Helpful Hints When Preparing Your Application

Some advice on who to choose for references, what to write in your personal statement, and what your resume should include.

Curriculum Vitae/Résumé

Your résumé should outline work experience since university graduation.  Be sure to clearly identify:  firms/employers, locations, positions held, responsibilities and dates of employment.

You should also outline your participation in volunteer work or community organizations, board appointments, as well as any other relevant accomplishments or information you feel would help your candidacy. 

Please also include a complete summary of your post-secondary education, including any academic awards you have received. 

Purpose of Graduate Study (Personal Statement)

This is your opportunity to articulate (in no more than two pages/1000 words) why you want to be admitted to the GPLLM and why you would be a valuable asset to the program. 

Please address all of the following:

1.  Why have you chosen to apply to the GPLLM and what do you hope to achieve?  Please refer to your career and any other personal details that you think are relevant.
2. Please indicate the concentration(s) for which you wish to be considered and explain why you have chosen that concentration.
3. Please describe the extent and manner in which your current position requires you to engage with the law and legal or regulatory issues.
4.  If you are a lawyer, please explain why you are pursuing an executive legal education.  
5. How will you contribute to a dynamic classroom experience?

Reference Letters

Reference letters are an important part of your application. Each recommendation should be from an individual who can comment on, and provide examples of your professional qualifications, academic promise and suitability for the program. Ideally, these are from individuals who have supervised you. Note that your referees will be asked to upload a letter - there are no form questions for them to respond to. 

Helpful Hints:

  • A reference letter is compelling when the referee provides detailed reasons for supporting your application. A strong reference letter will be based on concrete examples to support the comments the referee is making about you, particularly examples of when the referee observed what they are stating. 

  • Please refrain from soliciting references from peers, co-workers or direct reports.  Personal references are also ineligible (e.g. friends, family members, etc.).

  • Please share the following questions with your referees to help guide their reference:

 Comment and provide examples on the following: 

      •  Does the applicant have the academic capacity to succeed in the program? 
      • Will the applicant benefit professionally from taking the program?
      • Will the applicant contribute to the classroom and learning experience of others?
      • Does the applicant have both the time and the motivation to succeed in the program?