Canada regards law as a highly valued profession and opens several opportunities to lawyers in the country. As we all know, lawyers are in demand for providing professional legal expertise in business, public service, and dispute resolution. Many career options are available for lawyers in Canada because of their highly demanded skills in negotiation, advocacy, problem-solving, etc.
Are you planning to migrate to Canada as a lawyer? If you have recently graduated in legal studies or are currently practicing as a lawyer in your country, then Canada needs you and welcomes you wholeheartedly.
This article will highlight the various available immigration programs for lawyers in Canada- from immigrating as a lawyer and the licensing process for law practicing to building up your law career in Canada.
There are many reasons for international lawyers to settle in Canada, and some of them include:
Lawyers earn a good salary in Canada according to their area of practice, province, experience, and expertise. In Canada, the median income for lawyers and Quebec notaries (under NOC 41101) is $116,940 annually.
Job prospects for lawyers and notaries vary with provinces. In every province, they have ample opportunities. But in Ontario and Northwest Territories, possibilities are considered fair only.
Demand and supply for lawyers will be balanced across Canada in the coming years. Canada expects more and more job openings for lawyers parallel to qualified applicants, thereby opening doors to new immigrants.
Canada welcomes internationally qualified lawyers to apply for permanent residence (PR). They expect more lawyers with in-demand skills and qualifications. Let us learn about different PR programs for lawyers while migrating to Canada.
FWS is an Express Entry stream that allows skilled, internationally qualified professionals to immigrate to Canada. Under this program, applicants get PR not based on their profession but according to their Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS).
Depending upon your age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and other factors, your CRS score varies. If you have a Canadian job offer /provincial nomination/ Canadian work experience, or educational credentials, you will get additional points for CRS.
Many Canadian provinces and territories, excluding Quebec and Nunavut, have Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP). Through PNP, the provinces can nominate applicants to cement labour shortages. To apply, you must choose the province you wish to settle in and then apply for PNP directly or through the federal Express Entry system.
Some provinces shortlist applicants based on CRS, and others nominate skilled professionals with National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes. If the province seeks lawyers (NOC 41101, previously 4112, TEER 1), then chances are high to receive a provincial nomination. Here are the details regarding the provinces and PNP streams for lawyers.
B.C. Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker Stream
This stream is for candidates with a permanent job offer from BC under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 jobs. Also, there is an Express Entry option available.
Alberta Express Entry Stream
This stream is for eligible candidates listed under the Express Entry pool.
Alberta Opportunity Stream
This stream is for candidates who live and work in Alberta and possess a valid job offer from an Alberta employer.
Express Entry Human Capital Priorities
This is for skilled workers with Express Entry profiles requiring work experience, education, and language skills.
Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker
This is for French-speaking candidates with Express Entry profiles having work experience, education, and language skills.
OINP Employer Job Offer – Foreign Worker Stream
This is for skilled foreign workers with a full-time job offer for a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 job in Ontario.
Skilled Workers in Manitoba
The full-time skilled workers with long-term working experience in Manitoba, having at least six months working with the company.
Skilled Workers Overseas
Under this, any experienced foreign workers with the skillset required in the local labour market and an established connection with the province can apply.
Nova Scotia Express Entry Labour Market Priorities
Any foreign workers in the Express Entry system who meet Nova Scotia's labour market needs can apply.
Skilled Worker Stream
Any skilled worker and recent graduates with a job offer from a Nova Scotia employer are eligible to apply.
Skilled Workers Stream:
Any foreign worker having skills, education, and work experience needed in the local labour market with a full-time job offer can apply.
International Skilled Worker
Any qualified, skilled worker with a job offer under the NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 is eligible for Saskatchewan licensing (lawyers are regulated).
Note: Under SINP Express Entry streams and Occupations-In-Demand programs, Lawyers and Quebec Notaries cannot apply.
NL Express Entry Skilled Worker:
Any candidates with a high-skilled job or job offer from an NL employer are eligible to apply.
Skilled Worker:
Any qualified candidates with a job offer, skills beneficial to the labour market and accreditation required for the job can apply.
PEI PNP Express Entry
Any qualified worker in the Express Entry system can apply.
Skilled Worker Outside PEI Stream:
Any qualified worker with a PEI employer job offer in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations can apply.
Northwest Territories – Express Entry Stream:
Any qualified candidates with an Express Entry profile can apply through this stream.
Skilled Worker Stream:
Any qualified worker with the formal education, qualifications, and experience to bridge labour market shortages can apply.
Yukon Express Entry (YEE):
Express Entry applicants with a full-time job offer from an eligible Yukon employer can apply.
Skilled Worker:
This is for candidates with a full-time job offer from a Yukon employer in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations.
Candidates with working and French language skills and experience can apply through the province's Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP) to settle in Quebec.
Under RSWP, candidates can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). Candidates are selected based on age, proficiency in French and English, experience, and education. Once selected, you receive a Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec) and can apply for PR with the IRCC.
The federal program allows skilled foreign workers (also international students who pursued studies in Canada) to settle permanently in any of Canada's Atlantic provinces, such as New Brunswick (NB), Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) or Prince Edward Island (PEI),.
