Becoming a Lawyer in Ontario
Career Map for Internationally Trained Lawyers
"Bridge Training Program for Internationally Trained Lawyers"
To apply for this voluntary program offered at the University of Toronto
go to www.law.utoronto.ca/itl
Subject to the exceptions below, to become a lawyer in Ontario, one must complete the Lawyer Licensing Process.
Exceptions: If the applicant is already a lawyer in another Canadian province or a Dean or a faculty member of an Ontario law school, please refer to the Inter-jurisdictional Practice section.
Prerequisites for Application to the Lawyer Licensing Process
The academic requirements for applying and entering the Lawyer Licensing Process are as follows:- Graduation from a common law program offered by a university in
Canada approved by Convocation.
Upon successful completion of the approved law program, the candidate will receive a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or a Juris Doctor (J.D.). In most law schools the minimum length of the program is three academic years.
or
- Received a Certificate of Qualification issued by the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA), which has been appointed by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and the Committee of Canadian Law Deans.
A person who has acquired a degree in law or other equivalent qualifications in law outside of Canada, or a civil law degree in Canada may apply for advanced standing to an approved law program at a university in Canada. Each application is evaluated on an individual basis and each university decides what, if any, advanced standing may be given.
Applicants to the Licensing Process who successfully complete all the requirements and become eligible to apply for a call to the Bar of Ontario, are no longer required to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
Law Schools Approved by Convocation:
University of British Columbia
University of Victoria
University of Alberta
University of Manitoba
University of Saskatchewan
University of Calgary
University of Moncton
University of Toronto
University of Ottawa
University of Western Ontario
University of Windsor
Queen's University
McGill University
University of New Brunswick
National Committee on Accreditation (NCA)
The National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) is a standing Committee of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. It is made up of representatives from the Committee of Canadian Law Deans, members of the practising bar, and members involved with the administration of provincial law societies. The Committee evaluates the legal training and professional experience of persons with foreign or non-common law legal credentials and who seek admission to a Bar in Canada.
Candidates who seek to enter the Lawyer Licensing Process by way of a Certificate of Qualification issued by the National Committee on Accreditation must apply to the NCA and submit their documented qualifications in law and experience in law for the Committee's evaluation. The Committee will determine what, if any, further studies the candidate must undertake to meet the equivalent of an approved LL.B./J.D. program at a Canadian university. In some cases, the candidate will be required to pass certain examinations and in other cases, the candidate will be required to successfully complete specified course credits at a law school.
The National Committee on Accreditation may also refuse a Certificate of Qualification and, with or without a recommendation of advanced standing, require the candidate to graduate from an approved law course. For application forms and further information please contact The National Committee on Accreditation