Though lawyers may not have the most positive representation in popular culture, practicing law remains one of the most prestigious professions in Canada. The reality is that society needs lawyers to function smoothly: to ensure that large transactions like real estate purchases, for example, are done in accordance with legal requirements; or to ensure that we someone to advocate on our behalf in situations involving crime or the dissolution of a marriage. Sometimes people have difficult disputes that only a trained lawyer can help resolve. Society needs good lawyers that are highly trained and equipped to support people in difficult and complex situations.
As such, lawyering remains one of the most popular professions for ambitious students to pursue. But what does a lawyer actually do?
Lawyers act in a variety of roles depending on the field, organization, or industry they work in. While we often have the impression of the lawyer in television shows or series walking across crowded courtrooms presenting evidence and asking tough questions, some lawyers may not even enter a courtroom. Much time may be spent consulting with clients, reviewing complex contracts and agreements, or researching. In most cases, a lawyer works with a client or organization to ensure that actions, transactions, and processes are carried out with diligence to the law, or that the interests of the client they are working for are represented well in agreements or other legal proceedings.
If the role of a lawyer sounds complex, it is because it often can be. As a lawyer, you are tasked with a lot of high-stakes work in which a lot of money or even someone’s future may be on the line. This is why lawyers remain some of the highest paid professionals in the world.
Those that have strong communication skills, a love for advanced learning, and a passion for advocacy are well-suited for a career in law. Let’s take a closer look at what it takes to become a lawyer in Canada.
Whatever it is that has made you interested in a law career, you will likely pursue a path of study that involves an undergraduate degree, law school and a bar exam. Learn all about getting through law school and the bar exam in Canada.
What Kinds of Careers are Available to Law School Graduates?
Law is interdisciplinary, meaning it touches nearly every aspect of social life in Canada. There are laws that regulate everything from driving to marriage to business, so you will have a wide range of options to choose from. Consider what your passions and interests are outside of the law. Are you interested in music and the arts? You may want to specialize in a branch of law that deals with artists, such as copyright or contract law. Do you have a passion or inclination to help others? Working as a criminal lawyer can enable you to help people that run into difficult times.
Another aspect to consider is where you want to live. Family lawyers, for example, are usually needed in both urban and rural communities, while corporate lawyers are more likely to find work in big financial centres.
Where Can I find Law Lessons in Canada?
Typically, prospective students of law enrol in law school after earning an undergraduate university degree. In addition to an undergraduate degree, you will also need to write the LSAT exam. The score you earn on the test will be considered by law schools as they determine whether or not you will be accepted. Most major universities in every province will have a faculty of law. Here is a list of some major universities with faculty of law.
- University of Alberta Faculty of Law
- Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia
- Bora Laskin Faculty of Law, Lakehead University
- Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law
- University of Manitoba Faculty of Law
- McGill University Faculty of Law
- University of New Brunswick Faculty of Law
- Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
- University of Ottawa Faculty of Law
- Queen’s University Faculty of Law
- University of Saskatchewan College of Law
- University of Toronto Faculty of Law
- Western University Faculty of Law
- University of Windsor Faculty of Law
At a faculty of law, you can earn your Bachelor of Laws degree and at some schools, a Juris Doctor. From there you can take the next steps toward becoming a licensed lawyer - which we will describe after.
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.
Are Law Classes Difficult?
You can certainly expect law school to be challenging, as you will be expected to familiarize yourself with introductory courses in a variety of legal areas. These areas include:
- Criminal Law
- Contract Law
- Constitutional Law
- Property Law
After your first year of study, you will have the opportunity to specialize in the areas that interest you.
What will the Bar Exam be Like?
Canadian law students must not only complete a law degree, but write and pass the provincial bar exam in the province they wish to practice in. The bar exam is a challenging test, and it takes extensive study to prepare for it. The exam consists of multiple choice questions. You will take two exams on barrister competencies or solicitor competencies.
Barrister competencies include civil litigation, criminal law and administrative and family law; solicitor competencies include business and real estate law. You can also expect to be asked questions pertaining to ethics. Each exam is long - seven hours- broken in 3.5 hour blocks each.
The exams are open book, meaning that you can access study materials. However, because you will have literally minutes to answer every question, you will need to have prepared extensively to be successful on the exams. Study materials can be over 800-1000 pages long, so make sure you have prepared for your exams as far in advance as possible.
Articling
In addition to passing the bar exam, you must also work under the supervision of a licensed and qualified lawyer for 10 months. This phase of your legal education is called. “articling”. Articling is a great way to be exposed to different work environments and areas of law before obtaining your license. You can complete your articling phase with one employer, or multiple employers. Some provinces, such as Ontario, offer alternatives to articling that satisfy the experiential learning process.
After completing law school, you are not a lawyer yet! In fact, you must then be called to write your bar exam and spend time working or “articling” with a licensed lawyer. In this phase of lawyer training, the bar exam can be one of the biggest challenges.
Is University the Only Place to Study Law?
If university is not the right option for you, you can certainly engage in a study of law independently or at a community college. Colleges across Canada offer programs for paralegals, or legal professionals that file claims, assemble documents, and prepare witnesses for appearances in court. This is an excellent choice if you don’t enjoy the academic rigour of university but want to work in the legal system.
Will a Law School Tutor Be a Good Investment?
Because you are already investing significant amounts of money into your law school education, you may find hiring a tutor in law school to be a solid investment. A law school tutor can help coach you through the more challenging aspects of law school, whether it is a specific course or area of law that you need help with. As you might have already expected, law school can involve a lot of memorization and the acquisition of an entirely new vocabulary. Having a law tutor to help you learn and practice applying different legal concepts can be incredibly useful to ensure you are prepared for your exams and assessments.
A tutor is an excellent solution to turn to if you are anxious about getting through law school, are in law school and struggling to stay on top of your learning, or are starting to prepare for the bar exam.
Considering a career in law, but not sure where or how to start? Your dreams of becoming a lawyer may be closer than you think. Learn everything you need to know about becoming a licensed lawyer in Canada.
How Do I Find a Law Tutor Near Me?
Finding a law tutor near you is easy with Superprof Canada. Superprof is a site that connects tutors with students who are in need of extra help or simply want all the support they can get to be successful in school. You can work with a tutor to design a program that is right for you, and work with them for as much or as little as you need to.
To find a tutor on Superprof, use the search tool on the site. You may want to choose a tutor who understands the law school curriculum in the province you are in, or who has experience with the bar exam in your province.
Make the most of your educational investment and find a tutor on Superprof today!
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