The PLEA: Becoming a Lawyer

Step 1: Law School

To become a lawyer in Saskatchewan you must obtain a law degree from a recognised law school. Saskatchewan has one law school—the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan—but you can attend any authorised law school.

To be admitted into the College of Law, you must:

• complete at least two years (60 credits) of university in any program; and
• write the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). The LSAT is a test that measures certain abilities considered important to the study of law, including reading comprehension, analytical and logical reasoning, and writing skills.
  

For a list of all authorised law schools in Canada and details on the LSAT,
check out the Law School Admission Council at www.lsac.org.

Law School

Saskatchewan’s College of Law admits around 120 students every year in one of three application categories: Regular, Discretionary, and Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis).

For more information on the application process and categories, check out
the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Law at https://law.usask.ca.

Students accepted into law school are required to complete a three-year degree which requires hard work and commitment. Law students must read, understand, and remember a large amount of material on a variety of legal topics and apply this information to legal problems. When they graduate, students receive a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.

Step 2: Law Society Licensing

Law is a regulated profession. This means that, by law, an organisation is assigned to govern lawyers. In Saskatchewan, the Law Society of Saskatchewan regulates the practice of law in the public interest.

To become a licensed lawyer in Saskatchewan you must undertake several additional steps after law school:

• Complete the Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP) bar admissions course;
• Complete 12 months of articles (apprenticeship with an approved lawyer or a judge); and
  
• Apply to the Law Society of Saskatchewan and demonstrate suitability to practice (honest, governable, financially responsible, and show respect for the rule of law and the administration of justice).

For more information on the PREP, check out the Canadian Centre
for Professional Legal Education at https://cpled.ca.

For more information on applying to be a licensed lawyer,
check out the Law Society of Saskatchewan at www.lawsociety.sk.ca.