How can I get certified to do law in Canada? - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | August 21, 2012
Dear Miss Powell,
I am a university student pursuing a law degree. At the end of it, I would like to go to a law school in Canada to get certified as a practitioner there. I would like to know what my options are for doing so, and how I may go about doing this. Looking forward to a reply. Thank you.
- K.G.
Dear K.G.,
In order to practise as a lawyer in Canada, you first need to decide whether you would like to practise under the civil law, or common law system. The civil law system is based on French law, while the common law system is based on British law. Every province has a different licensing system, however, I will focus on how you may become a lawyer in Ontario.
As an internationally trained lawyer, the process is a three-step one. First, you would need to complete the equivalent of Ontario's undergraduate Bachelor of Laws (LLB), or Juris Doctor (JD), degree. Since you are attending law school outside of Canada, you will need to submit an application to get your degree recognised in Canada. To do this, you will need to submit an application to the National Committee of Accreditation (NCA), which will examine your LLB transcript to ascertain whether you have what is considered to be the equivalent of a Canadian Bachelor of Laws degree. The cost of the application is C$450.
After the NCA has reviewed your application, it will send you a letter either informing you that you are eligible for a Certificate of Qualification, or outlining additional studies that you would need to complete to ensure you have received the equivalent of an Ontario law degree. These courses can be done through a Canadian University, or you may sit the examinations under the supervision of the NCA. You will be responsible for applying to the university independently to be able to sit the examinations. After you have completed the courses suggested by the NCA, it will issue you a Certificate of Qualification. This is not the same as a law degree, but once you have received it, most law societies in Canada will allow you to begin their bar admission, or licensing, process.
After you have completed law school in Canada or received your Certificate of Qualification, you must complete Ontario's licensing process to become a lawyer. This is the second step. You will need to now pay the necessary fees to sit the Bar examination. The Bar examination involves successfully completing both the Barrister Licensing Examination and the Solicitor Licensing Examination.
The third and final step is to complete an articling term. This means that you must complete 10 months of work with a lawyer, law firm, or a government legal department or private-sector legal department. The good thing is you are usually paid for your work and this is usually more than the minimum wage! While you are articling, you must also complete courses in professional conduct and ethics. In some cases, people who have completed their education internationally and have work experience as a lawyer may be eligible for an exemption from articling.
When you have completed all of the licensing requirements, you are called to the Bar, and you are designated as a barrister and solicitor. When you receive your certificates, you are qualified to practise law in Ontario. Additional information can be found on the Law Society of Upper Canada website.
The process may seem long and tedious, especially if they ask you to repeat work that you have done in your first year of LLB studies. However, stay focused, it will be well worth it! Best wishes!
Deidre S. Powell is a lawyer, mediator, and notary public, who is a member of the Jamaican and Ontario, Canada bars, with main office located in Ottawa, Ontario. Her areas of practice are in immigration, personal injury, real estate, family, and administration of estates. She is on the roster of mediators for Ottawa, Toronto, and the Dispute Resolution Foundation of Jamaica. Email: info@deidrepowell.com. Subject line: Immigration
Comments
Post a Comment