Getting to the bar exam in Canada is no easy feat. If you have made it this far, you have likely been on a a long journey of learning about law that started well back in your years as a secondary student, taking law and civics credits, then completing an undergraduate degree and an additional program to earn your JD.
The final hurdle before practicing as a licensed lawyer is the bar exam—a rigorous, open-book test that evaluates not only legal knowledge but also the ability to apply it under pressure. Unlike a single national exam, the bar exam is administered by each province’s law society, meaning formats and requirements vary slightly across the country.
So, what does the bar exam in Canada look like? Far from a simple written test, it’s typically divided into two components—the Barrister Exam and the Solicitor Exam—each spanning a full day. Success depends not on memorization, but on strategy, organization, and the ability to interpret legal rules with both precision (semantics) and practical application (pragmatics).
This blog breaks down how the exam is structured, what happens on test day, and how aspiring lawyers can prepare effectively.
Law school is a significant investment of your time and resources. Make the most of your time in law school by hiring a law tutor to help you with your courses and the bar exam!
What is the Bar Test Canada?
The bar exam in Canada is a professional licensing examination that law graduates must pass to become practicing lawyers. Administered by provincial and territorial law societies rather than through a single national body, the exam is designed to ensure that candidates have the necessary legal knowledge, analytical skills, and practical competencies to serve clients effectively.
Be sure to explore the law societies of the province where you choose to write your exam.
Law Societies in Canada by Province and Territory
- Law Society of Alberta
- Law Society of British Columbia
- Law Society of Manitoba
- Law Society of New Brunswick
- Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Nova Scotia Barristers' Society
- Law Society of Ontario
- Law Society of Prince Edward Island
- Barreau du Quebec and Chambre des Notaires du Quebec
- Law Society of Saskatchewan
- Law Society of the Northwest Territories
- Law Society of Nunavut
- Law Society of Yukon
Unlike traditional closed-book tests, most Canadian bar exams are open-book and focus on applying legal principles to scenarios, rather than rote memorization. Passing the bar exam, along with completing articling or an approved training program, is a required step on the pathway to being “called to the bar” and formally admitted as a lawyer in Canada.
One option many law students take in school is hiring a tutor for study help.
What Does the Bar Exam Consist of?
While bar exams may vary from province to province, there are general similarities from one law society to another.
For example, Ontario candidates must complete two separate open-book exams: the Barrister Exam (focusing on litigation, criminal law, and family law) and the Solicitor Exam (covering business law, real estate, and wills and estates). Each exam lasts about 7 hours and contains roughly 160–170 multiple-choice questions.
After completing law school, you are not a lawyer yet! In this phase of lawyer training, the bar exam can be one of the biggest challenges.
The Canadian bar exam is open-book, but this does not mean it’s easy. Candidates are given thousands of pages of study materials, and the challenge lies in navigating them quickly under strict time limits.
candidates sit the bar exams each year!
Many candidates report the sheer volume of content, the length of the exams, and the pressure of time management as significant hurdles. For instance, the Law Society of Ontario notes that most candidates spend 300–400 hours preparing for each exam, often balancing this with articling or Law Practice Program commitments.
Pass rates in Canada are relatively high compared to other countries—ranging from about 70–80% on first attempts.
Outside of Ontario, other provinces such as British Columbia and Alberta also administer bar exams with similar structures, while Quebec, with its civil law tradition, uses a distinct process through the École du Barreau.
Learn all about getting through law school and the bar exam in Canada.
How Long is the Bar Exam in Canada?
In Canada, the length of the bar exam depends on the province, but in most common law jurisdictions, each test lasts about seven hours in a single day. For example, in Ontario, candidates must complete two separate exams: the Barrister Exam and the Solicitor Exam, each running approximately seven hours with a morning and afternoon session. This means candidates spend the equivalent of two full days of testing.
