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U.K. Can Become Lawyers In Ontario – May 2010
John F. Kennedy
Canada and the United States share the 49th parallel which is the world’s longest
uncontested border. The United States and Canada also share a very common
legal system. This commonality has made it possible to attend law school in the
United States, enter the lawyer licensing process in Ontario and eventually
become a lawyer in Canada.
Foreign Law School Graduates – U.S. and U.K. - Bar Admission In Ontario
It has historically been difficult for graduates of law schools located outside of
Canada to become lawyers in Ontario. This short essay is for the purpose of
providing clarification (at a specific point in time – remember that this information
is changing) on the following questions:
The requirements to become a lawyer in Ontario are found in the Law Society
Act. S. 27(2) of the Law Society Act requires “good character” in order to be
issued a license to practice law. S. 62 of the Act authorizes the Law Society to
make by-laws:
Therefore, the focus should be to ensure that all those who enter the lawyer
licensing process have these “required competencies”.
S. 9 of Law Society By-Law 4, makes it clear that in order to enter the “Lawyer
Licensing Process” one must have either of the following two academic
qualifications:
http://www.lsuc.on.ca/regulation/a/by-laws/bylaw4/
It is important to note that having either qualification does NOT allow one to be
admitted to the bar. Rather, the academic qualification provides the “required
competency” to enter the Lawyer Licensing process. The Lawyer Licensing
Process consists of both articling and some required exams. Successful
completion of the lawyer licensing process will allow one to be admitted to the
bar and become a licensed lawyer.
The requirements for bar admission in Ontario are subject to both the Canadian
Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Ontario’s Fair Access To Regulated
Professions Act.
The purpose of this essay is to provide a short overview of the bar admission
process for foreign lawyers. What works? What doesn’t? Suffice it to say that:
- Law Society requirements for bar admission have been struck down
because they violated various sections of the Charter of Rights (example
citizenship);
- The rules of the NCA may well be challenged as being in violation of the
basic provisions of FARPA – the NCA requirements may not meet the
requirement of S. 6 of FARPA – that is that they be: “transparent,
objective, impartial and fair”.
http://www.e-
laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_06f31_e.htm#BK7
It’s simple. They enter the Lawyer Licensing Process. Their law degree is a
presumption (without further inquiry) that they have the “required competencies”.
http://www.flsc.ca/en/foreignLawyers/foreignLawyers.asp
5. What, are the NCA requirements for graduates of three year U.S. and
U.K. law live classroom (this does not apply to the University of
London external program) programs?
Whether you live them or hate them, the fact is that the NCA is evaluating
transcripts from law schools all around the world. The following discussion is
narrow in focus. It applies to graduates of three year live law school programs in
the United States and the U.K.
The NCA has identified that the “required competencies” must be demonstrated
in ten basic areas. In the words of the NCA:
http://www.flsc.ca/en/foreignLawyers/faq.asp
Note that of the ten subjects only the first four are Canadian subjects. The last six
courses are “common law” subjects that can be studied at any “common law”
school. The law of contract is the same whether you take the course in London,
England at Queen Mary or in London, Ontario at Western. This means that
graduates of U.S. law schools who have studied the last six courses are (subject
to acceptable academic performance) presumed to have demonstrated the
“competency requirement” for those six courses.
Conclusion
This short analysis is NOT legal advice. It is to provide a framework for graduates
of U.S. and U.K. law schools to understand how to become a lawyer in Ontario. It
is essential that foreign law school graduates:
1. Keep track of how the laws and NCA requirements may change.
2. Contact the NCA and make sure that you understand the requirements.
John Richardson, B.A., LL.B., J.D. ( Of the Bars of Ontario, New York and
Massachusetts).
http://www.lawschoolbound.org
http://www.prep.com
http://www.prelawforum.com