Becoming a lawyer anywhere in Canada is no easy feat and this is the same in Ontario. Lawyers are not made overnight; most of them have plans laid out as early as high school.
So what does it take to become a lawyer in Ontario?
A student cannot enter Canadian law school after completing high school. They must get a higher education (post-secondary studies) to prepare for law school such as BComm, BA, BSc, etc.
After finishing a degree, they must take the Law School Admission Test or LSAT. After successfully passing the test, applicants can now choose their Law School and apply.
This is only the beginning as the road to becoming a lawyer in Ontario is hard work with multiple steps to accomplish.
Learn more about how to become a lawyer in Ontario to help you reach your professional goals.
What does it take to earn a Law Degree?
Below is a brief outline of what it would take to earn a law degree in Canada.
The Length of the Program
The first-level common law degree in Canada is the_Juris Doctor_or JD which can be completed in 3 years. It is an undergraduate degree program even if an undergraduate program is required.
First Year Law
The first year of law school is the same for all law schools in the country. A student must get an introductory course in fields like Criminal Law, Property Law, Constitutional Law, and Contracts Law. Special courses are also designed to teach students other fields of law. This phase also includes training in legal research and writing.
First year students also have extracurricular activities and volunteer activities to gain training outside of their academics.
Second Year Law
In the second year of law school, students can pick courses in line with their areas of interest. Many law schools also require students to join a mock trial wherein they act as lawyers on fictional cases and judged by their professors and lawyers.
In the summer, they can work in legal clinics, government legal offices, or law firms to know what field of law they are interested in. At this time, they can apply for articling positions.
Third Year Law
This is the final year of law school. Students take specialized courses and do research papers or join exchange programs.
After graduation from law school, students must become licensed to practice law.
Practicing Law in Ontario
To practice law in Ontario, you must obtain a license from The Law Society of Ontario.
You must meet several criteria including:
- Complete academic requirements,
- Pass the barrister and solicitor licensing examinations,
- Be of good moral character,
- Get adequate experience in a legal environment.
Of course, once you complete these requirements and get your license, you can have a very rewarding and challenging career as a legal professional.
Completing academic requirements
Your law degree can be from any law school in Canada or abroad provided it is recognized by the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA). Law school applications in Ontario are done through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).
The province of Ontario has 8 law schools that produce many of Canada’s law graduates every year. Not everyone is fully aware of the licensing process.
Qualifying as a lawyer in Ontario is the same with other provinces in the beginning stages. But the next steps until licensing is different.
We hope to provide you with all the information you need to practice law in Ontario so read on.
Steps to becoming a Lawyer in Ontario after Law School
Lawyer candidates need to register with the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) for articling. They must also finish the exams required to be accepted by the Provincial Bar.
Mandatory exams are given by the LSO:
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Barristers Exam – tackles Civil and Criminal Litigation Procedures, Practice Management, Barrister-Client relationships, and Ethical and Professional Responsibilities. The modules also include Alternative Dispute Resolution Law, Ontario Law, and Federal legislation and Case Law. Examinees are also tested on the identification, analysis, and assessment of issues.
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Solicitors Exam – this part of the Ontario Bar Exam tackles knowledge of Ontario, Federal and Case Law, and other modules dealing with professionalism, issues, ethics, and client relationships.
These components of the Bar Exam take 4 four each to complete . They both test the candidates on 160 case-related questions with multiple choices.
In Ontario, a step called “Articling” is required whereby a candidate completes experiential training for at least 10 months in the province. Close to 4,000 graduates compete for about 1,900 positions in articling yearly.
You may also complete the Law Practice Program as an alternative to articling.
Application for Articling in Ontario
An aspiring lawyer applying for an articling position needs to:
- Apply directly to a law firm or through the online application portal with a resume, law school transcripts, and reference letters.
- Pass the interview (if invited).
The Law Society of Ontario sets interview dates.
Deadlines for Articling Applications
Below are important dates for articling applications (Winter Program)
| Jan. 24, 2024 (5pm) | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| June 30, 2023 (5pm) to Aug. 14, 2023 (8 am) | Recruitment Suspension Period |
| Feb. 6, 2024 (8 am) | Call Day |
| Feb. 20-22, 2024 | Interview Week |
| Feb. 22, 2024 (5 pm) | Offer Day |
It is worth noting that employers can establish application deadlines on or after the Earliest Application Deadline. They can continue to entertain articling applications even after the Earliest Application deadline.
