The Ph.D. in Law and Society

The Ph.D. in Law and Society is a highly rewarding, research-oriented, interdisciplinary program. This page summarizes its chief characteristics, with links to more detailed information on each subject.

You should refer to the UVic Academic Calendar, which contains the rules applicable to your graduate candidature. The primary responsibility for complying with the requirements lies with you, the student. Once you are admitted, you should familiarize yourself with those rules and ensure that your approved program will satisfy them. Your success in the program depends, above all, on your own efforts.

If you have any questions, please consult the UVic Academic Calendar. If you still have questions, please contact the Graduate Assistant. The Graduate Assistant can answer most administrative questions or may forward you to the Graduate Program Director for issues that combine administrative and academic dimensions or to your supervisors for academic questions related to your thesis.

Program Length

The Ph.D. requires 20 months (five terms) of enrollment. Most students do not complete within 20 months, but take four to five years. Seven years is the maximum period. Note that Leaves of Absence are possible.

Full-Time & Residency Requirements

The first 12 months (three terms) of the Ph.D. program must be completed full-time, on-campus in Victoria. Permission of the Graduate Program Director and your Law supervisor is required to waive the physical residency requirement. The program seeks to build a cohesive community and support the development of students’ dissertations. These objectives require full-time attendance. Subsequent terms/years can be completed off-campus.

Internal Ph.D. Applicants

Students initially accepted to the LL.M. program may apply to the Ph.D. program, but only if their lead supervisor is strongly supportive. All applications will be treated as new and, therefore, are only eligible to apply for September entry. The application deadline for September of any given year is January 31st of that year.

You may elect to obtain the LL.M. before proceeding to the Ph.D. or proceed directly to the Ph.D. without obtaining the L.LM.  Completion of the LL.M. is strongly advised and all LL.M. submission requirements must be met by August 31st.

If you choose to proceed to the Ph.D. without completing the LL.M., you will nevertheless be expected to complete the LL.M. coursework (at the thesis level) and a minimum of four terms in the LL.M. before applying to the Ph.D. program. 

For complete details, please review the Procedures for Internal Ph.D. Applications.

Arrival

You must arrive for the first week of classes (which begins just after Labour Day: the first Monday in September). During that week you will meet with your supervisory committee and then with the Graduate Program Director to discuss your program, and attend the first sessions of your fall term courses. Please contact the Graduate Assistant to set a time to meet with the Graduate Program Director.

Supervisors

You will be assigned a three-person supervisory committee, normally comprised of one Law and one non-Law co-supervisor and a third member who may be from any discipline. At least one member of the supervisory committee must be from outside the Faculty of Law. The system of co-supervision reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the Ph.D. program.

The Law supervisor is usually chosen during the application process and in any case by the end of September. The non-Law supervisor is chosen in consultation with your Law supervisor. Students are responsible for approaching potential non-Law supervisors to determine their availability. You can change a supervisor if there is good reason and another appropriate person is available.  (In exceptional cases, a fourth member may also be added to the committee, in which case that person has functions similar to the third member.)

The lead Law supervisor normally plays the principle role with respect to issues of form and administration, although the non-Law supervisor has input into the development of the dissertation.  The third member of the committee usually has a more specialized role, advising on certain aspects of the dissertation and serving as a resource person for you.  The third member generally does not have such intense involvement in the development of your research as the two supervisors, but he or she is involved in approving your materials prior to submission for your candidacy exam; must certify, at the time you are submitting your dissertation, that in his or her opinion your dissertation is ready for examination; and normally serves as a member of both your candidacy exam and dissertation oral examination.  You should establish and maintain regular contact with all members of your supervisory committee.

An interim supervisor may be appointed if one of your supervisors will be absent for a term or more. A supervisor can also be replaced if you run into serious difficulties. Please note, however, that constructive criticism is the heart of a supervisor’s role. Please see the Responsibilities in the Supervisory Relationship policy.

Helpful tips for your graduate studies program.

Course Requirements

The course requirements:

• LAW501: Graduate Seminar in Law and Society (1.5 units)
• LAW502: Graduate Seminar in Applied Legal Methodology (1.5 units)
  
• One non-Law graduate-level seminar (1.5 units)
  (This is generally chosen in consultation with your non-Law supervisor. Indeed the non-Law supervisor is often the instructor, with this course serving to establish your relationship with that supervisor.)
  
• One additional course (1.5 units)
  (This may be an upper-year Law undergraduate course, a Law graduate course, or a graduate-level course in another discipline.)

 

You should discuss your courses with your supervisory committee and then obtain approval by the Graduate Program Director. You are not permitted to register for what is, in substance, a course you have already taken for undergraduate credit, either here or at another university.

You should seek to complete all courses by the end of your second term. After your first two terms, you are responsible for completing your ongoing registration.

Many Law courses are evaluated by final examinations. Graduate students who enrol in 300-level Law courses should work out a form of evaluation with the instructor of their course. A final examination cannot be worth more than 60% of your final mark. Moreover, if a research paper is submitted as part of the evaluation and it is worth more than 60% of your final mark, you must be permitted to submit a draft and then a final version of the paper. Since graduate students do not have access to a supplemental examination process, you are advised to seek a form of assessment that minimizes assessment by examination. Literature reviews, research papers, presentations, and book and article reviews are alternative forms of assessment. If you have any questions regarding appropriate forms of assessment please contact the Director.

The Graduate Assistant will prepare your CAPP (Curriculum, Advising and Program Planning) document. This is the official record of your program and outlines your degree requirements. It must be reviewed and signed by you and the Graduate Program Director within the first two terms of your program (preferably by the end of October). Subsequent changes can be made with the approval of the Director.

Please review and become familiar with marking standards at the graduate level. You must avoid any form of academic dishonesty.

Dissertation

Ph.D. students’ dissertations must meet the University’s standards for doctoral dissertations. Your dissertation is expected to be of the highest possible calibre, potentially publishable, and should be 250-350 pages (excluding abstract, notes, bibliography, and appendices). 

Please review the Ph.D. Dissertation Milestones.

Candidacy Examination

Approximately one year into your program (or on transfer into the Ph.D. program from the LL.M. program) you will be required to undergo a Candidacy Examination (structured defence of your research program and any completed segments of your dissertation). The examining committee will consist of at least two members of your supervisory committee, plus a member who is external to that committee. Completing the candidacy examination successfully is a pre-condition of proceeding further with the program.

Access the Ph.D. Candidacy Examination Guidelines.

Annual Progress Review

If you remain in the program for one year you will be subject to a progress review. These reviews are designed to take stock of your progress and identify, confidentially if necessary, any problems that may be impeding your progress.

2011 Annual Progress Report

Oral Examination

Your final Ph.D. dissertation must be defended in an oral examination. An external member will be added to your three-person supervisory committee, which then becomes the Examining Committee.  This person can be from outside UVic. 

Please review the Ph.D. Dissertation Milestones.

Career Services

Graduate students can receive career support from the University's central Career Services office. They provide support to students and alumni at all stages of their career development.

Graduation

Graduation occurs at convocation ceremonies held in November and June. We hope that you will be able to attend but degrees can be granted without attendance.

There is sometimes a delay between your completion of the requirements and the next convocation ceremony. In those circumstances, we can issue letters attesting to your completion of the requirements.

Inclusiveness and Diversity

The University of Victoria is committed to promoting, providing, and protecting a positive and supportive and safe learning and working environment for all its members.