How to Read a Faculty of Law Transcript

FOR AN EXPLANATION OF WINTER 2020 GRADES PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR OUR DEAN'S LETTER.

Each year more than 2,000 applicants seek to be admitted to the first-year JD class of approximately 205-210 students at the Faculty of Law of the University of Toronto. Admission is, therefore, extremely competitive. Recent JD classes have had median undergraduate averages of about 3.84 (on the OSLAS 4.0 scale) and median LSAT scores of 166 (93rd percentile), rendering our JD student body among the most academically accomplished of any in North America.

In June 2012, the law school decided to adopt a new grading scale for the JD program to more accurately reflect the high quality of the academic work produced by the students in the JD program.

Students are now graded on a modified honours-pass-fail basis. The most commonly awarded grade is a “Pass with Merit.” A grade of Pass with Merit on a transcript indicates that the student has performed at a level that is consistent with the high level of performance of the student’s colleagues in the JD program. Course work that significantly exceeds the standard level of performance of the strong students in the JD program will be awarded a grade of “Honours.” A grade of Honours in a course indicates that the student’s command of the subject exceeds the standard set by the majority of his or her accomplished JD classmates. Truly outstanding performance in a course will be distinguished under a grade of “High Honours.” High Honours grades will be reserved for performances that indicate elite performance among a group of highly accomplished peers. A marginal yet still passing performance in a course will be awarded a grade of “Low Pass.” A grade of Low Pass indicates that while a student’s performance is sufficient to receive academic credit, the student nevertheless did not achieve the level of performance generally reached by his or her classmates in the JD program.

Thus, the grading system for JD students is as follows:

Students who commenced the JD program prior to September 2012 will continue to be graded according to our previous grading system, as follows:

Note that the grading system used for students who entered the JD program prior to September 2012 does not make use of a number of grades that are part of the University of Toronto undergraduate grading scale. More specifically, the previous JD grading scale does not make use of the grades A+, A-, B-, or C-, D+ or D-.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Career Development Office if we can be of further assistance.