In British Columbia and Alberta, bar exams are also full-day assessments tied to practical training courses, while Quebec’s process involves a series of evaluations over several weeks rather than a single written test.
| Province | Exam Components | Format | Duration | Unique Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario (Law Society of Ontario) | Barrister Exam (litigation, criminal, family, public law) + Solicitor Exam (business law, real estate, wills & estates) | Multiple-choice, open-book | ~7 hours per exam (two exams total) | Candidates receive binders of study materials (~2,000+ pages); emphasis on speed and navigation. |
| British Columbia (Law Society of BC) | Professional Legal Training Course (PLTC) final exam | Written exam (open-book), includes multiple-choice + written answers | 7 hours (one-day exam) | Integrated with PLTC (10-week training); focuses on practice management, ethics, and substantive law. |
| Quebec (École du Barreau) | Series of written and oral evaluations, not a single “bar exam” | Problem-solving exercises, case analysis, drafting, oral advocacy | Varies (weeks of assessments) | Reflects Quebec’s civil law tradition; students complete a formal training program before being called to the bar. |
Regardless of the jurisdiction, the bar exam in Canada is designed to be long, intensive, and mentally demanding, testing not only knowledge of the law but also endurance, focus, and organizational skills.
What are some Bar Exam Sample Questions? (Answers at the end!)
Curious to know what a bar exam question might look like? Here are 3 sample Canadian multiple-choice style bar exam questions. Please note that these are not official and are designed to show how questions test both knowledge and application.
Sample Question 1 – Barrister Exam (Civil Litigation)
A plaintiff files a negligence action against a defendant. During discovery, the defendant refuses to disclose certain documents, claiming solicitor-client privilege. The plaintiff brings a motion to compel disclosure. Which of the following is correct?
A. The court must review the documents privately and decide if they are relevant.
B. Solicitor-client privilege is a fundamental right and cannot be overridden except in very limited circumstances.
C. The defendant must disclose all documents requested by the plaintiff, regardless of privilege.
D. The plaintiff may obtain the documents if they are central to the case and no other evidence is available.
Sample Question 2 – Solicitor Exam (Business Law)
A lawyer is advising a client who wants to incorporate a new business in Ontario. Which of the following is a key advantage of incorporation?
A. Shareholders are personally liable for the debts of the corporation.
B. Corporations do not pay any tax on profits.
C. Shareholders’ liability is generally limited to the amount they have invested.
D. Incorporation guarantees the business will receive government funding.
Sample Question 3 – Ethics/Professional Responsibility
A lawyer realizes that a client has provided false evidence during a civil trial. What is the lawyer’s primary duty?
A. Remain silent to protect solicitor-client privilege.
B. Withdraw from the case without informing the court.
C. Take reasonable steps to persuade the client to correct the false evidence, and if unsuccessful, disclose it to the court.
D. Inform opposing counsel immediately so the case can be resolved fairly.
How Can I Prepare for the Bar Examination?
Between the challenge of law school and the rigor of the bar exam, you may be wondering how and if you will be able to handle it all. The short answer is yes - you certainly can!
To prepare for the bar exam, you will find plenty of courses and study groups online. These options are great if you want a program or guideline for bar exam study: it can feel overwhelming to have nothing but hundreds of pages of study materials in front of you! If you choose a course option for bar preparation, keep in mind that you will still need to be largely self-motivated to study, as many of these courses may be asynchronous.
On exam day, expect a long, mentally demanding schedule.
What you’ll actually do:
📚 Bring in the official exam study materials (binders provided by the law society).
✏️ Answer multiple-choice questions: these test not just recall, but application and semantics.
⏰ Manage time carefully to closely read dense questions and use binders str.
💡 Apply pragmatic skills: recognizing how a rule functions in practice, not just in theory.
A tutor is an excellent solution to turn to when you want to amp up your preparation. A tutor can help you to memorize the endless legal terms you will need to know - which can be critical. They 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.
Learn everything you need to know about becoming a licensed lawyer in Canada.
Where can I find a Law Tutor Near Me?
Using the Superprof platform, you will have no problem finding a tutor in your area or province. In fact, you will probably want to hire a tutor in your province since they will be in the best position to guide you through a bar exam, which can vary from one province to another.
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.
What are you waiting for? Find a tutor on Superprof today!
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