davidrn

Hi,

Currently working on a Degree in Law - LLB(Hons) with the Open Univeristy at home part time does anybody know if both immigration services in Canada and the law society of Canada / Governing body of lawyers in Canada approve and accept an Open University law degree from the UK.

Thanks

JAJ

Immigration may accept it, law societies may not.

Almost Canadian

Immigration will accept it as a degre, if you wish to use it to become a lawyer in Canada you will need to have it assessed by the NCA who will then tell you what further exams you will need to write before they will issue you with a Certificate of Equivalency to enable you to proceed to be called to the Bar. All Provinces and Territories, with the exception of Quebec, use the NCA to accredit foreign law degrees.

The NCA's website is here:http://www.flsc.ca/en/foreignLawyers/foreignLawyers.asp

This page will provide you with the application process and an indication of how your degree is likely to be assessed: http://www.flsc.ca/en/foreignLawyers....asp#procedure

It will tell you all you need to know.

Best of luck

lcar

I graduated with the LLB (Hons) from the Open University back in 2006.
Immigration definitely accept it - we've already cleared that hurdle. But the qualification itself won't be accepted in Canada, or at least not in full.
A friend who graduated in law at a more 'standard' university still had to retake several years (courses) of his law degree in Ontario, before he was allowed to practice.
It isn't impossible though.
I was advised to apply in the Yukon, then move somewhere else a couple of years post-qualification!
Best of luck.

Almost Canadian

Ontario requires compliance with the NCA process as I stated above. Provincial Law Societies do not have any input into the NCA process, it is handled by the NCA.

Why Yukon? The NCA will still have to assess the degree and will give an applicant the same exams to write irrespective of where the applicant intends to practice. From that point forward, the applicant would be in the same position as a Canadian law graduate, except that some Provincial Law Societies may give the applicant a slight reduction in the period of time to Article. Certainly not worth the effort of trying to make a go of things in Yukon and then relocate at a later date.

lcar

Yes I agree - the NCA are very likely to ask the OP to retake several courses. I just meant that if that's really what you want to do (law in Canada), then it can be done, you just have to carry on studying for longer and retake courses.
For what it's worth, I took the LSAT (law schools admission test) - which I found very challenging - with a view to applying for law schools. I took it in London UK - there are various venues offering it.
I think the Yukon comment was tongue in cheek - 'there are fewer applicants for law schools in the Yukon, so they are a little easier to get into' was the gist. Maybe I should have put a smiley in...

Almost Canadian

Most NCA applicants write the NCA's own exams, very few attend law school. I don't know this for certain but I doubt very much that there is less competition for law school in Yukon. The competition is very tough for all law schools in Canada. I cannot imagine that, a student that wants to practice in Canada, would give up a place for law school in Yukon, only to attend a US law school and have to subject themselves to the NCA process.

ExKiwilass

there's a law school in the Yukon? I read it as the Yukon was an easier place to work as a foreign lawyer. They're pretty keen to get people up there.

Almost Canadian

I have no idea. The OP hasn't returned in any event

dbd33

I don't think there can be a law school up there. My daughter was living in Alaska when she drifted into law, I believe she went to Vancouver because it was the nearest place.

R I C H

Law schools in Canada: http://www.campusaccess.com/educatio...ls-canada.html

Soon to be added to with a new law faculty at Thompson Rivers University.