Advisories NCA Assessment and Appeal Policy Updates
Amended NCA Assessment and Appeal Policies will come into effect on June 1, 2021.
The changes to the Assessment Policy, approved following a comprehensive review by the NCA, include the addition of an assessment tool for the evaluation of the competency in legal research and writing and amendments to the Mode of Study section to clarify the requirements that must be met for studies to be considered online interactive learning. Effective January 1, 2022, to demonstrate competence in legal research and writing, NCA applicants will be required to either complete the legal research and writing module developed by the NCA and the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED) or complete a course in legal research and writing through an approved Canadian law school program.
Additional changes to the NCA policies were also made to improve readability and clarity, and enhance transparency, as well as to better organize content and define terms.
Sections of the NCA’s Appeal Policy were amended to more clearly define all of the steps and related deadlines of the appeal process. In particular, to assist applicants and the NCA to better respond to deadlines, changes clarify how to calculate time delays. To expedite the appeal process measures have been introduced permitting certain procedural requirements to be waived with the consent of the person requesting the appeal.
NCA policies are based on, and comply with, the National Requirement, the Federation standard that all must meet to qualify for bar admissions in Canada.