Why become a lawyer in Ontario?
The Province of Ontario is a vast legal environment as it is home to about 44% of the total number of lawyers in Canada.
This figure does not take into account the more than 10,000 paralegal licenses issued by the province. With so many legal professionals practicing in all of Ontario, it is, indeed, the place to be for those who want to prove themselves as the best in Canadian law.
Ontario is also home to many powerful law firms that have ties to as far as New York, Chicago, Cape Town, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, Moscow, Munich, London, etc. Aside from these international companies, local and national law firms also call Ontario home.
It is also interesting to note that more than 8,000 independent lawyers or singular practitioners are in Ontario.
Many qualified lawyers earn an annual income of around CA$150,000. The highest-paid articling programs are in Toronto and Ottawa offering CA$65,000 to CA$75,000 per annum.
In short, lawyers in Ontario enjoy very attractive salaries and benefits and gain legal expertise nationally and internationally.
Whether you are looking to join a prestigious law firm or become a singular practitioner, Ontario offers the best of both worlds.
Diverse Fields of Law for Lawyers
A qualified lawyer in Ontario can choose from many fields of law. The possibilities fall under 3 categories:
Public Interest Law
Public interest involves working in groups such as the Women’s Legal and Education Action Fund, Southeast Asian Legal Clinic, or doing legal aid work.
Private Practice
Being in private practice means a lawyer has individuals or corporations for clients. It can be as a lawyer for a big firm or a small one. Private lawyers often specialize in an area of law such as criminal defence law, family law, corporate law, etc. There are law firms that have full-service practices wherein they offer several practice areas.
Government
As a government lawyer, your client is the government. You can be a Crown Attorney who prosecutes criminals or work for a government ministry.
The possibilities of employment for lawyers are limitless and law school provides students with outstanding academic backgrounds and unparalleled skills. You can also succeed in any profession in politics, business, education, journalism, etc. to become CEOs, teachers, businessmen, politicians, and more.
How do foreign lawyers become lawyers in Ontario?
The licensing process of every bar in Canadian provinces differ. Lawyers can only practice their profession within the limits of authority granted by the bar they belong to.
Anybody with an undergraduate law degree or higher can apply for accreditation by the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA). It is under the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and it evaluates if a foreign law graduate can be accredited.
An applicant must satisfy the Federation’s National Requirement which is a standard applied to all graduates of Common Law Programs in the country.
Once these requirements are met, the NCA certifies the applicant’s understanding of Canadian law equivalent to a graduate of Canadian common law programs.
Evaluation by the NCA
Competence in the following subjects is assessed by the NCA:
- Canadian Administrative Law(Mandatory)
- Canadian Constitutional Law(Mandatory)
- Canadian Criminal Law(Mandatory)
- Foundations of Canadian Law(Mandatory)
- Canadian Professional Responsibility (Mandatory)
- Contracts(Core Subject)
- Torts(Core Subject)
- Property(Core Subject)
When a candidate has completed the assessment, he or she must prove to be competent in assigned subject areas by:
- Completing the challenge exams of the NCA;
- Taking the required subjects from a qualified law school in Canada;
- Both options, meaning writing the exams and taking the required courses at a Canadian law school.
Master of Law (LLM)
The Master of Laws (LLM) is a program that enables a person with a bachelor’s degree to apply. This is a post-graduate level law education and is open to anyone who wishes to improve knowledge in law generally or in a specific area of law.
There are grants and scholarships for the LLM Program. This requires 1 to 1 and ½ years of study. Thesis-based programs are also open to individuals who are interested in the academic area.
Only 3 law schools in Canada offer the LLM programs for the NCA process – the GPLLM at the University of Toronto, Common Law LLM at Osgoode Hall School of Law, and Masters of Laws at the University of British Columbia.
Prior to applying for a lawyer license in Ontario, know the licensing process and policies to prepare well.
How much do lawyers make in Ontario?
For aspiring lawyers, an important question that often arises is the average income of lawyers in the province.
Many factors influence the salary of a lawyer including qualifications, experience, area of law (criminal, business, labor, family law, etc.), and location in Ontario. Lawyers in Toronto and Ottawa may charge higher rates than those in smaller cities or towns.
On average, a lawyer earns $99,834 annually as of January 2024. Law firms compete for the best lawyers and bigger companies may offer higher salaries and benefits.