Faculty of Law
Admissions
Admission to the practice of law in the common law provinces of Canada is governed by the several Law Societies according to statute or regulation, as the case may be. In Alberta, the admission requirements are set out in the Legal Professions Act. At present, admission to the Bar of Alberta generally requires two years or the equivalent of two years, of a full program of studies leading to a degree at a university in Alberta or an acceptable equivalent, a law degree from a university in Alberta or its equivalent, one year in articles in the province and successful completion of the Bar exams. For practical purposes, pre-law work in any Canadian university is considered to be the equivalent of university work in Alberta. Pre-law work in a university outside Canada is assessed on the basis of whether the University of Calgary recognizes the academic credentials as equivalent to those at Calgary. Subject to the agreement of the Benchers of the Law Society of Alberta, articles may be served outside the normal environment of the private firm. For example, a student might serve a period of his/her articles in the legal department of a corporation, in legal service in a government department, or in clerkship to a judge. The requirements for admission to most other common law Bars in Canada are similar, although there exists some variations in the pre-law requirements and in the time required for articles and Bar Admission Course. Students who intend to seek positions in practice in other provinces are advised to contact the secretary of the Law Society of the province in question to determine the requirements in force. While the Faculty of Law may admit students to its LLB degree program, the right to practice law as a barrister and solicitor is granted only by the Law Society of the province concerned. Applicants contemplating practice should consider communicating as soon as possible with the Secretary of the Law Society of the province in which they intend to practice for all relevant particulars. Although possession of a criminal record is normally irrelevant as far as our LLB program of studies is concerned, it may be a bar to becoming qualified to practice law. |