Legal Basics: How Can a Lawyer Help?

When Canadians find themselves in life-changing situations – car accidents, divorces, criminal charges, unjust dismissal from a job – they look to lawyers for help, often with the help of a lawyers directory.

Lawyers play an important role in our society. They act as advocates, advisors, and counselors on issues requiring sophisticated legal knowledge. It is a lawyer’s job to represent you and your interests when you are incapable of doing so.

What does it take to become a lawyer?

In Canada, becoming a lawyer requires years of education and training.

The first step is completing your undergraduate studies. Most Canadian law schools require students to obtain a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS), or complete an acceptable amount of work towards such a degree.

Next, prospective lawyers must pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). This is a critical part of the admissions process for law schools in the United States, Canada, and numerous other countries. The tests are graded between 120 and 180, with a median score of roughly 150.

Following the LSAT, students may apply to a Canadian law school. There are numerous law schools across Canada, including in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. In order to qualify for bar membership, prospective lawyers must complete a Bachelor of Laws (L.L.B.) or Juris Doctor (J.D.) program, which generally takes three years.

The final step to becoming a lawyer is completing the Bar Admission Course in a Canadian province or territory. Each governing body has a unique course. For example, Ontario’s Law Society (The Law Society of Ontario, formerly known as the Law Society of Upper Canada) requires that lawyers complete Ontario’s Bar Admissions Course; the Law Society of British Columbia requires completion of the Law Society Admission Program.

What are the different types of lawyers?

There are numerous fields of law in Canada, each of which requires specialized training and each of which are represented in this lawyers directory. This website aims to help clients find representation in the fields of personal injury law, criminal defence, business and employment law, family law, and real estate law, to name a few.

We will discuss the different fields of law in future blog articles. For now, know that ExperiencedLawyers.ca can help you find the legal representation you need in the city where you need it.

Our comprehensive listings include qualified lawyers in Canada: lawyers with at least ten years of experience; who have received Queen’s Counsel designation, who have been recognized as certified specialists by their local bar associations or law societies; or who are partners with law firms in good standing with local governing bodies.

If you require the help of an experienced legal professional, start your search with a reputable lawyer directory like ExperiencedLawyers.ca.