Overview
Lawyers advise clients on legal matters, represent clients before administration boards and draw up legal documents such as contracts and wills. Lawyers also plead cases, represent clients before tribunals and conduct prosecutions in courts of law. Lawyers are employed in law firms and prosecutor's offices. Lawyers are employed by federal, provincial and municipal governments and various business establishments or they may be self-employed. Articling students are included in this unit group.
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Advise clients of their legal rights and all matters related to law
Research legal precedents and gather evidence
Plead clients' cases before courts of law, tribunals and boards
Draw up legal documents such as real estate transactions, wills, divorces and contracts, and prepare statements of legal opinions
Negotiate settlements of civil disputes
Perform administrative and management functions related to the practice of law
May act as mediator, conciliator or arbitrator
May act as executor, trustee or guardian in estate and family law matters.
Lawyers may specialize in specific areas of the law such as criminal law (lawyers only), corporate law, contract law, taxation law, administrative law, international law, commercial law, real estate law, family and estate law, intellectual property law and labour law.
Employment prospects
Annual salary
$62,568
$120,318
$197,861
Job openings
Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.
Strong job outlook
British Columbia
2,096expected job openings (5-year forecast)
Education and training
Employment requirements
Two to three years of undergraduate studies, a bachelor's degree from a recognized law school, successful completion of the bar examination and completion of a period of articling are required.
Licensing by the provincial or territorial law society is required.
Be an active member of a law society in the province or territory of legal practice.
Additional information
- Lawyers wishing to practise in another province or territory are required to pass examinations set by the provincial or territorial law society, except in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan where the National Mobility Agreement (2013) was implemented.
Certification requirements
Mandatory: You need the following certification to practice as Lawyers in B.C.
- Qualification (Bar) Exam through the Law Society of British Columbia - Lawyers
Qualification (Bar) Exam through the Law Society of British Columbia - Lawyers
Confirm with the certifying body that your intended program qualifies you for this certification. Following completion of a Juris Doctor program, articling period at law firm, and the Law Society B.C. Professional Legal Training Course, you can take the Qualification Examinations to gain admission to the B.C. Bar and begin practicing as a lawyer.
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