Becoming a Lawyer in Canada: Steps, Timeline & Requirements

How can I become a lawyer in Canada?

For the most part, the educational pathway for becoming a lawyer in Canada is a relatively traditional and straightforward 7 to 8 years process: Aspiring attorneys must earn an undergraduate degree and pass an LSAT exam (~4 years) before pursuing and obtaining a Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school (~3 years), after which they can begin the bar admission and articling processes (~1 year). 

There are, however, a couple important distinctions to keep in mind. 

First, unlike in the U.S., there is no pre-law program required for undergraduates in Canada, which means students can pick their own majors based on personal interests or what they believe will best prepare them for the kind of law they hope to practise. For example, someone interested in legal advocacy might choose to study political science, whereas someone interested in corporate law might choose business or economics. 

Additionally, Quebec is the only province which makes a distinction between the civil and common law system and provides a different educational pathway for aspiring civil attorneys. More specifically, those wishing to practise civil law in Quebec can do so by earning a civil Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B.) as undergraduates, rather than needing to pass an LSAT and obtain a separate JD.

How to get into law school in Canada 

With the exception of civil law programs in Quebec, admission into a law school in Canada is typically determined by a combination of a student’s LSAT performance and GPA as an undergrad, with the former often taking precedent as the most reliable indicator of a student’s success.  

Although law schools in Canada don’t impose a minimum LSAT score required, a score in the mid-150s is typically considered a baseline for consideration, while scores in the mid-160s or higher are usually expected by more revered and competitive universities, such as the University of Toronto, McGill University, and the University of British Columbia. While there may be exceptions, applicants with lower undergraduate GPAs can give themselves a better chance by outperforming their peers on the LSAT, as well as supplementing their applications with strong personal statements and professional references. 

Additionally, it’s worth noting that as the nature of legal work continues to be impacted by emerging technologies, including AI-assisted legal reasoning, it is possible that the relevance of LSAT scores in admission to Canada’s top law schools could decline meaningfully over the next decade. 

Becoming a lawyer in Canada: a step-by-step guide

While each province regulates the profession differently, most aspiring lawyers will follow a common pathway that unfolds over several key stages.

1. Earn a JD or equivalent law degree

The first step to becoming a lawyer in Canada is to either earn your JD from an accredited law school, or your LL.B. as an undergrad if you intend to pursue a civil law career in Quebec.

Additionally, if you’re targeting a specific practice area, you might want to consider earning a dual degree that helps you better prepare for the realities of legal work or gives you a competitive edge when seeking out articling opportunities. For example, those looking to practise corporate or commercial law in Canada may decide to earn a combined law and business degree (JD/MBA), whereas those interested in working in the public sector might choose a law and public policy degree (JD/MPP).

2. Complete licensing requirements in your province 

Once you’ve earned your JD or equivalent degree, the next step is to register for licensing with the law society in your province, which will include submitting to a background check and meeting relevant “good character” requirements. 

After your licensing candidacy has been accepted, the next step is to complete the relevant bar exam or bar admission program, the specific format and process of which varies depending on the territory. 

In most provinces, candidates complete a Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP), which emphasizes the development of practical skills and serves as a replacement for traditional bar exams. Currently, formal exams are only required in Ontario (Barrister and Solicitor) and British Columbia (Professional Legal Training Course (PLTC), although the latter is in the process of phasing out exams in favour of adopting the PREP model. 

For civil law in Quebec, candidates are not required to take a bar exam, and they instead must enroll in and complete the province’s École du Barreau training program to qualify for licensing. 

3. Complete articling or an approved alternative 

After completing the relevant bar admission program, the next step is to satisfy articling requirements, which typically take the form of 10 to 12 months of supervised practice and training within a law firm, ministry, or other licensed legal operation. 

The difficulty of articling placement can vary considerably based on the competitiveness of the province. For example, articling opportunity shortages are common in the most desirable regions like Ontario and more populated areas in British Columbia, as well as for aspiring civil lawyers in Montreal who must compete for a limited number of positions in a small yet highly concentrated market. In these provinces, candidates will want to put extra effort into developing effective on-campus interview and cold outreach strategies to stand out and increase their chances of acceptance. 

However, there are some approved alternatives to traditional articling, which can be very attractive and beneficial for candidates in more competitive provinces. Most notably, in lieu of the required 10-month articling period, Ontario offers candidates the option of completing a 4-month work placement as part of the province’s Law Practice Program (LPP).

4. Get called to the bar 

Once the above requirements are met, you’re ready to attend your province’s swearing-in ceremony, take a formal oath, pay all relevant dues, and walk away the proud owner of an official licence to practise law in Canada. 

From there, it’s a matter of being placed in an entry level role at an organization that suits your area of interest and/or specialization, after which you’ll get to work toward meeting basic first-year associate expectations—i.e., conducting legal research, drafting and reviewing documents, providing administrative support—and developing critical soft skills related to organization, billing hygiene, and client interactions and communication. 

