Self-assessment

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Distance (on-line) education

If you earned your law degree through distance (online) education, please see section 7. (Mode of Study) of the NCA’s Policies. This policy outlines what we require for  distance education.

If you got your law degree online through distance education, the NCA will assign you two full years of in-class study. As part of your study, you must successfully complete the following NCA core subjects (in bold) and optional subjects as listed below (*indicates mandatory Canadian law courses):

• Canadian Administrative Law *
• Canadian Constitutional Law*
• Canadian Criminal Law *
• Foundations of Canadian Law *
• Canadian Professional Responsibility *
• Contracts
• Torts
• Property
• Business Organizations
• Family Law
• Remedies
• Taxation
• Evidence
• Civil Procedure
• Commercial Law
• Trust
• Real Estate

If you don't complete all eight NCA core subject assignments in class at an approved law school, you will need to meet these requirements by writing the appropriate NCA exams.

For more details on the NCA's requirements for distance education graduates, visit the Assignments section and select “I completed a law degree through distance (on-line) education”.

Click here to learn more about the NCA Process.

Likely assessment result

Distance (on-line) education and non-common law education

It seems you have studied in a non-common law country and that you have a distance degree. Please contact the NCA and we'll guide you through the steps you will need to complete with us.

Click here to learn more about the NCA Process.

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Mixed common law

If you earned your education and experience in a mixed jurisdiction that includes common law, we will consider the common law content of your programs and experience. We ask most graduates from a mixed jurisdiction to show they are competent in all eight core subjects.

• Canadian Administrative Law (mandatory)
• Canadian Constitutional Law (mandatory)
• Canadian Criminal Law (mandatory)
• Foundations of Canadian Law (mandatory)
• Canadian Professional Responsibility (mandatory)
• Contracts
• Torts
• Property

Legal research requirement

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Non-common law

We consider applicants from legal systems that do not have a substantial common law component, such as civil law, on a case-by-case basis. If you have no common law exposure (academic or professional), you are not likely to receive any recognition for your legal education and experience.

You can gain the required common law exposure by:

• taking an LL.M. program or by enrolling in individual courses
• being licensed as a lawyer, barrister or solicitor in a common law jurisdiction through successful completion of substantive course work or exams
• being certified as a paralegal or notary in a common law jurisdiction

In each case, the Executive Director has sole discretion to determine if some of the courses completed can satisfy requirements to proceed in the NCA assessment process

If you are enrolling in individual courses, once you successfully complete at least four common law subjects, the NCA will reconsider your file, as per NCA policy 15 (Assessment Reconsideration). We will then let you know which courses you still need to take to earn the NCA Certificate of Qualification.

Once you have the required exposure to common law, you can choose to satisfy the remaining subject requirements by writing NCA exams rather than taking law school courses, if you wish. Here is the NCA’s list of required subjects:

• Canadian Administrative Law (mandatory)
• Canadian Constitutional Law (mandatory)
• Canadian Criminal Law (mandatory)
• Foundations of Canadian Law (mandatory)
• Canadian Professional Responsibility (mandatory)
• Contracts
• Torts
• Property

Pre-approval for Law School Courses

Before you register for your courses, please have them approved by the NCA. For help, please see our Assistance for NCA students page. If you attend a Canadian law school, we will not require you to take a language test (each law school has their own language testing requirements). If you have any questions about the options available to you, please email us.

Legal research requirement

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Common law jurisdiction

Generally, the NCA assigns these five core common law subject areas to ALL applicants. Click on each subject to learn why it is mandatory:

• Canadian Administrative Law (mandatory)
• Canadian Constitutional Law (mandatory)
• Canadian Criminal Law (mandatory)
• Foundations of Canadian Law (mandatory)
• Canadian Professional Responsibility (mandatory)

Legal research requirement

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Canadian Civil Law

If you hold a Canadian civil law degree – LL.B., LL.L., Diplôme d’études supérieures spécialisées en Common Law nord-américaine (DESS) program of the Université de Montréal or the Diplôme de deuxième cycle de common law et droit transnational (DDCCLDT) program of the Université de Sherbrooke – the NCA will give you full credit for the courses you completed in federal law. We will usually ask you to show competence in the following subjects:

• Contracts
• Torts
• Property
• Canadian Professional Responsibility (if not successfully completed during your Canadian civil law education)

If you completed a Canadian civil law degree and are licensed by the Barreau du Québec, the NCA will automatically issue you a Certificate of Qualification when we review your completed application.

Click here to learn more about the process