what courses to take to become a lawyer in canada

by Edwardo Hudson IV 7 min read

In order to qualify for bar membership in Canada, you must take either a Bachelor of Laws

Bachelor of Laws

Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate law degree in England and most common law jurisdictions—except the United States and Canada— which allows a person to become a lawyer. It historically served this purpose in the U.S. as well, but was phased out in the mid-1960s in favour of the Juris Doctor degree, and Canada followed suit. Bachelor of Laws is also the name of the law degree awarded by uni…

Degree (L.L.B.) or Juris Doctor (J.D.), which both take three years to complete. Your first year of law school will consist of general courses, such as Constitutional Law, Property Law, Contracts Law, and Criminal Law.

Full Answer

What are the requirements to become a lawyer in Canada?

Aug 24, 2021 · The first year of law school is similar at most Canadian law schools. Students take introductory courses in areas such as Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Property Law, and Contracts Law. There are also special courses designed to teach first year students about other, exciting areas of law.

What is the first year of Law School like in Canada?

Mar 16, 2021 · You must have good knowledge of English, history, economics, government, philosophy, and sociology regardless of your subject to excel in your law school and career. To get good and higher grades during the under-graduation course.

What do you need to apply to Law School in Ontario?

Aug 03, 2017 · Many foreign-trained lawyers find themselves unable to practice law in Canada because their credentials are not recognized. For that reason, the National Committee on Accreditation has created a re-certification process that evaluates law credentials obtained from outside of Canada and gives international lawyers an opportunity to speed up their preparation …

What classes do you need to take to become a lawyer?

Steps to Become a Lawyer/Attorney. Becoming a lawyer is an ambitious goal that is attainable when you know what steps to follow to achieve it. Over the following pages, you will learn how to become a lawyer in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in the Canadian provinces and territories.All of the educational, experiential, entrance and licensing …

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How many law schools are there in Canada?

Once you have completed your undergraduate degree and written you LSAT, you are ready to choose a law school. There are at least two dozen law schools across Canada to choose from, and it is up to you to do the research to determine which school is best for you.

What are the areas of the LSAT?

There are three key areas tested on the LSAT: reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning. You will also be asked to provide a writing sample on a given topic, which will be sent with your application along with your LSAT score.

1. High School: Graduate with your diploma

Complete your high school education, regardless of your educational system in the world, e.g. Ontario Grade 12, US Grade 12, GCE/GCSE at the A/AS level, CAPE, IB, etc.

2. After High School: Aim for earning an undergraduate (Bachelor's) degree

You cannot enter Canadian law schools directly from high school. After finishing high school, continue on to higher education (post-secondary) studies. Any undergraduate degree is good preparation for law school, e.g. BA, BSc, BBA, BComm, BEng. BMus, BPHE, BKin etc.

3. Write the LSAT (Law School Admission Test)

This is a standardized test created and administered by the LSAC, an independent non-profit organization based in the US.

4. Apply to law school

There are 18 common law schools in Canada, eight of which are in Ontario, and hundreds more in the US and around the world.

5. Earn your law degree

Length of Program#N#In Canada, the first-level common law degree is the Juris Doctor or JD, which takes three years to complete. It is an undergraduate degree program, and not a graduate degree program, even though prior undergraduate education is required for entry.

6. After you graduate with your law degree

In Canada, completion of a law degree alone is not sufficient to permit a candidate to practice law (that is, work as a lawyer). In order to be admitted to the bar in one of the provinces or territories in Canada, you must also write and pass the provincial bar exams and either:

How to become a lawyer in Canada?

1. Pass the bar association course. As difficult as it is to achieve, earning a legal degree is not enough to practice as a lawyer; you must also become licensed. The bar association of each province has a particular set of requirements for you to become certified to practice.

What are the best courses to take in law school?

Whatever degree you choose, good preparation includes courses in English, philosophy, history, government, economics, and sociology.

How to become a lawyer in high school?

Complete Secondary School and graduate with your high school diploma. In the process, you might be able to gain insight into legal careers by joining a debate club or mock trial team, if your school offers them.

What is Quebec law?

Quebec law is based on French Civil law, while law in the other provinces and territories is based on English common law. Practically speaking, you will need to train in the kind of law applicable to where you want to practice as a lawyer.

What do you need to know to become a lawyer?

You must have good knowledge of English, history, economics, government, philosophy, and sociology regardless of your subject to excel in your law school and career.

What is the average GPA for law school?

Students with undergraduate GPAs between 3.5 to 4.0 are more likely to get admission to law colleges with the average GPA being 3.9 at some more selective schools.

How many times is the LSAT?

