Pursue your dreams of a rewarding legal career with an undergraduate degree in Canada. Choose the perfect law school and specialization program to match your interests and professional goals. Seize the chance to become a recognized member of the law community in Canada with our ultimate guide to becoming a lawyer.
Five Steps to Become A Lawyer in Canada
- Getting an undergraduate in Canada
- Take the LSAT (Canada's Law School Admission Test)
- Find the Right Law School in Canada
- Complete the Articling or Apprenticeship
- Qualify for Bar Membership in your province
1. Getting an undergraduate in Canada
Canada has no specific requirement regarding the type of undergraduate degree you must take to get into law school. You may choose to study law even though your degree is unrelated to legal courses, and you could have been studying either a Bachelor of Humanities or a Bachelor of Science.
On the other hand, some undergraduate degrees would assist and be very beneficial in the entrance process. A highly valued law degree would be, for instance, the Juris Doctor or JD. This usually is a three-year course that would give a student an excellent grounding in law principles, thus presenting options open to further specialized fields of study. The JD degree is considered a first professional degree in law.
Some reputable universities where you can find the Juris Doctor (JD) degree in Canada are:
- University of Toronto Faculty of Law
- McGill University
- University of Alberta
- University of British Columbia
- University of Western Ontario
Do you want to know where a career as a lawyer can take you? Discover the salary expectations for a lawyer and the career paths of this wonderful career.
2. Take the LSAT (Canada's Law School Admission Test)
The LSAT is the most reliable test for admission to law schools in Canada and is the only test accepted by all accredited law schools in the country. It is also the best predictor of first-year law school performance.
Focused on law
Also, LSAT is the only standardized test required for application to Canadian and American law schools. It was designed collectively to measure the establishment of abilities most needed for success in this career: critical reasoning, reading comprehension, and problem-solving skills.
- Critical and Logical Reasoning: The LSAT tests the critical and logical reasoning skills necessary for analyzing reasoning in law and complex problem-solving.
- Reading Comprehension: Success at law school depends on reading and thinking through complex, detailed material. This is why the LSAC focuses and weighs so much of the LSAT on a candidate's ability to read and comprehend.
- Problem Solving: The analytical reasoning section of the LSAT is employed to assess a candidate's ability to evaluate information, draw a conclusion, and solve problems.
Accepted across Canada
The LSAT can get you there no matter which law school you dream of attending. So, this test is accepted as the only admissions test by all law schools accredited in Canada. Plus, it identifies candidates who might not shine out based on their undergraduate GPA or other factors.
Validity and reliability
Research shows the LSAT is the single best predictor of law school success. Standing alone or in combination with college GPA, the LSAT provides the highest correlation with first-year law school success and serves as an integral part of the admissions process for professional study.
- Reliable predictor of success: Several studies have indicated that the LSAT is a reliable predictor of a student's success, especially in the first year of law school, typically even more than the undergraduate GPA alone.
- Periodically review: The LSAT is also regularly reviewed and restructured to ensure that the test is current and relevant in measuring those skills deemed necessary for success in law school.
3. Find the Right Law School in Canada
To find the right law school, we recommend you follow these steps to choose the option that best suits your professional goals and interests. Are you ready to pursue a law career in Canada and accomplish success?
University of Toronto - Faculty of Law
The Juris Doctor (JD) is a three-year full-time program similar to a Bachelor of Laws. With it, one can pursue subsequent graduate degrees and law specializations.
Osgoode Hall University - York University
The Juris Doctor at Osgoode-Université de Montréal degree combines the JD with the LLB (Civil). It will train students in private law systems and common and civil law. After four years of combined studies, students graduate with a Juris Doctor in Common Law from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Bachelor of Laws (Civil) from the Faculty of Law of the University of Montreal.
McGill University - Faculty of Law
The Bachelor of Civil Law/Juris Doctor degree is a three-year process in common law. The program focuses on civil law and includes much of the Quebec legal system.
University of Alberta - Faculty of Law
Another Juris Doctor from the University of Alberta is completed in three years, with adequate time provided to students for a broad-based legal education and several opportunities to specialize in chosen topics. The University of Alberta also has a four-year dual degree called the Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration, which is a collaborative program with the Alberta School of Business.
