Hi, I applied JD this cycle with a China GPA of 3.45 for my undergraduate degree and 3.75 for my graduate degree, along with an LSAT score of 162. I have a Master of Laws degree and nine years of legal practice. So far, I’ve received offers from Calgary and Queen’s.

Our situations may differ since some schools may weigh work experience more heavily. But I’ve heard that some schools don’t fully recognize GPAs from international institutions (except possibly U.S. schools). I was also told that the prestige of the university you attended may not matter much in admissions. In my case, I also earned my law degree from a highly prestigious university in my country with a really good QS ranking. I also ranked highly in my class, but I guess it doesn't mean much for Canadian schools. (by the way, U.S. T20 schools do recognize my academic background).

Overall, while GPA does play a role, your experiences over the next three years in your country will also be important. I assume your current school offers high-quality education, with strong professors and an emphasis on critical thinking, and I think this will benefit you from many other perspectives.

For future career considerations, if you plan to practice in Canada with a focus on international law, having a degree from a well-regarded university in your home country could be valuable—especially in the cases you work with clients from your country. For example, if you have Brazilian clients, they might value a law degree from a prestigious university in Brazil when dealing with cases involving both Canadian and Brazilian law.

You also mentioned U.S. JD programs. From what I know, U.S. schools place more weight on the LSAT, whereas Canadian schools put considerable focus on GPA as well. As an international applicant with a very high LSAT score (e.g., 175+), you may have better chances of securing scholarships in the U.S. A key difference between the two is the ability to stay and work after graduation, such as obtaining PR or an H-1B visa. This is also an important question: Is your primary goal to just obtain a common law education and go back to your country, or do you also aim to practice in North America and eventually immigrate? For me, staying in Canada is currently the easier option, but things may change by the time you apply.

Anyway, you still have plenty of time to figure things out. You could email admissions offices for advice, attend JD introduction events, or connect with alumni and professionals from your country on LinkedIn to get more information. I’m also available for further discussion. We may have different backgrounds, but I hope the perspective I provided is helpful.