Re: NCA Exams
 

Thank you. I bought most of them from the University of Toronto book shop, but bought a few direct from the publisher, as they were cheaper. Where you taking the exams/studying?

I have started studying for them and am somewhat worried that a whole day in the library didn't even put a dent in the Foundations and Criminal Syllibi!

Re: NCA Exams
 

Anyone need a study partner (even if only for motivation purposes!) in the Toronto area for the 4 core exams & Corporate?

At the min I'm going to Richview library 2 days a week (only days I could get childcare!)

Re: NCA Exams
 

I remember when I received my Admin documents back from the NCA. The syllabus was the contents page of one of the recommended texts - all 1800 pages of the text.

You need to bear in mind that the way Canadians appear to mark exams is very different to what you are used to in the UK. Very few fail anything. Believe me, you have little to worry about.

Re: NCA Exams
 

Hi Toni,

I am in Fort St. John, BC and am thinking about enrolling on the distance learning option at Osgoode Hall Law. I have not looked at Foundations or Criminal yet but know what you mean about lack of dents!

Has anyone used Osgoode Law?

Good luck!

Re: NCA Exams
 

Thank you, makes me feel a little better!

Re: NCA Exams
 

Used it for what exactly - do you mean as some sort of prep for the NCA exams, or as an alternative to meeting the required courses? I had not heard of any 'distance learning' alternatives.

Also, curious as to what you are doing all the way up in FSJ?

FROTSUK

Re: NCA Exams
 

Hi Osgoode Hall Law offer NCA exam preparation courses twice a year in the four core subjects. Instead of attending the lectures in person it is posssible to view them over the internet.

My husband was recruited direct to FSJ from the UK. I had no plans to practice law again but ...

Does anyone have any comments about Osgoode Hall Law NCA exam preparation courses?

Re: NCA Exams
 

Thanks. I just saw this. For the longest time I was getting discouraged about law again, but I've started doing more legal writing at work and got bitten by the law bug once again. My director also encouraged me to reapply to the NCA, and just today I had an argument with one of my team members (he is a recently qualified Canadian lawyer). He argued with me that wrongful dismissal is a tort (clearly, it's a breach of contract). Anyway, that little episode gave me some encouragement too as I began to realize that I know just as much about Canadian employment law as most recent Canadian law grads.

I think I'm going to reapply after all once my book is complete. Even if I have to do more courses, so be it. Where there's a will there's a way! Otherwise, I'm going to be sitting on my deathbed (hopefully many years from now) lamenting the fact that I never became a lawyer. If I can't get it out of my system, I might as well keep trying (especially since I'm already in a management job in a quasi-legal environment). The first thing I'm going to do is phone the NCA and find out if I have a chance.

Re: NCA Exams
 

Not to rain on your argument but the other person may have been alluding to the fact that depending on the circumstances of the Dismissal, the Tort of Negligent Misstatement could be more in play, thus trumping any simple Breach of Contract. For example, as part of a WD the employer issues an employment reference 'without sufficient care' as to amount to Negligence. Possibility?

This is obviously not legal advice just the ramblings of some interweb person on a bleary saturday morning.

I am sure others will be along shortly...

FROTSUK

Re: NCA Exams - onwards and upwards
 

Back on strict topic:

By the way, anyone actually know of any english-speaking person who has actually failed one of these NCA exams? The ESL point is important and this is why I flag it up.

FROTSUK

Re: NCA Exams - onwards and upwards
 

I know of a few. Usually, they failed Admin Law.

Re: NCA Exams - onwards and upwards
 

Yes, I suspected you would mention Admin.

To me the exam itself seemed a poorly written combination of Constitutional and Foundations, a topic without enough meat of its own to merit a stand alone examination.

Save for the Charter's influence (although key) I failed to see how it differed substantially from, for example, English Public Law. I suspect that where people may have erred is thinking that the two are really just the same, and therefore did not 'swot up' sufficiently on the minor Canadian contexual differences.

Of course, Admin is (and always was) also as dry as camel s*it as a read, which does one no favours!

We will see :fingerscrossed:

FROTSUK

Re: NCA Exams
 

True, and various torts are often pleaded in conjunction with a wrongful dismissal suit. However, based on the simple question, "Is wrongful dismissal a tort or a breach of contract?" the simple answer is that it falls squarely under the law of contract (as does a large part of non-union employment law). This person was arguing that wrongful dismissal is a tort, full stop.

Re: NCA Exams
 

Ok.
Maybe the kid got it wrong.
My point is employment law tends never to be simple:

For example, is every form of employment regulated by strict common law of contract? No. Military service.

Is military service "non-union employment"? Yes.

In relation to military service employment, do torts occur in relation to the realm of 'wrongful dismissal'? Yes.

Therefore, at least in relation to military service employment, 'wrongful dismissal', cannot "fall squarely under the law of contract".

Just an academic exercise here ;)

FROTSUK

Re: NCA Exams
 

Your Articling period would be another example of a 'master/servant' relationship where you would find that (depending on your jurisdiction) you would not have a 'contract of employment'.

However, you could certainly have your service 'terminated' wrongfully, in a tortious manner.

FROTSUK

Re: NCA Exams
 

does anyone have any notes on the 4 core subjects that they would kindly share. I have the foundations and criminal notes, but it's hard to find updated constitutional and administrative law notes. Also I was wondering if it would be okay to use the Craik 2006 edition for Foundation Law with updated notes

Re: NCA Exams
 

I don't have any of the notes. Would you mind sharing your criminal & foundations, or letting me know how I can get them? Thanks

Re: NCA Exams
 

yeah no worries, pm me your e-mail

Re: NCA Exams
 

I make it Week 12 - any movement on your end? No post here yet...:blink:
Bas*ards!

