How to become a lawyer in Canada

Embarking on a new adventure has always been exciting and fun, but if you’re entering law school, there may also be added anxiety and doubt. To ease these pressures and uncertainties, prepare for this journey well. Learn about the different steps and requirements on how to become a lawyer in Canada.

This article is for aspiring law students, whether you’re in high school or college. Use this article as your blueprint for a future career in law.

What are the steps on how to become a lawyer in Canada?

Becoming a lawyer in Canada can be simplified in these four (not so easy) steps:

1. Graduate from high school and college
2. Apply to law school
3. Graduate from law school
4. Complete the requirements set by the law society

Let’s go into a bit more detail:

1. Graduate from high school and college

One of the most important Canadian law school requirements is a college degree.

The Juris Doctor (JD) or Licentiate in Law (LLL) is considered as an undergraduate degree. However, it’s still required that you must have a prior undergraduate degree to be admitted under these programs.

In there a required pre-law or undergraduate course for law school?

There is no specific undergraduate degree required by law schools. Any pre-law degree is accepted, whether it’s science- or arts-based, and whatever your field of concentration is. If you’re still not sure what to take, here are the most common pre-law degrees that law students take or major in:

• communications
• economics
• philosophy
• political science
• psychology
• sociology

Again, these are just suggestions since all Canadian law schools do not require a specific undergraduate pre-law degree for admission. It's suggested that you take the pre-law course that you prefer and enjoy studying.

In deciding what your pre-law course is, you can also think of the legal area that you may want to specialize in in the future. A degree in architecture or engineering, for example, could lead to a career as a construction lawyer.

Be open to changes and other possibilities. Your experience in law school may change your perspective on the specialization you’ve been aiming for.

Length of undergraduate degree: 3 years vs. 4 years

At the minimum, you should have completed a 3-year undergraduate course to be admitted to a law school in Canada. But being a holder of a 4-year undergraduate degree increases your chances of being admitted to a law school. Some law schools clearly state that, even though they consider those who have finished a 3-year undergraduate degree, they prefer those who studied for 4 years.

Here are some factors to consider regarding your undergraduate degree:

• your undergraduate degree must be a full-time study
• there must be no intervals during your undergraduate studies
• consider taking your pre-law course at the same university where you want to study law

2. Apply to law school

The JD and the LLL are the degree programs that you must enroll in so that you can become a lawyer in Canada. Here’s how these two differ:

• JD: allows you to practise in the common law provinces in Canada, which are all provinces and territories except for Québec
• LLL: allows you to practise in Québec, which is the civil law province of Canada

This means that you must have a good idea on what Canadian province or territory are you going to practise in. It will then guide you on what degree program you should enroll in.

Read our extensive guide on Canadian law schools for details on requirements, tuition fees, notable faculty members, and other information.

There are some law schools in Québec, or in other provinces, that offer dual degrees or joint JD/LLL programs. This will allow you to practise in all provinces in Canada, but still subject to the other additional requirements imposed by the respective law society in each province and territory.

Here are some tips from a Western Law student on being admitted to law school:

More resources about studying law in Canada can be found on our Legal Education page. It includes articles on tuition costs, the best schools to enroll in, and other info about Canadian law schools.

What are the admission requirements of Canadian law schools?

Each law school would have their specific admission requirements. Here are the requirements that most law schools require for its 1L admissions:

1. Grade Point Average (GPA) or Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)

This will tell the law school about your academic performance in your undergraduate studies. Each law school measures this differently; some would set a specific GPA for admission (e.g., a GPA or CGPA that is equivalent or above 3.7 or A- or 80%), while others would accept any GPA.

Of course, those with higher GPAs are most likely to be considered, but law schools still encourage those with low GPA to still apply. They may also vary in computing the GPA (e.g., whole four years of your undergraduate degree, or only the last two years).

2. Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

Canadian law schools would require that you submit your LSAT score, while some would only treat them as optional.

For those that require an LSAT score, their set or average score for admission would guide you in your chances of being admitted. On average, a score of 160 and above will give you a higher chance of getting into law school.

As to when you should take the LSAT, check the law school you’re applying for, since each would set their own cut-offs. For August/September admissions, for example, the January LSAT exam may be the latest score they will accept.

3. Personal statement

This is an opportunity for you to introduce who you are and explain details in your application that needed some context. It will help the admissions committee know you, especially if there’s no interview as part of their process. Check with your law school of choice for their prescribed format for writing a personal statement.

