The Application Process:
It's crucial to apply to the NCA process as early as possible! The NCA typically takes about 8-12 weeks to get back to you with your assessment, but during peak seasons, it might take a bit longer. The sooner you apply, the better.
If you are currently studying law abroad and intend to practice in Canada, you can begin your application process within your last semester of law school. Once you receive your final transcript, you need to send it to the NCA to complete your application.
Exam Registration Tips:
Be aware that the NCA has specific time frames for applying for exams. For instance, if you receive your NCA application results in September, and the next exam session is in October, you might have missed the window to apply for October exams in August. In such cases, you will need to wait for the next application window for the January session, which typically opens around November.
Keep in mind that if you fail an NCA exam, you will need to wait one session before registering for that exam again. For example, if you fail Professional Responsibility (PR) in January, you won't be able to register for the PR exam again until the August session.
Expenses:
The cost of the NCA varies depending on the number of exams or courses you need to take or if you opt for the LL.M option. Application fees amount to $450 plus applicable taxes. Each exam costs $340 plus applicable taxes.
LL.M programs can cost around 10K in tuition for Canadian students and 38K for international students. Some universities offer a "Common Law" LL.M option, which costs about 25K in tuition fees for Canadians and around 38K for international students. The cost of courses, if required, can range from 2-10K, depending on the number of credits and whether the candidate is a domestic or international student.
Where to buy textbooks:
You can purchase new copies of the required textbooks online from sources like Amazon or Thomson Reuters. At the end of each NCA syllabus, you will find a list of publishers you can contact to inquire about purchasing their materials. Some publishers have online stores. Alternatively, there are Facebook groups like "NCA Tutor" or "National Committee on Accreditation – FLSC" where students can sell and purchase textbooks, as well as discuss NCA-related matters.
Appeals - Opting out of exams:
It's not possible to opt out of the 5 core NCA subjects (Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Professional Responsibility, and Foundations of Canadian Law). The only way to be exempt from these exams is to take these courses as credit courses in a Canadian law school.
However, you may be exempt from writing some optional courses if you've already demonstrated competency in those subjects. For example, if you took a similar course in your law degree abroad, you can appeal to the NCA and submit an explanation of how you've demonstrated the required NCA competence for that subject. If successful, you may be exempt from writing the subject.
This doesn't necessarily reduce the total number of exams you were initially assessed to write. The total number of exams may be based on various assessment factors. If business organizations was added to your assessment criteria because it was obligatory, not due to any other deficiencies, you might be able to reduce the number of exams from 7 to 6.
Assessed to write an Optional Exam - Which one to choose:
When faced with an optional exam, deciding which one to write can be challenging. Some may suggest choosing the "easiest" exam, though it's subjective. Others might recommend picking a subject that interests you the most. However, if none of the optional exams particularly interest you, consider choosing one that would benefit you the most in the long run, especially in preparation for the bar exam. Ultimately, focus on what aligns with your career goals and interests.
- Hirra G
Comments
Post a Comment