Information on Student Admissions
Admissions
are subject to the Law Society Act, 1999
(the “Act”) and the Law Society Rules (the
“Rules”), which include regulations, by-laws and resolutions approved by the
governing body of the Law Society. It
remains the responsibility of the applicant to be aware of and meet all the
requirements and deadlines necessary for admission to the Law Society of
Newfoundland and Labrador. Should questions arise considering these
requirements, these questions should be addressed directly to the Law Society.
Requirements in the Act
Admission of
students is dealt with in section 35 of the Act. Applications for admission are considered by
the Education Committee. Sections 35 (1) & (2) of the Act state:
35 (1) The
evaluation of all matters relating to the academic qualifications, character
and fitness to practice of an applicant, and the evaluation of applications for
enrolment as a member or for admission as a student, is under the control of an
education committee which the benchers shall establish and maintain.
(2) The
Education committee shall consider all matters relating to academic
qualifications, character and fitness to practice of an applicant for enrolment
as a member or for admission as a student and shall prescribe the contents of
bar admission examinations and other special examinations or educational
requirements.
The Education
Committee also prescribes the period of Articles
of Clerkship, generally 12 months, to be served by an applicant.
Requirements in the Rules
The Rules provide more detail regarding the
requirements for an applicant applying for admission as a student with the
Society. Rule 6.03 states:
Application for Admission As Student
6.03 (1) The Education Committee may approve the admission of a person as a
student where that person proves to the Education Committee’s satisfaction and
in accordance with the rules that the person:
(a) is of good
character and reputation; and
(b) (i) is receiving or has received a degree in common law from a
university in Canada
recognized by the Education Committee; or
(ii) has received a
degree in common law from a University outside of Canada and has completed such other
program of education, training and study that is satisfactory to the Education
Committee.
(c)
has
completed the required application forms and provided all documentation and
information required by the Education Committee;
(d) has applied for
admission as a student and provided the required application forms, including:
(i) An application for admission as a
student in form 6.03A
(ii) Application for enrolment as a student (Applicant’s
Questionnaire) in form 6.03B
(iii) Two completed sponsor’s questionnaires in form 6.03C; and
(iv) Executed Articles of Clerkship as required
by rule 6.05A
(e) has, where
required by the Act, Rules or the Education
Committee, bound himself or herself to Articles of Clerkship with a
member in accordance with these Rules;
(f) has paid such
admission fees as may be fixed from time to time by Benchers;
(g) has satisfied any
other requirements of the Education Committee.
(2) The Education
Committee may approve the enrolment of a person admitted as a student under
rule 6.03(1) where the person proves to the Education Committee’s satisfaction
and in accordance with the rules that the person:
(a) continues to be of good character and
reputation;
(b) is 19 years of age or over;
(c) has served Articles of
Clerkship for a period totalling at least one year or such other period prescribed by the Education Committee;
(d)
has
attended and successfully completed the Bar Admission Course and the
examinations as prescribed by the Education Committee;
(e) has completed the required application forms and provided
all documentation and information required by the Education Committee; and
(f) has satisfied any other requirements of the Education
Committee.
(3) An applicant for
admission as a student shall, unless the education committee otherwise
determines upon special circumstances, have included in his or her programme of
studies as a law student the major basic courses in the following subject
areas:
(i) Canadian
constitutional law
(ii)
civil
procedure
(iii)
contracts
(iv)
administrative
law
(v)
personal
property
(vi)
real
property
(vii)
torts
(viii)
criminal law
(4) The education
committee may refuse admission as a student to any applicant who has not
included in his or her programme of studies any one or more courses in the
following subject areas:
(i) commercial law
(ii)
corporation
law
(iii)
evidence
(iv)
family law
(v)
wills
(vi)
trusts
(vii)
criminal
procedure
(5) Except in cases where an applicant has received the
approval of the education committee, all of the subjects mentioned in rules 6.03(3)
and (4) shall have been studied in relation to the Canadian federal and
provincial systems of law.
(6) Where an applicant has received a degree in law but
has not completed one or more of the subjects mentioned in rules 6.03(3) or (4)
or who has not complied with rule 6.03(5), the applicant, before being admitted
as a student:
(a) shall, in case of non-compliance with any part of rules
6.03(3) or 6.03(5) in relation thereto; or
(b) may, in case of non-compliance with rules 6.03(4) or 6.03(5)
in relation thereto;
be required to make arrangements with a
university in Canada
recognized by the education committee to study, and write and pass examinations
in the subject areas in which the student is otherwise deficient.
Documents to
be submitted for Student Admission
All of the following
documents must be submitted by an applicant applying for admission to the
Society as a student before
the application is considered by the Education Committee.
Please note:
The forms noted below can be found on the Law Society website by clicking on
Members Services, and then clicking on Law Society Rules. The forms are found at the end of the Rules.
$ Form
6.03A - Application for Admission as Student and affidavit
$ Form
6.03B - Application for Enrollment as Student (Applicant’s Questionnaire),
including Declaration of Applicant
$ Form
6.03C - Two Sponsor’s Questionnaires, one of which is to be completed by
each of the applicant’s two sponsors
$ Form
6.05A - Articles of Clerkship
$ A transcript from the Law School
which the applicant is attending. In the
case of an applicant who has already graduated from Law
School, a photocopy of the Law Degree
and a transcript from the Law
School is required. (Please note that those applicants who are
admitted as students before graduating from Law School
will need to submit a photocopy of their Law Degree when it is obtained.)
$ A photo of passport type.
$ A cheque or money order in the
amount of the $339.00 ($39.00 HST included) payable to the Law Society of
Newfoundland and Labrador for the student
application fee.
As noted in Rule 6.03(3), set out above, the following are required
courses:
(i) Canadian Constitutional Law
(ii) Civil Procedure
(iii) Contracts
(iv) Administrative Law
(v) Personal
Property
(vi) Real
Property
(vii) Torts
(viii) Criminal Law
As noted in Rule 6.03(4), set out above, the following are recommended
courses:
(i) Commercial Law
(ii) Corporation Law
(iii) Evidence
(iv) Family Law
(v) Wills
(vi) Trusts
(vii) Criminal Procedure
Student Fees
The following
fees are payable at various stages in the admissions process. Please make cheque
or money order payable to the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Please Note:
Fees
are subject to change and applicants should contact the Law Society to
determine current fees.
(i) Student
Application Fee - $339.00 (HST $39.00 included).
The Student Fee must accompany the Application for Admission as a
Student.
(ii) Bar
Admission Course - $2,542.50 (HST $292.50 included).
The Bar Admission Course fee must be paid at least fourteen (14) days
before the Course commences.
(iii) Call
to the Bar Fee - $706.25 (HST
$81.25 included).
The Call to the Bar fee must be paid
at least fourteen days before the date of the Call to the Bar.
Please note:
A student must be admitted
as a Student-at-Law with the Law Society before any articling time can count.
Further details on student
admissions are included in the Law Society’s Information Package on Admissions.
If you would like to receive a copy of this Information Package please contact
the Law Society.
Further Information:
Should you require further
information or have specific questions please contact the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador
at the following address:
Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador
P.O. Box 1028
4th Floor, 196-198
Water Street
St. John’s, NL A1C 5M3
Attention: Francis P. O’Brien
Director of Legal Education
Telephone: (709) 722-4740
Fax: (709) 722-8902