LSAT can be taken anytime among the four times it is held every year. LSAT consists of five sections of MCQ questions each of 35-minutes plus a writing section. LSAT is a test where a student's analytical, reading, and logical skills are put to the test.

What is the average LSAT score?

The score of LSAT is evaluated on a scale of 120 to 180. Students have required an average of 160 or more score to get admission into a Canadian law school. Students can take the test several times to improve their scores and get admission to a better college.

What are the sections of the LSAT?

The LSAT exam is divided into three sections - Reading comprehension, Analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning. Reading comprehension: the reading comprehension section of the exam has long and complex passages which are stimuli to what a student may experience at law school or in the profession.

What is logical reasoning?

Logical reasoning: The logical reasoning section of the exam tests the student's ability to understand an argument (given in the exam) and determine the strengths and weaknesses of the very argument or situation.

What is the best score for the LSAT?

As mentioned above, the scores of LSAT are presented between 120 to 180. The scores will be sent by email to the students who attended the exam after three weeks of the exam. The ideal score to get into a good law school is determined to be at 160. If it is more, then it is better.

Why can't foreign lawyers practice in Canada?

For that reason, the National Committee on Accreditation has created a re-certification process that evaluates law credentials obtained from outside of Canada and gives international lawyers an opportunity to speed up their preparation for the Canadian Bar exam.

How long does the NCA exam last?

Applicants that received their NCA assessment can register for the NCA examinations. Each examination follows an open-book, paper-and-pen, pass-or-fail format, and lasts approximately 3 hours. Candidates must pre-register for each exam session, and they can do that as early as 4-6 weeks prior to the start of the exam.

What is an official copy of transcript?

an official copy of your academic transcripts; (if applicable) a certificate or letter of membership in good standing from the local regulatory authority; and. (if applicable) an official copy of your transcripts from the local regulatory authority for any courses or examinations required by such authority.

What is the first step to becoming a lawyer?

Lawyer Education. A bachelors degree will be your first step. There are pre-law degrees along with online legal studies programs. Or view ABA accredited universities. The State Bar Exam. The bar exam is the next step to become a lawyer. The state bar exam will determine whether a person is qualified to practice law in a geographic jurisdiction.

What majors are required for law school?

However, the ABA suggests certain undergraduate majors over others, such as English, history, political science, philosophy, business, or economics.

How much do lawyers make in a year?

As of May 2019, lawyers in the United States averaged $122,960 per year. However, this comfortable salary does not come easily. Becoming a lawyer in any jurisdiction requires years of undergraduate and graduate education, passing challenging examinations, and maintaining licensure through continuing education.

What are the skills required to become a lawyer?

Close reading and reasoning. Lawyers often need to quickly familiarize themselves with relatively large passages of previously unknown text, so classes that involve reading literature very important for developing these skills.

What do lawyers need to know?

Lawyers generally need to have extensive knowledge of any subject that can describe and influence society, such as economics, history, politics, government affairs and other similar ones. Taking a social studies class can help you understand concepts like how laws and regulations are made, how legal procedures and precedents work and other similar concepts that are vital for successfully practicing law.

What are the duties of a lawyer?

Their exact duties and responsibilities are: 1 Providing expert advice to clients regarding potential legal issues that they may expose themselves to or ongoing litigations 2 Analyzing all documents involved in a legal case against their clients, such as witness accounts, police reports, accident reports and other official documents 3 Using their knowledge of the law to find passages and precedents that may then be used in the defense of their clients 4 Working with their clients to develop the most appropriate strategy for each situation, based on the particularities of each legal case 5 Preparing various civil legal documents, such as wills, deeds and contracts 6 Appearing in court before a judge and using legal rhetoric to defend their clients' interests

What is a lawyer?

Lawyers, also called attorneys, are tasked with advising their clients and representing them in civil and criminal cases. Their responsibilities span from simply offering legal advice to preparing legal documents on behalf of the client and ultimately representing the client in front of a court of law.

Why is it important to study English in high school?

Excelling in high school English language and literature classes can help aspiring lawyers develop their spoken and written communication skills as well as their comprehension abilities. As many law schools require applicants to submit an essay before admission, working on your English skills is crucial for improving the odds ...

How long does it take to get a Juris Doctor degree?

You can earn a Juris Doctor degree by graduating from a law school that's accredited by the American Bar Association, which takes three years. During law school, you can choose to focus on one particular area of the law, such as criminal, environmental, tax, property, real estate or family. Pass the bar exam.

Why is math important in law?

Therefore, mathematics is an important aspect of the job, as the skills you acquire when learning how to solve math problems are usually transferrable to several aspects of the law.

