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HOW DO I BECOME A LAWYER IN ONTARIO?

Information for law students and NCA applicants

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You must be licensed by the Law Society of Ontario to work as a lawyer in Ontario. To become licensed, you must:

Meet academic requirements

Complete a J.D./LL.B. from an approved law school in Ontario or another Canadian province or obtain a Certificate of Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation.
Apply to the licensing process

The licensing process consists of two licensing examinations, hands-on experiential training, a good character requirement and a call to the bar ceremony. All parts of the licensing process must be completed within three (3) licensing years. The licensing process year runs from May 1 to April 30. The deadline to apply is usually at the start of December of the previous year.

See the fees schedule for the cost to apply to the licensing process.

See Licensing Process Information Session Webcast or transcript.
Pass the barrister and solicitor examinations

The barrister and solicitor examinations are self-study and open book, each with about 240 multiple-choice questions. Each examination is seven hours long and you can write the examinations in June, March and November. You do not need to write or pass the examinations before you article or attend the Law Practice Program.

See the fees schedule for the cost to write the examinations.

See the Guide to Licensing Examinations for tips on preparing for the examinations. Tutoring for the examinations is available to candidates who are unsuccessful.
Gain experience working in a legal environment
You may complete the experiential training requirement by articling or by attending the Law Practice Program (LPP).

See the fees schedule for the cost to article or to attend the LPP.

If you graduated from a law school with an Integrated Practice Curriculum (IPC), you are exempt from articling and the LPP.

If you have practised law in another jurisdiction, you may apply for an exemption from articling and the LPP.
- Articling
  
  If you choose to article you are responsible for finding your own 10-month articling placement with an approved articling principal. There are flexible options to complete articling.
  
  If you are looking for a summer position in Toronto or an articling placement, see the Law Society’s recruitment procedures.
  
  For assistance in finding an articling placement, see the Articling Registry, Biographical Paragraphs and the Mentorship Program.
- Law Practice Program
  The Law Practice Program (LPP) is an 8-month program. The LPP runs from late August to the end of April at Ryerson University. The Programme de pratique du droit runs from early September to the end of April at the University of Ottawa. The Law Society’s registration deadline for the LPP is usually at the end of May.
Be deemed to be of good character
To be licensed as a lawyer in Ontario, the Law Society Act requires that an applicant be of “good character.” The good character requirement is intended to protect the public and maintain high ethical standards in the profession by ensuring that persons who are licensed as lawyers show respect for the rule of law and the administration of justice and conduct themselves with honesty, integrity and candour. There is no fee for this part of the licensing process.
Pay all required fees and submit all required forms

A fees schedule that outlines all fees for the licensing process is set for each licensing process year.

See current fees schedule and required forms.

Financial assistance programs are available.
Be called to the bar

Once you have passed your examinations, completed articling or the Law Practice Program, paid your fees, submitted your forms and have no good character issues, you are eligible to be licensed to practise law and to attend a call to the bar ceremony

All eligible candidates must be in attendance for a call to the bar. At the call, candidates are presented with the Degree of Barrister-at-Law by the Law Society and a Court Certificate and are required to swear or affirm the oath required to practise law in Ontario. Candidates may also take an oath of allegiance.

See the fees schedule for the cost to be called to the bar.

Legal robes are required for the ceremony - see list of Legal Robing Companies.

Other Law Society resources

Harassment and discrimination have no place in the legal professions. The Discrimination and Harassment Program runs independently from the Law Society and provides assistance to anyone who may have experienced discrimination or harassment by a lawyer, paralegal, or licensing candidate within Ontario. For more information, see Preventing Discrimination and Harassment (PDF).

The Member Assistance Program (MAP) is a confidential service fully independent of the Law Society. Lawyers, paralegals, law students, other legal professionals and their families covered by the MAP are provided with confidential access to a number of services. Members can get professional help with issues related to addictions, mental or physical health, work-life balance, career, family and more.

Download the How to Become a Lawyer in Ontario fact sheet.