How to become a lawyer in Canada with a foreign LLB degree?

Asked by: Opal Wisoky  |  Last update: September 22, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (10 votes)

Licensing and employment process for foreign-trained lawyers
  1. Apply to the NCA. Apply to the NCA for assessment of legal qualifications. ...
  2. Complete NCA requirements. Complete NCA exams, course work or law school program as outlined in your NCA assessment. ...
  3. Complete your articles. ...
  4. Get called to the Bar.

Can you practice law in Canada with a foreign law degree?

In order to practise law in Canada you must have a qualifying law degree from Canada, or you must take a law degree outside Canada and then go through the process required by the National Committee on Accreditation. Osgoode Hall Law School offers a Juris Doctor program for those interested in pursuing a career in law.

Can you be a lawyer in Canada with an LLB?

Yes. In order to practise law upon returning to Canada, students with LLB degrees from overseas will need to assess their qualifications with the National Committee on Accreditation (the NCA). Click this link to learn more about accreditation in Canada.

Does Canada accept US law degrees?

Using a US Law Degree in Canada: To practice Canadian law in Canada, US-trained lawyers must apply to the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) and to the law society in the province or territory where you want to practice law.

Can a foreign lawyer get a job in Canada?

Canada keeps increasing its annual immigrant take, with plans to allow over 500,000 by 2025. The yearly income for a lawyer in Canada is $110,000. Moving to Canada can help you open all the doors in this field. If you have a foreign degree as a lawyer, you can practice law in Canada.

How to become a lawyer in Canada with a foreign law degree? How much will it cost?

44 related questions found

Can you immigrate to Canada as a lawyer?

Yes, an aspiring lawyer in Canada can immigrate even without having a job offer. However, you must have a good CRS score in the Express Entry pool and fulfill the minimum 67 immigration points requirement for the Canada Work Visa under the Federal Skilled Worker stream.

Who hires international lawyers?

The available career paths for an international lawyer can be broken down into law firms, federal government, corporate counsel, international organizations and nonprofit groups.

Is LLB Recognised in USA?

Yes. Many states recognize foreign law degrees.

Is a degree from the US valid in Canada?

If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. This will enable you to provide proof that your foreign credentials are comparable to Canadian Standards when applying for a job in the public service.

Can I work in Canada with a law degree?

Canada: Canada is an attractive destination for UK law graduates due to its robust legal system and diverse opportunities. Canada provides a law system similar to that of the UK, making transitioning into the Canadian legal environment an ideal career choice.

Is an LLB worth it in Canada?

Completing an LLB degree from a Canadian university opens up numerous job opportunities in the legal sector in Canada. Some of the most popular specialisations offered as part of the LLB course in Canada include cyberspace law, forest law, administrative law, corporate law etc.

How much money does a lawyer make in Canada?

Lawyer salaries in Canada

The estimated total pay for a Lawyer is $116,145 per year, with an average salary of $103,175 per year. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users.

Is LLB equivalent to JD in Canada?

Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

It was available in Canada until the mid-2000s, when all Canadian law schools switched their degree designations to JD. The LLB is a 3-year full-time course that high school graduates can enroll in. Very few law schools offer part-time LLB studies.

Are lawyers in demand in Canada?

Law firms in major Canadian markets are seeing a high demand for their services. Still, half of legal employers say finding candidates with the required skill sets is their greatest hiring challenge in 2024.

Which states accept foreign law degrees?

Most states do require a J.D. degree for a US law school in order to sit for the bar exam. There are some states which do allow foreign law graduates to sit for the bar exam, including New York, California, New Hampshire, Alabama, and Virginia.

How long is law school in Canada?

How long is law school in Canada? It usually takes three years to complete law school. After graduating from high school, you'll complete at least three years of undergraduate studies before applying to law school.

How to get degree equivalency in Canada?

You must get your assessment from an organization or a professional body designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. They will give you a report that tells you what your education is equal to in Canada. Processing times and costs may vary by organization or professional body.

Does the US recognize foreign degrees?

Foreign education (that is education acquired outside of any State of the U.S., the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or any territory or possession of the U.S.) must be evaluated by a credential evaluation service in order to be given credit towards ...

Can a US citizen go to grad school in Canada?

You can study in Canada for up to six months without a visa, which means it's relatively easy to spend a semester abroad there. To study in Canada for longer than six months, you'll need to gain a Canadian study permit. This will be your visa for the duration of your stay.

Can you practice law in Canada with a US degree?

As an internationally-qualified lawyer, you must become a member of a law society in Canada before you can practice law in a province or territory. However, to do this, you first need to earn a Certificate of Qualification issued by the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA).

What is the salary of LLB in USA?

As of Jan 19, 2025, the average hourly pay for a Llb in the United States is $26.07 an hour. While ZipRecruiter is seeing hourly wages as high as $39.42 and as low as $13.22, the majority of Llb wages currently range between $15.38 (25th percentile) to $33.17 (75th percentile) across the United States.

What is LLB called in USA?

A Bachelor of Laws (Latin: Legum Baccalaureus; LL.B) is an undergraduate law degree offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree and serves as the first professional qualification for legal practitioners.

Where do international lawyers make the most money?

10 Highest Paying Countries for Lawyers
  • Australia – Average Annual Salary (AUD 119,278)
  • New Zealand – Average Annual Salary (NZD 84,047)
  • Netherlands – Average Annual Salary (EUR 65,000)
  • Ireland – Average Annual Salary (EUR 77,148)
  • Switzerland – Average Annual Salary (CHF 140,000)
  • Do's.
  • Don'ts.

What exam do international lawyers take?

If you have been fully admitted to the practice of law in any U.S. or foreign jurisdiction, you are qualified to take the California Bar Examination without additional legal education.

Where do most international lawyers work?

International lawyers practice in law firms, governmental agencies, public international organizations, associations, and corporations. The vast majority of private sector lawyers practice in large international law firms.