5. Maintain ongoing CPD requirements

Finally, as a practising attorney in Canada, you’ll need to keep up with continuing professional development (CPD) requirements associated with your jurisdiction, which typically involves undergoing no less than 12 hours of approved educational activities or coursework demonstrating your commitment to further developing your professional knowledge and adhering to strict ethical standards.

The importance of this step simply cannot be overstated, and in fact continuous education matters now more than ever as the legal field evolves alongside AI and other rapidly advancing assistive technologies, forcing lawyers to significantly increase their competency around emerging digital tools and cybersecurity best practices. 

For help in both understanding and meeting provincial CPD requirements, you can access Clio’s official overview of required educational activities by province, as well as an increasing range of free and engaging CPD-eligible webinars, here: CPD with Clio.

How long does it take to become a lawyer in Canada?

The time it takes to become a lawyer in Canada will depend on a variety of factors, including the pace at which an individual moves through the educational and licensing processes. However, timelines can also look much different depending on whether a candidate is following the traditional path, making a career change later in life, or is already an internationally trained lawyer looking to obtain a Canadian license through a fast-tracked process with the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA).

Here’s a quick breakdown of what a typical timeline would look like depending on the circumstance:

Traditional route

Undergrad: ~4 years

JD: ~3 years

Licensing: ~1 year

Total time: ~7-8 years

Late entry

JD: ~3 years

Licensing: ~1 year

Total time: ~4-5 years

Internationally trained lawyers

Initial NCA assessment: ~2-4 months 

Required exams/coursework: ~6 months-2 years

Licensing: ~1 year

Total time: ~1.5-4 years

Tips on your way to becoming a lawyer in Canada

Being an attorney can be incredibly challenging work, but it can also be infinitely rewarding, particularly when you’ve put the maximal time and effort into developing the right knowledge and skills at the very outset of your career. Moreover, as the legal industry continues to evolve rapidly in Canada and around the world, those just getting started have an opportunity to gain a competitive advantage by proactively learning and becoming proficient at leveraging new digital tools and operating strategies as they emerge.

On that note, here are a few key tips to keep in mind as you tread the path of becoming a lawyer in Canada:

1. Choose and evolve in a practice area that suits you

From criminal and civil litigation to corporate and administrative law and the myriad common and niche areas in between, simply selecting from such a wide range of potential practice areas is arguably one of the most difficult aspects of becoming a lawyer in Canada.

When considering which path to pursue, the key is to identify the area that best reflects both your interests and natural aptitudes. And the earlier you do this, the earlier you can seek out and obtain mentorship to help guide you and support the development of all the skills needed to excel in your area of interest.

Beyond professional mentorship, it’s also critical to take advantage of networking opportunities wherever available and build strategic relationships both at the beginning and throughout your legal career.

2. Differentiate yourself through tech proficiency

The legal industry has lagged others significantly when it comes to digital transformation, but adoption of AI and other rapidly advancing assistive technologies is now accelerating across disciplines, and proficiency with these kinds of tools will almost certainly be a defining characteristic of the next generation of lawyers in Canada and beyond.

For those just starting out on their path to becoming a lawyer in Canada, learning how to support organizational efficiency through legal practice management software can be particularly beneficial. More specifically, by understanding how to leverage advanced tools like Clio Manage to streamline everything from client communications to case and document management, junior lawyers can give themselves a much better chance of not only meeting but exceeding first-year expectations at their firm.

3. Stay ahead of the curve on industry trends

Finally, one of the most important and often challenging aspects of legal work is keeping pace not only with changes in the law but also operational shifts among competitors and across the entire industry. Again, the legal world today finds itself at a serious inflection point, in which accelerating AI advancement and adoption are transforming everything from client expectations to the ethics, profitability, and operating norms surrounding legal work in increasingly unpredictable ways, making agility and adaptation not only advantageous but a requirement for success.

In other words, knowledge is power in a world defined by growing uncertainty, and the most successful lawyers will be those who have not only a great track record with past cases but also a unique ability to understand and strategically adapt to all existing and emerging legal industry trends.

How long does it take to become a lawyer in Canada?

Between undergraduate education, law school, and the completion of licensing requirements, the traditional path to becoming a lawyer in Canada takes roughly 7 to 8 years.

How much does it cost to become a lawyer in Canada?

While the amount will vary significantly based on a variety of factors, becoming a lawyer in Canada will cost between $200-$400K between undergraduate and law school education and relevant licensing costs.

Is it hard to become a lawyer in Canada?

Becoming a lawyer in Canada can be a lengthy and complex process, but the level of difficulty can vary depending on the type of law being pursued and the requirements of the province in which you want to practise.

Do you need the LSAT for Canadian law schools?

Yes, in almost all cases, the LSAT will be required for acceptance into a Canadian law school, with the exception of the civil law program offered in Quebec.

How do I choose a legal practice area?

While there is no universal formula for choosing a legal practice area, it can help to consider areas that both speak to your personal interests and require skills that complement your natural strengths.

Is articling guaranteed after law school?

No, articling is never guaranteed after law school in Canada, and finding a position can be difficult in particularly competitive markets. However, in Ontario, law school graduates may choose to enter the province’s Law Practice Program (LPP) as an alternative to the traditional articling process.