University of British Columbia - Allard School of Law
The university offers experiential learning programs that address legal obstacles in British Columbia. It provides a wide range of programs, including those based in the community, that seek to foster critical advocacy skills and expose students to access to justice issues.
Reviewing Programs and Specializations
Further, aside from choosing your ideal law school, keep in mind the courses and specializations that would also be offered in the law school of your choice. This would make sure the curriculum fits your interests and career goals.
Because law schools offer wide-ranging focuses and specialization areas, knowing the options available will enable you to make an informed decision on a program that will enhance your expertise in areas you are interested in and offer practical opportunities of interest to you.
For example, law schools such as McGill University offer combined programs, such as the Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) and the Juris Doctor (JD), integrating civil and common law approaches.
Financial Information
Before choosing a law program in Canada, it is essential to review the financial fees to ensure that the cost of education fits your budget. Check into tuition fees for domestic and international students, the different provincial admission requirements, additional expenses such as books and supplies, and the cost of living at the university.
We also recommend searching for the options available for scholarships, financial aid, and student loans.
Review Admissions Requirements
Make sure you meet each school's admissions requirements. Below, you will find the most general admissions requirements:
- Post-secondary records: An outstanding academic record, reflected in a high grade point average, is sought.
- LSAT score: The LSAT score will depend on each university.
- Personal statement: You will be asked to write an essay explaining your reasons for studying law and your career goals.
- Recommendation letters: You should submit letters of recommendation from professors or professionals who can comment on your academic performance.
- Language proficiency: Depending on each school's bilingual requirements, proficiency in English and French will be valued.
4. Complete the Articling or Apprenticeship
After graduating with a law degree from a recognized Canadian law school, you will need to find an internship, i.e., a period of between nine months and one year working for law firms, public agencies, or non-profit organizations in a sort of traineeship under the supervision of a practicing lawyer.
You will decide where to start practicing law in Canada at this stage. Candidates can split their internship in different locations to learn about different types of work environments and other specialties of law, e.g., large law firms, law offices, public bodies, and NGOs. Discover all the advantages of becoming a lawyer in different provinces in Canada.
It is important to note that provincial and territorial bar associations that license lawyers have different internship requirements. If you are studying law in Canada, we recommend contacting your law school's career guidance office for more information.
5. Qualify for Bar Membership in your Province
The bar exam is a rigorous test that aspiring lawyers must pass to practice law. Each test lasts approximately seven hours and requires intensive preparation. The test assesses knowledge of regulations related to criminal procedure, public law, family law, and civil litigation, which are fundamental to court work.
On the other hand, you can also focus on real estate law, business law, and estate planning, focusing on laws related to managing legal transactions and advising clients.
The legal system differs from province to territory, meaning the Canadian bar exam differs from province to province. Each province has its licensing power over lawyers, which implies that the exam's content, format, and prerequisites may vary from province to province. In this respect, most provinces or territories require potential candidates to contact the bar association or regulatory body to register for the bar exam.
Want to get ready to pass the bar exam? Find personalized law courses online here on Superprof!
Where Can I Find Law Lessons Canada?
There are several ways to study law, but the goal is to understand everything it entails and get the guidance you need to excel in your career. Hence, one of Canada's best platforms for finding law lessons is Superprof!
The Superprof platform offers great flexibility in learning and encourages students anywhere in Canada to pursue their dreams of becoming lawyers easily. Distance is not a barrier on Superprof since you can find the best-personalized lessons anywhere. Find top law courses in Canada here on Superprof.
If you need to take online law lessons or want one-on-one lessons with a tutor, Superprof has you covered, and the best part is that you can choose your tutor and schedule your lessons to suit your daily routines.
Wrap up!
Follow your dream of becoming a lawyer in Canada through our thorough guide: the best university degrees and law schools, know the Canadian LSAT and prepare to become a lawyer in any Canadian province. Just find all the answers to your questions. Go for Superprof, amongst the best platforms in Canada, to find individual and flexible law classes that will fit your daily routine.
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