FROTSUK

Re: NCA Exams
 

Nothing yet. I just have a feeling that the results are going to come the same time I have my wisdom teeth out...

Re: NCA Exams
 

Friday's post has come and gone with no sign of any results. If I don't have anything by the end of next week I'll be ringing them to make sure they didn't send the results to my old address in England (sigh).

At least I've got a weekend of skiing to keep my mind off it!

Re: NCA Exams
 

Results came in the post today (dated 19 Nov!). Hope everybody gets what they were wishing for!

Re: NCA Exams
 

Hi Scheherazade,

Hope you passed the exams? Do you mind me asking which ones did you do and what was your method of studying?

I am taking the 4 core exams in January 2013 along with Corporate Law and I am starting to get panicy about time, or lack of! I am spending a lot of time in the library reading and taking notes and don't seem to be getting through the syllibi at all. I wondered if I am taking too many notes and should just be reading and understanding at this stage? What did you do? How thorough were your notes?

Anyone else who has done the exams who can give me any advice please do get in touch. I have to pass these exams, as mine was the main income before we emigrated to Toronto and I have two hungry children to feed!!!

Cheers
Toni

Re: NCA Exams
 

Honestly, don't worry about the exams. I simply read the recommended texts and made notes about the main differences between the law I knew and the law in Canada. They are open book. I had sufficient time to read a complete chapter on an area of law to enable me to answer one question.

The standard to pass is not that high.

Re: NCA Exams
 

Thanks almost canadian,

Its hard not to worry, but hopefully if I do as much as I can in what little time I have left I will be ok?!

Re: NCA Exams
 

You'll be fine. You have plenty time in the exams. In the one of the last ones I did I managed to take completely the wrong book with me (it's a long story!).
I probably should have failed on that basis alone but somehow I still managed to pass the exam. Good luck!

Re: NCA Exams
 

Re: Time lag

I have it on good authority that one of the August exams was marked on 16th October. One wonders just what they did from the end August :sneaky:

Re: NCA Exams
 

Hi I have the notes for the core topics and can send them over (they might be old but they helped me passed and I saw loads of other candidates using the same ones). Just let me know which one. Can you send over the criminal ones? I have two sets of notes but want to compare.

Re: NCA Exams
 

Has anyone received their results for the October Foundations of Law exam?

I came out of that one quite perplexed as I couldn't answer two questions and therefore lost 20% from the start. They pertained to two case laws that were not in any of the readings. Actually, one of the cases only came out earlier this year. I know it's our responsibility to know all of the current case laws but I was relieved to see other students going straight to their smartphones after the exams to look the cases up.

Right now, they haven't failed me yet, but I got a letter stating that results was "pending". Anyone else have any insight on this?

Re: NCA Exams
 

Just finished the exams in October 2012. Had to write the four core exams.

Re: NCA Exams
 

Hi Ntran,

Any chance you wouldn't mind forwarding me the notes on the 4 core subjects? Panicking about exams only 2 weeks away!!!

Thanks
Toni

Re: NCA Exams
 

Hi Ntran, I am writing the 4 core courses at the end of the month and would love to get the notes that you have. Is there any way that you could send them to me? I'm getting quite nervous now, and the lack of direction in my studies has me worried!
Thanks!

Re: NCA Exams
 

Hi there, would you mind forwarding to me as well? I am panicked now and can't seem to find these elusive notes anywhere!

Thanks

Re: NCA Exams
 

What were the cases you didn't know anything about? Ill be sure to read them in case they are on this terms exams too! Thanks for the hesds up!

Re: NCA Exams
 

Hi Expatsun,

I totally know how you are feeling. I have been trying to steal a couple of days a week away from my lil one to study for a few hours in the library. I have been reading hard core now every day since Wed last week, but I just still feel like there is soooo much more to do for each subject to get through the syllibi! Are you finding the same?

Toni

Re: NCA Exams
 

Dan sent me some admin ones. I havent read them yet, so not sure how thorough they are. I can forward them to you if you pm me your email add. In the meantime if you get any others can you fwd them to me please. Stressed.com!!!

Re: NCA Exams
 

Yes! I am getting soo scared! Especially as I am reading furiously and understanding everything, but when looking at the past exam paper on the website - esp the problem questions I am stumped! I would love to get the notes, but can't seem to get a hold of them..

Re: NCA Exams
 

Hullo all

I have new-bought and now highlighted copies of:

Hogg (Constitutional Law)
Van Harten et al (Public Law)
Craik (Public Law)
Martin's Criminal Code 2012
Sossin and Flood

for sale.

If anyone is interested just drop me a line on here, I'm based in the UK but happy to ship.

Similarly if anyone has any questions about the core modules, I would be only too happy to help.

Chris

Re: NCA Exams
 

Hi Up North,
I'm based in FSJ too! Although I'm down south getting ready to write 2 NCA exams in Toronto. You can personal message me if you want to have a chat about life in the north...

Re: NCA Exams
 

Hi toniwharton, I am trying to study for the core exams and can't find the notes online. I just signed up and can't PM yet :S Would you be so kind as to share the notes with me? It's keisha . packeira at gmail. I hope that doesn't get me spammed by some bot lol You would have written the exams by now right? Were the notes helpful and how were the exams in your opinion? I know it's a long wait to results, I hope all goes well for you. Thanks!