If you have at least one year of full-time (1,560 hours) paid work experience in the last five years, have a full-time job offer and meet language requirements from an Atlantic Canada employer, you will get selected under AIP. Thus, the criteria for selection are not based on occupation.
As a new entrant lawyer to Canada, you cannot immediately practice law in any of the provinces. Then how do you become a licensed lawyer? Firstly, you need to become a member of a law society in Canada. Before that, you must pursue a Certificate of Qualification issued by the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA). The Certificate of Qualification makes you eligible for the bar admissions program in all provinces or territories in Canada. Quebec is an exception since they practice civil law instead of common law. Factors like education, work experience, proficiency in English/French, etc., influence your period for obtaining a lawyer license.
Every legal graduate can apply for a Certificate of Qualification from the NCA irrespective of their experience, nationality, residing country or citizenship. You can apply from any part of the world. However, applying before arriving in Canada is ideal since the processing time is longer. For additional support, check if your education and qualifications make you eligible to apply for the NCA assessment process on the website.
In Quebec, the whole process of practicing law differs from other provinces. Even if you are a legal graduate, you must undergo evaluation by the Barreau du Québec (for lawyers) or the Chambre des notaries du Québec (for Quebec notaries) to practice civil law in Quebec. The NCA will not assess the legal education and experience of professionals who wish to practice civil law in Canada or become members of the Barreau du Québec member or the Chambre des Notaries du Québec.
You must complete a three-year law degree to assess your education and experience. With this degree, you can start practising after completing the bar admission process. NCA will check if the school at which you did legal studies is approved or not. Just check your eligibility through the assessment by the NCA. In a nutshell, find the whole process below:
Start filling out the online assessment application through the NCA website. You will receive a file number and a password to access your profile and to track the application status.
The following Documents are to be included:
Usually, documents must be either in English or French. In other cases, all the documents must be translated by a certified translator or a non-certified translator in English/French. The affidavit must mention that the papers are original and the translator's eligibility in Canada.
The NCA evaluates each application individually to determine eligibility for a Certificate of Qualification. Your application should be in accordance with the National Requirement. It must detail that your competencies and skills are equivalent to those of Canadian common law programs.
After NCA finishes assessing your application, you'll receive a letter describing the legal education that you need to complete. The assignment is to ensure that your knowledge is equivalent to that of someone with a law degree in Canada about Canadian common law. The validity of this assessment decision is for five years from the issue date.
As an applicant, you must demonstrate competence in eight core subjects with Canadian-specific content: Canadian Administrative Law, Canadian Constitutional Law, Canadian Professional Responsibility, Canadian Criminal Law, Foundations of Canadian Law, Contracts, Property, and Torts. As an applicant, follow either of the three ways:
The NCA can reconsider your file once you complete a minimum of four common law subjects, and then they assign you the courses you need to take to pursue the Certificate of Qualification.
You can register for NCA examinations after receiving assessment advice from the NCA indicating your eligibility. Up to three times, you can write an NCA examination within five years of the assessment advice.
After completing all the assignments (including exams) per the assessment decision, a Certificate of Qualification will be issued. Then, you can apply for entry to the bar admissions program in any Canadian province or territory (excluding Quebec).
According to the NCA, the expected time to receive your Certificate of Qualification is two years from the application time. Generally, document collection requires two to six weeks. But it may take longer if your law degree is over ten years old or you are in a country where the administration is inefficient.
The NCA assessment may take six to eight weeks, followed by completing your assignments. NCA gives ten months as the minimum time required for completing the tasks, but a maximum of five years to complete your tasks. The period includes completing the assignments, the number of attempts to clear the exam and other personal obligations.
Becoming a law society member for every lawyer in Canada is mandatory. Interestingly, Canada has 14 provincial and territorial law societies that rule over 136,000 lawyers, 4,200 notaries in the Quebec province, and 10,600 independent paralegals in Ontario. It is to be noted that Ontario is the only province that requires licenses to paralegals. Each law society is governed by provincial and territorial law, ensuring that legal professionals meet high standards of competence and professional conduct in its jurisdiction.
Applying to a law society is the final step to start practicing as a lawyer. To become a law society member, you must closely read the requirements for the province or territory you wish to practice in. The licensing process begins once you apply and register with the law society in the province or territory you want to practice. Most provinces allow you to initiate the licensing process from outside Canada. However, finding remote articling work is a tiring process. Here is the list of the Law Societies in Canada:
Articling requirements vary with law societies, and you may apply for an exemption in some cases. For instance, the Ontario Law Society allows one to attend the Law Practice Program (LPP) instead of articling. If you've practiced law in different jurisdictions, you can apply for exemption from both articling and the LPP.
You must apply to become an articled clerk to complete an articling component through your law society and arrange an articling placement. A principal must be there as a supervisor of your clerical work. Also, you need a lawyer or law firm to train and supervise your career as an articled clerk.
Writing exams are mandatory before being enrolled in a bar. However, every law society has different kinds of exams. For instance, the Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP) is the official bar admission program for Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan law societies. Students must apply to any of the bars in these law societies. For instance, In British Columbia, the Professional Legal Training Course is the bar admission course and is part of the admission program of the law society. In Ontario, students must write the barrister and solicitor examinations.
