Studying Law in Canada

Lawyers in Canada must have a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree prior to being called to the bar in their respective province. Canada has 18 common law and 6 civil law schools in Canada. Admittance to law school in Canada is a rigorous and highly competitive process, with less than 35% of applicants admitted each year. For common law schools, a candidate must typically hold a 4 year or honours undergraduate degree prior to being admitted to an LL.B. or J.D. program, though in exceptional circumstances, a student may be admitted to a law school in the common law tradition without holding a four-year degree. For admittance to a civil law school, a candidate must generally have either graduated from CEGEP, hold a two-year college degree, or have completed at least one year of undergraduate study. Civil law schools in Canada also require students to be proficient in the French language.

The Bachelor of Law is an entry-level degree program in Canada that starts law students out in their education. In Canada, there are two systems that students must be familiar with. Quebec has a unique law education system that differs from the rest of Canada. If you are studying in Quebec, you will have to earn a Bachelor of Civil Law. As with any other university program in Quebec, a college diploma is required before you can begin the undergraduate studies. Outside of Quebec, a common law system is used. This means that a traditional Bachelor of Law degree can be earned.
An undergraduate law degree typically involves three years of academics. During the summer months, law students are encouraged to seek internship opportunities. Canadian law schools generally require students to complete experiential or practical skills training in addition to traditional lectures and class work. This may involve participation in a community legal clinic, a moot or mock trial competition, or assisting with pro bono legal services in their respective provinces. Canadian law schools also require students to complete professional ethics training prior to graduation.
Law programs in Canada typically include courses in legal writing, tort, contract writing, and general law, Internships, Extra-curricular law activities.
It is important to decide what your specialisation will be while studying. Law specialisations include: Trial lawyer, Bankruptcy lawyer, Civil rights attorney, Legal consultant, Employment lawyer.
After earning a Bachelor of Law, graduates must become licensed with the Law Society associated with their chosen Province. This process takes just one additional year.

The alternative route is to finish a four-year Bachelor’s degree and pursue a Juris Doctor. Your major or concentration can be in any subject, as law schools do not require a particular set of undergraduate courses for admission. Maintain good grades in courses that will challenge you to think critically, write well, and learn to do research. Good preparation includes courses in English, philosophy, history, government, economics, and sociology. The average student admitted to law schools in Canada has an undergraduate GPA above 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, and at the most selective schools, the average GPA hovers around 3.9. Students need to take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Many students take the LSAT the summer after their third year of a university degree program, or during the first term of their fourth year.Held four times a year, the LSAT has five 35-minute sections of multiple-choice answers on the test, as well as a writing section. The test is designed to evaluate your reading, analytical, and logical skills. The LSAT is scored on a scale of 120 to 180. The average student admitted to a law school in Canada has an LSAT score of 160 or above. LSAT can be taken several times to improve your score, but find out if the school(s) you are applying to look at the lowest score, highest score, or an average.

Complete 3 years of law school to earn a J.D. (Juris Doctor). First-year courses are typically compulsory and cover subjects like contracts, criminal law, and legal writing, as well as participation in "moot court," where you practice running a mock trial. Specializations include environmental law, patent law, corporate law, and many others.

Apply for internships (articling) in the summer after second year to gain valuable legal experience. After receiving J.D., student is required to article for a time in order to become certified to practice law. Pass the bar association course to become licensed. The bar association of each province has a particular set of requirements for you to become certified to practice. The bar examination is offered three times a year. It tests knowledge in several practice areas. There are two parts: the Barrister examination tests knowledge of public law, criminal procedure, family law, and civil litigation; the Solicitor examination tests knowledge of real estate law, business law, wills, trust, and estate administration. Each part is about seven hours long. Student is obligated to article for several months, depending on the province - either for a private practice, or for public legal services.