So you're already a lawyer and considering moving to Canada. You wanna know what it takes to become a lawyer in Canada.
In order to become a lawyer you must apply to the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) for an assessment which will set out the requirements you have to satisfy in order to become accredited. The assessment application is $410 CDN + applicable taxes. In your application you will have to include official transfcripts sent directly from your institution, a certificate of good standing from your legal regulatory body (if applicable), as well as an official copy of transcripts from your legal regulatory body for any examinations required by that body (if applicable).
If you received legal training in a language other than French or English, you will be required to prove compentency in English by scoring a minimum of 7.0 for writing, speaking, reading and listening on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Once your completed file is received by the NCA, you will need to wait between 4-6 weeks for your file to be processed. The factors used in assessing your application can be found HERE.
Once you receive your assessment you will need to satisfy the requirements set out in the report by one of three ways:
1) Through writing the NCA administered exams (There are a minimum of 5 mandatory subjects)
2) By taking the prescribed courses in a Canadian law school
3) By completing a Canadian commmon law degree.
The last two options will require you to apply to Canadian law schools which is a highly competitive process.
You have 5 years from the date of receiving your assessment to complete your NCA requirements. After you've completed the process, the NCA will issue you and the Canadian law socieity of your choosing a certificate of qualification. This certificate allows you to begin the licensing process for the province* of your choice.
*(The above information is only applicable to all Canadian provinces other than Quebec. The process for becoming a licenced lawyer in Quebec is different and you should consult Barreau du Quebec for information on their licensing process.