4. Transcript or undergraduate records

Aside from working as proof of your college degree, your transcripts also tell the law school of your academic strengths and weaknesses. The law school you’re applying to may require that you submit all post-secondary academic transcripts, especially if you took any masteral or doctorate programs after college.

5. Letters of recommendation or reference

Some law schools may require letters of recommendation, while others won’t accept letters of recommendation even if you’ve submitted them. But for those that do accept them, it’s important to submit those letters or references that speak highly of your work ethic.

6. Language proficiency

Few law schools require that you be able to speak and write in English and/or in French. This would also depend on the curriculum you’re enrolling in (JD or LLL). For those that require them, you may have to take a language proficiency test (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, TEF).

Other law schools will not require an English proficiency test if:

• your first language is English
• you attended a college or university where English was the official language of instruction

If you have a low GPA, your alternative is to get a higher LSAT score. If you have both low GPA and LSAT scores, you can improve on the other requirements.

While having a law school in mind to apply for is important, you may also want to check on the other law schools if your GPA and LSAT scores are not that good.

Requirements for upper year transferees

There would be additional requirements if you’ve already started law school — in or out of your province — and want to transfer to another law school. These are called upper year applications by law schools, which is where applicants will be admitted for their 2nd year or 2L.

In these cases, requirements may differ from that of a 1st year or 1L application:

• Finished 1L: At the minimum, you must have completed your 1L from your previous law school to be admitted to another law school. Records of your completed first year must be submitted as proof of such completion.
• Grades during your 1L: Law schools may set a specific GPA or CGPA for transfer applications, not just for your undergraduate degree, but also during your 1st year in law school.
• Taken 1L subjects: Law schools will evaluate the 1L subjects you’ve already taken and will decide whether to credit these subjects during your transfer. They may also require you to take additional courses required under their curriculum.

Requirements for international students

Foreign nationals who want to become a Canadian lawyer may study in Canada but depending on the additional requirements imposed by the government. This includes getting a prior study permit and an offer from a law school, among other requirements for immigration purposes. To be admitted, your undergraduate degree will also be evaluated by the law school to check that it’s acceptable based on Canadian standards.

3. Graduate from law school

Once you’ve been admitted to a law school, the next thing to do is to complete this 3-year journey and finish it with flying colours.

To prepare yourself for this adventure, here’s a (very) general overview of what your law school life may look like:

• 1st year: learning the basics and foundational courses of Canada’s laws and legal systems
• 2nd year: advanced and experiential courses, plus the on-campus interviews (OCI) for your possible summer internship
• 3rd year: more practical and advocacy courses, and continuation of the upper year courses starting from the 2nd year (e.g., administrative law, procedural law)

Congratulations to all our incredible Allard Law graduates! We're so proud of all you've accomplished. #Classof2024 pic.twitter.com/BmVvAOjFi1

— Allard School of Law (@AllardLaw) May 23, 2024

4. Complete the licensing requirements set by your law society

Graduating from law school is a huge achievement toward becoming a lawyer in Canada. But your quest hasn’t ended yet, as there are still those final steps that you must complete, such as licensing requirements. These will vary in every province and territory according to their individual law society.

The licensing requirements of a law society includes:

• writing the licensing or bar exams (some provinces like Nova Scotia have removed the bar exam requirement)
• finishing the articling period or other alternatives
• paying the licensing fees, and submitting the required forms
• be called to the bar by attending the oath-taking ceremony

After all these licensing requirements are completed, you’re now officially licensed to practise law in your chosen province or territory.

To give you an idea on the licensing requirements to becoming a lawyer, specifically in Ontario, watch this video:

Head over to our Professional Regulation page to see more resources on licensing and regulating the practice of law in Canada.

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

From taking the pre-requisite undergraduate degree, until finishing the licensing requirements, it may take you around eight years to become a lawyer. Although the JD or LLL degrees are just for three years, there’s a lot more that you must do before and after these three years. For more details, read our article on how long it takes to be a lawyer in Canada.

How to become a lawyer in Canada: a long but inspiring journey

The pathway on how to become a lawyer in Canada may be challenging but with great preparation and strong will, it may be overcome by brave adventurers. This preparation includes knowing the steps for becoming a lawyer and even seeking help whenever needed. By focusing on the prize at the end of the road, getting that dream of practicing law would be achievable.

Did we cover everything you needed to know on how to become a lawyer in Canada? Let us know in the comments