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Becoming a Lawyer in Canada

In Canada, becoming a lawyer involves some years of undergraduate work, followed by a law degree, and approximately a year of internship called “articling.”  The length of time spent articling depends on the jurisdiction.

Law Society Membership

After getting a law degree, you must go through the licensing process in order to become a lawyer. This involves applying for admission to the law society of the province or territory in which you want to practise law. You are not licensed to practise law in Canada if you are not a member of the law society where you wish to work.

To be admitted to a law society requires more than graduating from law school. Applicants for licensing must meet the following criteria:

  • must be of good character
  • must complete an apprenticeship program, known as articling
  • must attend a professional legal training course, the bar admission course
  • must pass licensing examinations, the bar examinations.

Articling

Articling involves working under the supervision of a licensed lawyer for approximately one year.

Bar Admission Course

A student takes the bar admission course and prepares for the Bar Examination.

Being “Called to the Bar”

Once an aspiring lawyer has completed all the requirements, including passing the bar examination, they are admitted to their provincial or territorial bar association which is referred to as being “called to the bar.”

Law Schools in Canada

Canada has two legal traditions: common law, based on the British system, and civil law, based on the French tradition. Canada’s law schools reflect these two traditions. See a complete list of Canadian law schools.

Scholarships and Awards for Law Schools

There are many full or partial scholarships for attendance at law school in Canada. Here is a list of some of those scholarships listed by the University that accepts or offers them.

Selecting JD or LLB

In the past, Canadian law schools offered the LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws) degree for law graduates. More recently, some universities have offered the JD (Juris Doctor) in cooperation with American universities. The JD is an American degree designation and makes it easier for a student to practice later in the US. However, the cost for these degrees is higher than for a LL.B.

Read more about which Canadian universities are offering the JD degree at the National Law Journal Online

The Lawyers Weekly – an article about the joint degree.