How many hours do lawyers work?

Working 60-80+ hours a week is typical here (especially at larger firms), but most lawyers can expect to work long hours no matter what field. Most law school graduates work in law firms when first starting out, to get the specialized experience necessary before going into other fields later on.

How much do lawyers make?

Lawyers make a median salary of $129,910, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But there is a large amount of variation between different specializations and the public and private sectors. According to Salary.com as of October 20, 2019, the average salary for the below specializations are as follows:

Is the LSAT the same as the GRE?

In terms of other academic requirements, the LSAT is the universal standardized test for law school entrance, while the GRE is the exam taken by those applying to graduate school. Some schools have begun accepting it in lieu of the LSAT to offer greater flexibility to applicants.

Why is summer associate important?

These internships are important because summer associates are usually asked to return to their firm, after they graduate and pass the Bar. Securing a good summer associate position and excelling in it can mean that the first years of your career are set early on.

What is the role of a lawyer?

Lawyers play a role in many aspects of our everyday lives, including mortgages and leases, patented items , and the court cases we most often associate with the law. These different aspects, among others, are part of the many different specialties a lawyer can pursue.

Can a lawyer become a judge?

Clerking for a judge is also a government position available to lawyers; becoming a judge is also a possibility, but only a small percentage of lawyers go on to become judges, as it requires gaining much experience and being appointed or elected to the position.

What does a general counsel do?

Some businesses contract outside law firms to work on their behalf, but others will retain general counsel on their staff to advise on various legal matters. This work could include negotiating contracts, managing risk, advising on business deals, and anything else that comes up in day-to-day business.

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Ontario

  • Ontario requires applicants to complete the Barrister Licensing Examination and the Solicitor Licensing Examination. Both are self-study, open-book exams. The Barrister Examination tests your knowledge of Practice Management Issues; Litigation Process; Alternative Dispute Resoluti…
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British Columbia

  • You must complete the Law Society Admission Program, a 12-month program that includes: 1. Completion of nine months of articlingin a law firm or other legal workplace. You must obtain your own articling position before applying to the Law Society Admission Program, and work full-time continuously for at least nine months 2. Completion of a 10-week Professional Legal Training C…
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Alberta

  • To become a Student-at-Law, you must complete the Law Society of Alberta Admission Program. This entails completing the Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED) course and a clerkship/ articling period. The CPLED programis shared by Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. It is based on a Competency Profile, or skills and competencies needed by new lawyers. You ar…
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Manitoba

  • If you want to become a Manitoba lawyer, after law school you must complete the Law Society of Manitoba’s Pre-Call Education Program. This involves the Manitoba CPLED Program and an Articlingperiod. The CPLED program includes both face-to-face and online classes in: 1. Drafting Wills 2. Drafting Contracts 3. Drafting Pleadings 4. Oral Advocacy 5. Legal Research and Writing …
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Saskatchewan

  • You must complete the CPLED Bar Admissions Program and a 12-month Articling Period prior to becoming a lawyer in Saskatchewan. First, apply to become a Student-at-Law. Next, secure an articling position, in which you will work for 12 months under a principal (licensed lawyer in Saskatchewan). Then, complete the CPLED Bar Admissions Program, focusing on the following …
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Nova Scotia

  • The Bar Admissions process of the Nova Scotia Barristers Society involves completing a Skills Course and year of Articling, and a Bar Examination. The Skills Coursecovers Practice Management Skills (online); Interviewing, Negotiation and Litigation Skills (in-person at the Society offices in Halifax); Legal Writing Skills (online) and Legal Drafting Skills (online). You mu…
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Quebec

  • After finishing your law school training period of three years and obtaining an undergraduate degree in Quebec civil law from one of the recognized universities (see Step 3 above), you must work at the Quebec Bar School (Ecole du Barreau de Quebec), gaining professional training and practice, for four months. Then you are placed in a Work Placement (Articling Period) for six mo…
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New Brunswick

  • Once your law school education is completed, you must complete the Law Society’s Admission Program. This consists of: 1. Providing proof that you are of good character and repute. Questions relating to this are found on the Application Form for Admission as a Student-at-Law, which you must submit along with an enrollment fee by June 1. Along with this, submit original t…
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Prince Edward Island

  • Before enrolling in the Law Society of Prince Edward Islands’ mandatory Articling Clerk program, you must complete the following courses in law school: 1. Civil procedure 2. Canadian Constitutional law 3. Criminal law 4. Contracts 5. Property Law 6. Ethics and Professional Responsibility 7. Torts And four of the following seven courses: 1. Commercial law 2. Criminal pr…
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