International students can find on this page some basic information about working in Canada and qualifying to practice law in Canada. We encourage international students to contact the CDO and/or the Centre for International Experience (CIE) for more information.
Working in Canada
Students who wish to work in Canada, either on campus or off-campus, should visit the Government of Canada web site to obtain information about opportunities and eligibility to work during the school year and post-graduation. On this web site, you will find information about working as a student on and off-campus, as well as about post-graduation work program and work permits for spouses.
On this web site, you will find information about working as a student on and off-campus, as well as about post-graduation work program and work permits for spouses.
You can find more information about the off-campus work permit program in our handout Off-campus Work for International Students.
Once you have reviewed the above Government of Canada web site, you should contact the International Student Centre to discuss you particular situation and to obtain more information.
Qualifying as a lawyer in Canada
A portion of our international students, who decide to stay in Canada, qualify to practice law in Canada. Foreign trained lawyers or Canadians with a foreign law degree who wish to practice law in Canada have to apply to the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) to evaluate their legal credentials and legal experience. Upon completion of its review, the NCA issues a recommendation describing any further legal education that the applicant needs to complete in order to meet the standards of a Canadian LL.B. or J.D. degree.
Once you have satisfied the NCA recommendations, you will receive the Certificate of Qualification. The certificate will allow you to proceed to a bar admission and articling program on the same basis as a graduate from an approved Canadian law school.
You can find more information about the process of qualifying as a lawyer in Canada in our guide "Job Search Strategies for Graduate Students", available on UTLawcareers.ca (password-protected)
You may also wish to consult:
It is very important to be aware of the many deadlines involved in the qualification process. We encourage students to familiarize themselves with the process and contact the CDO early on.
Foreign Legal Consultants
Foreign legal consultants are lawyers who are qualified to practice law in jurisdictions outside Canada, and who are eligible to provide legal advice with respect to laws of the jurisdiction of his/her practice. Rules and regulations regarding foreign legal consultants in Canada are regulated by provincial law societies.
You can find more information about foreign legal consultants and about registering with one of the law societies:
