Thousands of Canadians choose to study law every year: it is not only a highly respected profession, but one that offers an income well above average. For many law graduates, the bar exam in Canada is the final hurdle before becoming a licensed lawyer. It’s a demanding test of knowledge, and organization.
While its open-book format might sound reassuring, most candidates quickly discover that it is far from easy. The bar exam is designed to ensure that aspiring lawyers can not only understand legal principles but also apply them under time pressure to practical, real-world situations.
So what are the best ways to prepare for the bar in Canada? To answer this, we need to look at how the exam is structured, what challenges it presents, and how candidates can best prepare.
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When do you Take the Bar Exam?
In Canada, the bar exam is usually taken after graduating from law school as part of the provincial or territorial licensing process. Most candidates write the exam while they are completing their articling placement.
The timing depends on the province: for example, in Ontario, the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) offers multiple sittings of the Barrister and Solicitor Exams throughout the year. In other provinces like British Columbia or Alberta, candidates write their bar exams as part of the Bar Admission Course, which combines classroom training with the exam itself. In Quebec, graduates complete the École du Barreau program, which includes multiple assessments instead of a single standardized exam.
While pass rates are relatively high—Ontario typically reports 70–80% success on first attempts—the failure rate is significant enough to create anxiety among candidates. Many who fail describe being overwhelmed by the volume of material or running out of time during the exam.
While timelines vary, the common thread across Canada is that the bar exam is taken after law school but before being formally “called to the bar”.
How Hard is the Bar Exam in Canada?
The difficulty of the Canadian bar exam comes from several factors:
Learn all about getting through law school and the bar exam in Canada.
Tips for Preparing for the Bar Exam in Canada
Get Familiar with the Official Study Materials
Make sure you are studying with the print materials that are specific to the law society in your province. In Ontario, the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) provides official studying materials for both the Barrister and Solicitor exams. They can be procured through the LSO website for a feel.
Candidates should:
- Tab, highlight, and annotate extensively for quick navigation.
- Use the LSO’s sample exam questions to understand question style.
- Remember: memorization is not expected—fast retrieval is key.
Organize for Speed, Not Memory
Open-book exam may sound like a sure thing, but it can actually be quite time consuming to sift through your study materials if you do not have them organized strategically.
Strategies for organization include:
- Creating a personal index or condensed “cheat sheet” with key page references.
- Using sticky notes and colour-coded tabs by topic (e.g., Evidence, Family Law, Wills).
- Practicing “look-up drills” — give yourself 2 minutes per question to simulate exam pacing.
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Practice with Past Exams and Prep Programs
While law societies do not release full past exams, some provide sample questions. Third-party providers (e.g., Emond Exam Prep, Ontario Bar Exam materials) create practice sets aligned with your law society's materials. Practicing under timed conditions is essential: you will have 160–170 questions over 7 hours, so pacing is critical.
Understand the Exam’s Focus on Semantics and Pragmatics
Bar exam questions often hinge on precise legal meanings (semantics) or how a rule applies in practical scenarios (pragmatics). For example, a question may give two legally “correct” answers, but only one reflects the more precise statutory wording or applies to the situation described.
To prepare:
- Review Ministry and Law Society documents that outline key statutes and case applications (e.g., Rules of Civil Procedure, Criminal Code of Canada excerpts).
- Focus on how rules operate in practice, not just theory.
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Review Supporting Professional Responsibility Materials
Ethics and professional responsibility are always heavily tested. Reference documents include the Rules of Professional Conduct (Ontario; equivalent codes in other provinces) and By-Laws and Professional Regulation policies provided in your exam materials.
Do not underestimate this section - it often carries significant weight.
Balance Content Review with Endurance Training
Remember that each exam runs about 7 hours in one day, so success requires stamina as much as content knowledge.
Preparation tips:
- Practice sitting for 3–4 hours straight while doing timed practice questions.
- Plan hydration and snacks that keep you energized but don’t slow you down.
- Use rest breaks wisely—mental focus is your greatest asset.
Know the Differences Across Provinces
It can be easy to look up general information regarding bar exams, but it is always a best practice to go straight to the source and find out what differences are from one law society to another. Here are examples of some difference you will find from province to province:
- Ontario: Two exams (Barrister + Solicitor), multiple-choice, open-book.
- British Columbia/Alberta: Bar admission exams integrated with the Professional Legal Training Course (PLTC) or CPLED/PREP. Preparation includes practice modules and final assessments.
- Quebec: Civil law–based; no single bar exam, but a series of evaluations through the École du Barreau. Preparation focuses on case analysis, drafting, and oral advocacy.
Take Care of Your Mental Health
Anxiety and burnout are common, given the stakes. Focus on strategies to support your mental wellness and ability to cope with stress.
- build a calendar or structured study plan (e.g., 8–10 weeks of steady prep, 20–25 hours/week).
- Schedule workouts, long walks, downtime, and opportunities to talk to friends or family.
- Connect with peers or professionals who have successfully written the exam to gather insights, study tips, and "normalize" the challenge.
