They must become a member of the bar. In Canada and other Commonwealth countries, one is called to the bar after completing post law school training in a provincial law society program and undergoing an internship or articling. Each provincial law society or, as with Quebec, le Barreau du Quebec, has a licensing process that first must be successfully completed. In some provinces, though not Ontario, certain required courses must be taken during your J.D. It is therefore advisable to investigate carefully should you be interested in practicing in a province other than Ontario. Please find below a links to all provincial and territorial Canadian Law Societies. If you are planning to be called to the bar in a province or territory outside of Ontario you are encouraged to check that province or territory’s website directly.
Licensing Process
Once students have successfully completed their J.D., there are still a number of steps to complete before they are eligible to practice law.
Ontario
Law Society of Upper Canada (LSUC) Licensing Process: Law Practice Programs / Law Society of Ontario
Information on the Law Practice Program
- Law Practice Programs / Law Society of Ontario
- Ryerson’s Law Practice Program
- Law Practice Program | Faculty of Law (uottawa.ca)
Application Deadline: May of final year
Alberta
The CPLED Program (Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education) Home Page- CPLED
Home - Law Society of Alberta
Application Deadline: May of final year
British Colombia
Law Society Admission Program (LSAP)
Home Page / The Law Society of British Columbia
Application Deadline: At least 30 days before you plan to start the process
Manitoba
The CPLED Program (Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education) Home Page- CPLED
Home – The Law Society of Manitoba
Application Deadline: May of final year
New Brunswick
Procedure for Admission as Student-at-Law
Application Deadline: On or before June 1st in the year an applicant enters Articles of Clerkship, or no later than six weeks prior to the commencement of the block of the bar admission course at which the applicant proposes to attend
Nova Scotia
Licensing Process
NSBS - Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society
Application Deadline: At least 8 weeks prior to the commencement of articles
Newfoundland
Application for Admission as Student with the Society Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador
Application Deadline: Information unavailable
P.E.I.
Application for Admission to the Law Society
Law Society of PEI – Prince Edward Island Law Society - Canada
Application Deadline:
- PEI component- course is taught in the fall, applications due early October
- Nova Scotia component- 8 weeks prior to commencement of articles
Saskatchewan
The CPLED Program (Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education)
Application Deadline: June of final year
Quebec
L'École du Barreau (Acceuil – L’École du Barreau) (in french)
Barreau du Québec (in french)
Application Deadline: February of final year of studies
Northwest Territories
Admission as Student-at-Law
Home – The Law Society of the Northwest Territories (QA)
Application Deadline: Bar admission course must be completed in another Canadian common law jurisdiction (most commonly Alberta). Student-at-law application and documents are due no later than 1 month following the date the Articles of Clerkship are signed.
Nunavut
Admission as Student-at-Law
Home / Law Society of Nunavut
Application Deadline: Bar admission course must be completed in another Canadian common law jurisdiction. Application and documents due at least 10 weeks prior to the planned commencement of articles.
Yukon
Admission as Student-at-Law
Law Society of Yukon
Application Deadline: Application and documents due well in advance of the planned commencement of articles; approval must be granted before commencement.