Generally, you can also write the examinations while you're articling.
After attaining the law society's eligibility criteria like articling, exams, paying fees, and a good character certificate, you become a licensed lawyer who can practise law and attend a call to the bar ceremony.
Unlike the rest of Canada, which uses the common law, Quebec is the only province where a civil code is based on the French Code Napoléon. So, to practice law in Quebec, a full permit for a foreign lawyer or jurist must be obtained. If you want to become a member of the Barreau du Québec, the foreign lawyer has to issue a permit.
You may apply for equivalence recognition through the Equivalences Committee in Barreau du Québec, including the required documentation and fee for application review. Then only you can obtain the permit.
After reviewing, the Barreau du Québec's Equivalences Committee may ask you to fulfill certain conditions to become a member. This may include:
You can start practicing law in Canada by getting a Foreign Legal Consultant (FLC) permit through a law society, even if you reside in another country. You may apply for FLC if you are qualified to practice law in a country other than Canada. And also if you wish to give legal advice in a province or territory with respect to the laws of your country. But remember that a Foreign Legal Consultant is not qualified to provide services or advice on Canadian law.
According to the Government's Job Bank, the job prospects for lawyers in most parts of Canada are good. But the chances are not that good but fair in Ontario and Northwest Territories. Lawyers are the most in-demand professionals in Manitoba and Quebec.
Depending upon the provinces, the average salaries for lawyers in Canada vary. As per the Government of Canada's Job Bank report, lawyers (NOC 41101) take home a median salary of $116,940 in Canada annually. In Canada, the median wages for lawyers are highest in the provinces of Alberta ($140,808), Ontario ($131,654), and Newfoundland and Labrador ($131,203).
For paralegals (NOC 42200), the median hourly wage in Canada is $28.02/hour. British Columbia has the highest median hourly wages at whooping $32.97/hour and Ontario at $32.14/hour. The Paralegal professions include paralegals, public notaries (excluding Quebec notaries), law clerks, and trademark agents.
As an internationally qualified lawyer, you can build your career in Canada after receiving your Certificate of Qualification from the NCA and start the bar licensing process.
Start providing legal services in a Canadian province after registering with the bar council or society. There may be job openings for Foreign Legal Consultants or articling opportunities that you can pursue during the bar licensing process. Below are tips for finding an apt job to kickstart your dream career in Canada.
Employers in Canada may look for different skills and expertise in candidates for roles in the legal profession. You can review job postings for fresh lawyers and learn about various requirements like skills, experiences, and qualifications that are in demand. If you plan to article in Canada, review postings for articled clerks in the provinces you wish to settle.
You need to understand and be aware of the requirements of the NCA to earn your Certificate of Qualification. Then, you can learn about the offerings of law faculties across Canada. For example, Osgoode Hall Law School at York University offers an online prep course for the NCA exam.
For law as well, technical skills are essential, so plan to upskill yourself with programs to improve your software proficiency, such as MS Office or PC Law. Invest your time to read the job postings and note the most prominently mentioned technical skills and software required. Canadian Bar Association offers professional development opportunities like webinars to help lawyers expand their skills. Always keep an eye on the programs of various legal organizations.
In Canada, three resume formats are standard: reverse chronological, combination (hybrid) functional. The ideal resume format will include your relevant legal experience, whether you have gaps in your work history, etc.
The majority of Canadian employers use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to shortlist resumes matching the job. Continually update your Resume according to market trends. Customize your Resume for each job, and remember to include keywords from the job description.
Regularly spend time on job search platforms such as Job Bank, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Monster, and GrabJobs for various job opportunities. Keep preparing target employers lists and keep tabs on their career pages and LinkedIn profiles. Also, check the websites of law societies or other professional associations related to practicing law regularly.
Networking plays a vital role in the professional culture in Canada. You can access various websites to explore the job market.
As a fresher, make a LinkedIn profile and connect with various professionals in your field. Networking events or law societies can update you with the current job market. Then, build and grow your relationship through regular email or social media engagement. You can then get insights into specific employers' hiring practices, referrals, and job opportunities through a referral basis.
Most Canadian employers advertise open job positions on their websites, job portals, etc. However, between 65 and 80 percent of job openings get filled through the employers' networks without ever being listed.
After submitting a resume, the employers will screen it and check with their job description. If shortlisted, then you will get a call for an interview. Here, you can prove your metal by confidently answering your academic, professional and personal backgrounds. After the initial screening, you may have to attend multiple interview rounds. Here, you need to exhibit your technical knowledge and soft skills. After the final selection, after a thorough background and reference check. And at last, you will receive a job offer.
Qualified lawyers are in high demand in almost all provinces of Canada. As an internationally qualified lawyer, Canada's immigration programs offer you exciting, lucrative openings and a golden chance to settle permanently. However, the licensing process can be time-consuming. And so you need to complete courses and examinations before landing as a lawyer in Canada. If you meet all the criteria required to practice legal services in Canada, then it's indeed the wisest decision to move to the land of Maple Leaf.
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