms of funding. To connect with a Law ESP, send an email via the dedicated JD student email box at: es.lawsupport@ubc.ca. You can also call Enrolment Services at: Local: 1-604-822-9836; Toll-free in Canada and the US: 1-877-272-1422.

Access the Allard Bursary Calculator here.

Q: How can I ensure that I go by by preferred name, and not my legal name while at UBC?

As a first step, you can list a preferred name on the SSC (see: https://students.ubc.ca/enrolment/records/change-personal-information) – this name will be used for class lists and your UBCcard. Please ensure you undertake this step soon so that your professors can learn your preferred name and your UBCcard will reflect your preferred name.

Unfortunately the archaic nature of the SSC means that when staff are advising you and using the SSC (eg. course advising, grades lookup), your legal name is the name that appears; the staff member has to remember to look up preferred name (in a buried not-obvious field).  Staff often forget but are trying to get better at looking for a preferred name!

Finally, we are a small community and we will learn your  preferred name quickly! Please don’t hesitate to correct anyone if they are wrong.

First year life:

Q: What is the first year schedule like?

All first-year students take the same classes; the schedule for 2018-2019 can be viewed here. Students will receive their “small group” assignment in late August, but should note that this assignment is subject to change all the way up until Orientation.

Q: What are the “small groups”?

Each student is placed in a “small group” of approximately 45 students, with whom you will have all your classes. The small groups are Curtis, Proud, Scow, and Gee; named after famous Allard alumni.

CURTIS
George F. Curtis, O.C., O.B.C., Q.C., LL.B., B.A., B.C.L., LL.D., D.C.L., was our founding Dean in 1945 and remained so until his retirement in 1971.  His accomplishments are manifold, but for UBC Law he worked to combine both professional training and university education to establish an open, inquiring, academic, and professional law school.  He died in 2005 at 99 years of age.

GEE
Margaret Jean Gee, LL.B., 1953 became the first Chinese Canadian woman called to the bar in Canada. She was also the first Chinese Canadian woman Pilot Officer (Reserves) in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

PROUD
Patricia M. Proudfoot, O.B.C., LL.D., LL.B., 1952 became the first woman on the bench in BC’s Provincial Court (1971), the first woman in the County Court of Vancouver (1974), the first woman in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, and a judge on the Court of Appeal for British Columbia and the Yukon (1989).

SCOW
Alfred J. Scow, C.M., O.B.C., LL.D., LL.B., 1961, member of the Kwaguilth Nation, was the first Aboriginal person to graduate from the Faculty and the first to be appointed to the Canadian judiciary.

Q: What classes will I take in 1L?

For 2018-2019, first year students will take the following classes (all year long unless otherwise indicated):

  1. Property Law;
  2. Torts;
  3. Canadian Constitutional Law;
  4. Criminal Law;
  5. Contracts;
  6. Legal Research & Writing (Term 1 only);
  7. Public Law (Term 1 only); and
  8. Transnational Law (Term 2 only).

Course descriptions can be found here.

Q: Should I buy my textbooks in the summer?

NO! There is no need to buy your textbooks in advance of starting classes. You will not find out your small group until Orientation, and each small group may have different textbooks/materials, even though everyone is taking the same classes. There will also be a used book sale within the first couple of weeks of classes at which you can purchase used textbooks from upper year students. Save yourself some money and only go to the bookstore after this sale. You will not need your textbooks until after your first classes (any readings for the first day will be provided online by your professors).

Q: I’m a mature student. Will I be out of place at Allard?

Absolutely not! Allard students represent a large range of ages. If you want to connect with other mature students, please feel free to join the Allard Mature Students group, which will help you connect with mature students from all three years at Allard.

Q: Do I need to buy a suit (or three) before I come to Allard?

Short answer: no.

Long answer: there are several (optional) networking events for 1Ls that will require you to wear professional attire. The same level of dress will be required for your mandatory moot in February as well.

A suit (for men and women) is a great option for this level of dress. However, you can absolutely wear a blazer and dress pants or a dress and look equally professional, so feel free to wear these types of outfits as well.

As long as you look professional, you will be good to go.

Additionally, there is no need to dress professionally for classes, so you can save yourself some drycleaning fees and wear what you like!

Housing and transportation:

Q: Is housing a thing that exists in Vancouver?

Yes! It takes some hard work and patience, but eventually you will be rewarded with a place to live in this beautiful city.
UBC has created a page with some helpful tips about Vancouver neighbourhoods and finding a place to live: http://vancouver.housing.ubc.ca/other-h…/off-campus-housing/
Here are some starting points for your search:

Q: What is transit like in Vancouver? How much do transit passes cost?

Public transportation is frequent and reliable within the City of Vancouver. It is also good in the suburbs of Burnaby, North Vancouver, and Richmond. It is less frequent in the outer suburbs. There are several express bus services to UBC from various points in the city; many buses connect with SkyTrain (Vancouverʼs rapid transit metro).

TransLink provides all public transportation services in Metro Vancouver. All UBC students get a “Compas Card”, which is good for travel in all transit zones on buses, SeaBus, and all three SkyTrain rapid transit lines. Students can load their U-Pass BC onto an adult-class Compass Card, which are available from any SkyTrain Station and TransLink Fare Dealers including the UBC Bookstore. The U-Pass BC program currently costs $41.00 per month and is assessed as part of your student fees. The U-Pass is valid from the beginning of September to the end of April. Visit the Translink website for more transit information, including TransLinkʼs useful “Trip Planner” tool.

Help me create content! Email questions to orientation@allard.ubc.ca

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