How many times can you take the Bar Exam in Canada?
Here is a chart that compares the number of attempts you can have to write the exam, province by province.
| Province/Territory | Law Society | Number of Attempts Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Law Society of Ontario (LSO). | 3 attempts for each exam (Barrister & Solicitor). Additional attempts may be requested via a formal application to the LSO. |
| British Columbia | Law Society of BC | Not fixed; candidates may retake, but repeated failure may require re-enrolling in the Professional Legal Training Course (PLTC). |
| Alberta | Law Society of Alberta | No published strict limit; exams are part of the CPLED/Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP). Retakes may be allowed, but conditions apply. |
| Saskatchewan | Law Society of Saskatchewan | Exams are part of the Bar Admission Program (PREP). Retakes permitted, but multiple failures may require redoing components. |
| Manitoba | Law Society of Manitoba | Also uses PREP. Retakes possible; failure to complete within timelines may require repeating modules. |
| Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society | Uses PREP. Retakes are allowed, but candidates must complete the program within a defined licensing window. |
| New Brunswick | Law Society of New Brunswick | Administers bar admission course + exams. Retakes permitted, but candidates may face delays in call to the bar. |
| Prince Edward Island | Law Society of PEI | Similar to NB; no published cap, but candidates expected to pass within program timelines. |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador | Part of Bar Admission Course; retakes permitted. No fixed public limit. |
| Quebec | Barreau du Québec / École du Barreau | Evaluations can be repeated if failed. Candidates may need to re-enroll in parts of the program. |
| Yukon | Law Society of Yukon | Follows similar model to other common law provinces. No strict published limit; dependent on bar admission course. |
| Northwest Territories | Law Society of the Northwest Territories | Works closely with other western provinces; conditions for retakes mirror regional PREP requirements. |
| Nunavut | Law Society of Nunavut | Same model as NWT/Yukon, generally tied to PREP. Retakes permitted, with conditions. |
What Will the Bar Exam Be Like?
The bar exam has two main parts: the Barrister Exam and the Solicitor Exam. These exams are given by the Law Society of Ontario and happen three times a year, usually in November, March, and June.
The Barrister Exam tests your knowledge of laws related to criminal procedure, public law, family law, and civil litigation. These are the laws that are important for courtroom work. The Solicitor Exam, on the other hand, focuses on areas like real estate, business law and estate planning. This exam is about the laws that deal with managing legal transactions and advising clients.
Both exams also check how well you understand your responsibilities as a lawyer, including ethics and the lawyer-client relationship.
The barrister’s exam includes the subject areas:
Professional Responsibility
- Civil Litigation
- Criminal Law
- Family Law
- Public Law
The solicitor’s exam is focused on:
- Real Estate Law
- Estate Planning Law
- Business Law
The exams are entirely multiple choice in format, and you will want to pace yourself to ensure that you have enough time to finish. The test is open book, meaning you can have your study materials there for reference: however, you may find that the time is too constricting to consult your books. During the test, you will fill your answers in a scantron “bubble” sheet.
As an experienced student, you likely have a better awareness of what your strengths and weaknesses are as a student, and what solutions you can use to optimize your learning. One solution many students take is hiring a tutor for study help.
Is a Law School Tutor Worth Hiring?
One resource you can use to get through your law education is to hire a law tutor. Let's examine the best reasons to hire a tutor for law school and your bar exam.
Feel Supported in Your Learning
When we feel stressed about school, the best thing is to feel supported. Though teachers and classmates may provide some level of help, you will find it relieving to have someone whose time is completely dedicated to helping you succeed.
This is a great reason to have a tutor on hand that you can turn too when a big test comes up, a new, confusing topic arises, or the bar exam draws near.
Get More Feedback on Writing Assignments and Tests
Having a qualified person to help you edit and revise your work is a huge advantage, particularly if you are not fond of essay or report writing. A tutor can identify areas in your writing where you can improve, correct typographical errors and misspellings, or help you to plan the scope of your assignments.
You can go over returned tests and assignments with your tutor, and they can give you additional feedback in addition to the comments provided by your course instructors.
Preparing for the Bar Exam
You will inevitably write the bar exam after your law degree is finished, so you will want to start preparing for it right away. Having a law tutor to help you prepare for the exam can help you feel much more confident and ready than preparing on your own.
Tutors can run through practice tests with you, provide you with strategies for answering questions efficiently and quickly, and help you to get through the hundreds of pages of study materials you will need to navigate.
How Do I Find a Law Tutor for the Bar Exam or Classes?
To find a law school or bar exam tutor, look no further than Superprof Canada. Superprof is a virtual tutoring center where you can find tutors from all different areas, including law. The site is built to empower students and their families to choose from a wide range of tutors who post their own profiles and services.
To find a tutor on Superprof, use the search tool to locate a law tutor in your area. You can browse through the profiles of available tutors, and contact them directly through the site to see if you find a good match.
Make the most of your law school investment by hiring a tutor today!
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