How to become a lawyer in Canada

A rewarding and intellectually interesting professional choice that gives you the chance to promote justice, offer legal advice, and have a significant impact on society is becoming a lawyer. The path to becoming a lawyer in Canada involves a combination of formal education, practical experience, and licensing procedures. This guide will help you through the procedures needed to become an accredited lawyer in Canada if you are internationally trained.

 

Step 1: The NCA process

The National Committee on Accreditation is the regulatory body responsible for assessing international legal credentials against the national standard set out by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.

To be eligible for the lawyer licensing process you must first receive a Certificate of Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA). This involves submitting your resume, references, and transcripts on the NCA website. Include a formal letter or certificate of good standing from the relevant bar association if you practice law in a different country.

Prior to applying and sending your application to NCA, you can take their self-assessment test for free to see if you're eligible.

Once your application is received, the NCA thoroughly evaluates your credentials and experience. Only those who meet the criteria set out in their policy will be approved in this process. As mistakes and inaccuracies can cause delays, it's essential to make sure all of your paperwork is accurate and thorough.

Once you have received your NCA assessment. The NCA will allocate either a set of courses to finish at a Canadian law school, a number of exams to undertake, or a combination of both. The core exams include at least 5 mandatory subjects and the Legal Research and Writing course, and based on your assessment, you might also receive additional elective subjects.

Once you have successfully completed your NCA assessment requirements, you can request and obtain your Certificate of Qualification. The NCA states that on average, it takes roughly two years to complete the NCA process.  However, most of the candidates who register with NCA Tutor complete their assessments in under a year.

 

Step 2: Join the law society

 

Upon obtaining your Certificate of Qualification, you can proceed to apply for admission to one of the provincial law societies. Canada comprises 14 provinces; however, you can solely register with 12 of the provincial and territorial bars. This distinction arises from the NCA's exclusive focus on all law societies except Quebec's, which concentrates solely on the common law jurisdiction in Canada.

Once you've determined the law society or province you intend to practice in, you should familiarize yourself with the specific prerequisites of that particular law society. For example, Ontario requires candidates to successfully complete the bar exams. In addition, you have to complete a term of articling.  After satisfying all the necessary conditions, including a character fitness assessment, you will be called to the bar.