How to Become a Lawyer in Ontario, Canada

Lawyers protect civil rights and are held to high ethical standards, adhering to strict professional licensing guidelines. Becoming an Ontario lawyer is similar to becoming a lawyer in other Canadian provinces, with some specific differences in the amount of time potential lawyers must spend working under the supervision of a practicing attorney.

Instructions

1. Graduate from a common law program offered by an accredited university in Canada or from a law school approved by convocation. There are two types of law in Canada: common law and civil law. Ontario requires lawyers to complete a program in common law.

2. Maintain a clean criminal history. You must undergo a background check prior to your admission into Ontario's Law Society. Your character must be sound, and you must not have any criminal history.

3. Apply for and pass the licensing examination. You can sign up for the examination online on the Law Society of Upper Canada's website. As of 2010, the application costs $160 Canadian Dollars plus a filing fee of $75 Canadian Dollars.

4. Complete a 10-month "articling." Ontario lawyers must spend 10 months working under the supervision of a practicing lawyer.

5. Contact the Law Society of Upper Canada once you have completed the exam and the articling period. Call 416-947-3315 to receive the Call Information Bulletin and the Call Information Forms; these forms contain the information you need to complete the lawyer licensing process.

References

• The Law Society of Upper Canada: Becoming a Lawyer in Ontario
• The Law Society of Upper Canada: Lawyer Licensing Process
• Campus Access: How to Become a Lawyer (Canada)
• The Law Society of Upper Canada: Call to the Bar Procedure

Resources

• The Law Society of Upper Canada: Application for Admission to the 2010 Lawyer Licensing Process
• The Law Society of Upper Canada: Placement in Articling Program