Provincial Bar Associations / Law Societies

This section of the website is still being developed. As information becomes available about provincial bar requirements, it will be posted on the website. Check back in the near future for further information.

Note: McGill students who are applying for the Bar and need a Commissioner of Oaths to sign their documents can ask Thomas Chalmers at the SAO desk.

BARREAU DU QUEBEC

Here are some helpful links to get you started :

• General Barreau du Québec website

• Admissions to the Ecole du Barreau

• Language Requirements Barreau du Québec [.docx]

For those who are interested in practicing law in Quebec, take a look at The Honourable Mr. Justice Hilton's article: The Practice of Law in Quebec: The Perspective of an Anglophone Quebecer [.pdf] The author traces the evolution of the linguistic reality and the challenges that anglophone practitioners face in a predominantly francophone environment.

The Barreau's Licensing Process

• Cours de formation professionnelle d'une durée de 73 jours (session d'automne ou d'hiver) comprenant 2 évaluations, suivis d'une évaluation finale. L'étudiant doit aussi suivre des conférences thématiques, des ateliers pratiques et des activités de formation.
• Articling: 6 months
• Application Deadline: Early March (check the École du Barreau's website)

ONTARIO - LAW SOCIETY OF UPPER CANADA

www.lsuc.on.ca

LSUC Licensing Process

• Licensing Process: 2 exams and the Skills and Professional Responsibility Program
• Articling duration: 10 months
• Application Deadline: Early December (see LSUC website)

2012-2013 Licensing Year Information

The following describes the application process and procedures that law candidates must follow for admission to the Lawyer Licensing Process. Contains exam dates too. (comprend la version en français): LSUC / BHC 2012-2013 [.pdf].

If you require further information about the Lawyer Licensing Process or the various stages of the online application process, please contact the Office of the Registrar at The Law Society of Upper Canada:

By Email: registrar@lsuc.on.ca

By Telephone: 416-947-3315

Toll-free at 1-800-668-7380, ext. 3315

LAW SOCIETY OF ALBERTA

www.lawsocietyalberta.com

Licensing Process

• Bar School Requirement: 8 modules to be completed over a 6-month period (during articling) - organized by the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED)
• Articling: 12 months
• Application Deadline: CPLED offers two sessions: from August to February and from November to May. Deadlines are normally one month before beginning of session. (check the LSA website)

LAW SOCIETY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

www.lawsociety.bc.ca

Licensing Process

• Bar School Requirement: 10 weeks at the Professional Legal Training Course
• Articling: 9 months
• Application Deadline: the professional Legal Training course is offered 3 times per year starting in February, May and August. Application deadlines are three months before the start date of these courses. (check the LSBC website)

N.B. Since September 1, 2011, new rules allow articling students to provide certain legal services to the public, provided they are well supervised by a principal or another lawyer. To find out more, see the following article in the Law Society of BC Benchers’ Bulletin.

LAW SOCIETY OF NEW BRUNSWICK

Law Society of New Brunswick: www.lawsociety.nb.ca

Licensing Process

• Bar School Requirement: 8 weeks in four different modules during the articling period.
• Articling: 44 weeks
• Application Deadline: Applications are due at least 6 weeks prior to the commencement of the the Bar Admission Course. Articling must begin in June. The Bar Admission Course modules are in August, November, February and May.

LAW SOCIETY OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

Law Society of Newfoundland: www.lawsociety.nf.ca

Licensing Process

• Bar School Requirement: 7-8 week intensive Bar Admission Course
• Articling: 44 weeks
• Application Deadline: The Bar Admission Course takes place in October and November of each year.

NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION

New York State Bar Association: www.nysba.org

New York State Board of Law Examiners: www.nybarexam.org

Membership Process

• Bar School Requirement: None. However, many students take bar exam preparation courses (e.g. BarBri).
• Articling: No articling requirement.
• Application Deadline: The New York State bar examination is administered twice a year on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of every February and July. In past years, the application filing period for the July exam is April 1 - April 30 of the same year (e.g. April 2011 for the July 2011 exam). The application filing period for the February exam is November 1 - November 30 of the previous year (e.g. November 2011 for the February 2012 exam).

Online Foreign Evaluations (New rule for Canadians in 2011)

The Foreign Evaluation for 2011 candidates can be filled in April (before April 30th), at the same time as the rest of the application. We are told that this form existed before, but that it was not online and not always required for Canadians. We are also told that it will not change the way the NY Bar views Canadian students.

As per students planning on writing the exam in 2012 (and the following years), the form can be filled online during the previous fall (which is the recommended time). The CDO has been informed that a lot of what is asked for does not apply to Canadians, that our students can assume that they will be approved (except if they spent a lot of time on exchange in a non Common Law jurisdiction).

You will receive an email after you fill in the Foreign Evaluation. Transcripts will have to be sent by June 15th 2011 for the July 2011 exam.

Finally, the CDO has been informed that, except for that Foreign Evaluation form to be filled, McGill students will be treated like students coming from ABA-approved schools.

LAW SOCIETY OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Law Society of the Northwest Territories: www.lawsociety.nt.ca

Licensing Process

• Bar School Requirement: None offered. Students must complete a bar admission course in another approved Canadian common law jurisdiction.
• Articling: 12 months
• Application Deadline: Contact the LSNWT

NOVA SCOTIA'S BARRISTERS' SOCIETY

• Nova Scotia Barristers' Society: www.nsbs.ns.ca

• Licensing Process

  • Bar School Requirement: 7 weeks of the Bar Admission Course
  • Articling: 12 months
  • Timeline: The Bar Admission Course is offered 4 times per year in August, October, November, and March. Please visit the website for more details on registration.
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  LAW SOCIETY OF NUNAVUT

• Law Society of Nunavut: lawsociety.nu.ca
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• Licensing Process

  • Bar School Requirement: None offered. Students must complete a bar admission course in another approved Canadian common law jurisdiction. Students must then pass the Nunavut Statute Exam.
  • Articling: 12 months
  • Deadline: Contact law society for more info.
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  LAW SOCIETY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

• Law Society of Prince Edward Island: www.lspei.pe.ca

• Licensing Process

  • Bar School Requirement: 2 weeks Bar Admission Course in Newfoundland (late October) and 7 weeks in Nova Scotia (August, October, November and March - see Nova Scotia section).
  • Articling: 12 months
  • Deadline: Applications due for Bar School in Newfoundland due in early October
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  LAW SOCIETY OF SASKATCHEWAN

• Law Society of Saskatchewan: www.lawsociety.sk.ca

• Licensing Process

  • Bar School: The Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (Bar School) consists of 8 modules to be completed over a 6-month period (during articling)
  • Articling: 8 months
  • Deadline: THE CPLED program is offered from September to April. Applications are due in May-June. Program dates may change, so please check the website first.
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  LAW SOCIETY OF YUKON

• Law Society of Yukon: www.lawsocietyyukon.com
• Licensing Process
  • Bar School: To be determined by the Law Society
  • Articling: 12 months
  • Deadline: Contact the Law Society
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