English proficiency requirements for law programs vary more than for most other graduate fields, partly because law degrees demand an unusually high level of written English fluency from day one. Requirements also differ sharply by country and degree type — a UK LLB, a US JD, and a Canadian LLM can have very different thresholds even at comparably ranked institutions. Here's how they typically compare.
Typical Requirements by Country and Degree
| Country / Degree | Typical IELTS Academic | Typical TOEFL iBT | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US JD (international) | ~7.0 overall, 6.5–7.0 per band | ~100, ~25 per section (old scale) | TOEFL is more widely required/preferred than IELTS for US JD programs |
| US LLM | ~7.0–7.5 overall | ~100–101 | E.g., UT Austin LLM: IELTS 7.5, 7.0 per band |
| UK LLB | ~6.5–7.0 overall | Broadly equivalent TOEFL iBT accepted | Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial often require 7.5+ |
| UK LLM | ~7.0–7.5 overall | Broadly equivalent TOEFL iBT accepted | Varies by university; check each program |
| Canada — JD | Often waived if prior education was in English (e.g., University of Toronto JD does not require IELTS/TOEFL) | Same as IELTS column | Varies significantly by school — some Canadian JDs do require it |
| Canada — LLM | ~7.5 overall, 7.0 per band | ~100, 24 per section | E.g., University of Toronto LLM |
| Australia — JD/LLB | Approximate: overall band in the high-6s to 7.0 range, with component minimums | Approximate equivalent iBT section minimums (e.g., roughly writing 74 / speaking 59 / reading 63 / listening 61 at one leading school) | Confirm exact current thresholds on the specific university's page — these vary by program and are not standardized nationally |
These figures are typical/approximate ranges gathered across representative programs, not universal standards — individual schools set their own thresholds and change them periodically, so confirm the exact current requirement on your target school's official admissions page before applying.
Why TOEFL Matters More for US JD Applications
A meaningful number of US JD programs require or explicitly prefer the TOEFL over IELTS, more so than in most other US graduate fields. If you're applying primarily to US JD programs, it's worth defaulting your prep toward TOEFL first and only adding IELTS if a specific target school requires it — check each school's application page, since a portion do accept both.
Waivers
Most law schools across all four countries will waive the English test requirement if you completed a full degree program taught and examined in English — but "taught in English" thresholds differ (some require the degree to be from a country where English is an official language; others accept any English-medium instruction regardless of country). Never assume a waiver applies without confirming it explicitly with the admissions office — a rejected waiver discovered late in the application cycle can cost you a testing window.
A Scoring-Scale Change to Watch (TOEFL, 2026)
ETS began transitioning the TOEFL iBT to a new 1–6 scale (in 0.5 increments, aligned to CEFR levels) starting January 21, 2026. During a two-year transition period (through January 2028), score reports show both the new 1–6 scale and the old 0–120 scale side by side. If a law school's published requirement still cites the old 0–120 figure, that's expected during this transition — but double-check which scale a given school is referencing when you compare your reported score against its stated minimum.
Prepare for IELTS with Gabble — whichever country you're targeting, AI-powered speaking and writing feedback helps you reach the specific band score your law program requires, with practice built around real test conditions.