What do I need to practice law in Canada?
To practice as a lawyer in Canada, you will need the following. Please note that requirements vary by province/territory:
Completion of an accredited law degree from an accredited law school. Careerinlaw.net has more information about the types of law degrees in Canada. You can find a list of accredited law programs on the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website.
Law society exam/courses
Completion of an articling apprenticeship or Law Practice Program (LPP)
Completion of the bar exam in the associated area where you will practice
(Careerinlaw Inc., n.d.)
How do I apply?
To apply to a law program, you may:
Apply through Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS) for Ontario law programs
Apply through the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) for law programs in the U.S.
Apply through individual program websites for programs not found within OLSAS or CAS
The application process may consist of the following components:
Personal information
Personal statement(s)
Autobiographical sketch (ABS)
Referees/letters of reference
Transcript(s), including prerequisites (if applicable)
Standardized test results (i.e. LSAT)
Your grades (i.e. GPA), experiences, admission test results (i.e. LSAT), personal statement(s) and references will all be important factors in the admissions process.
References
Careerinlaw Inc. (n.d.). How to become a lawyer in Canada – official guidelines. https://careerinlaw.net/ca/how-to-become-a-lawyer-in-canada