From the Philippines to Ontario: A Lawyer’s Pathway

Written By Amie Rose Lisking Onda

Most Filipinos romanticize the first world for its dollars, dreamy snowy seasons, and, for some, the allure of meeting an 'afam!' Canada might seem like the perfect first-world country… errr… but please, don’t come to Canada—not right now, at least. Unpredictable immigration policies and growing unfavorable opinions toward international students and immigrants are making it feel less welcoming.

However, if you absolutely insist—because the weather in the Philippines is just too hot and humid, the politics too crazy, or the crime rates too high—then yes, welcome to the Great White North!

They say there are a hundred pathways to becoming a Canadian resident or citizen. If you’re a Philippine lawyer itching to join the ballooning ranks of Ontario’s legal professionals, here’s your 2-minute guide:

The Path for Foreign-Trained Lawyers

To practice law in Ontario as a foreign-trained lawyer, you must navigate the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) process and the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) Licensing Process.

1. NCA Accreditation

So, you’re a Philippine lawyer dreaming of practicing in Canada? The National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) is your starting point. The NCA evaluates your legal education and experience to ensure they meet Canadian standards.

For Filipino lawyers, this typically involves:

  1. Applying for an NCA Assessment: Submit your credentials to determine the subjects you need to complete.

  2. Completing the Required Exams: Most Filipino lawyers will be assigned the following NCA core subjects:

  • Canadian Administrative Law (mandatory)

  • Canadian Constitutional Law (mandatory)

  • Canadian Criminal Law (mandatory)

  • Foundations of Canadian Law (mandatory)

  • Canadian Professional Responsibility (mandatory)

Additionally, you might be assigned these subjects

  • Contracts

  • Torts

Legal Research and Writing Requirement (mandatory for assessments after January 1, 2022)

If your qualifications are assessed after January 1, 2022, you must complete a course in Legal Research and Writing. This requirement can be fulfilled through:

  • An approved Canadian common law program, or

  • The NCA Legal Research and Writing Module provided by the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED).

The good news? You can prepare for these exams on your own and take them online from the Philippines. Once you’ve passed, you’ll receive a Certificate of Qualification—your ticket to starting the licensing process in Canada.

2. LSO Licensing Process

Once you pass the NCA exams, the next step is to apply for the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) Licensing Process. This involves:

  1. Passing the Barrister and Solicitor Licensing Exams

  2. Fulfilling the Work Experience Requirement, which can be completed through:

  1. Articling: a 10-month program that provides law graduates with practical experience and training to prepare them for their careers

  2. Law Practice Program (LPP): A 4-month virtual training program that combines simulated legal tasks and a 4-months hands-on work placement.

Filipino lawyers must usually be physically present in Ontario to write the bar exams and must have a valid open work permit, Canadian residency, or citizenship to complete the articling or Law Practice Program requirements.

The Ontario Barrister and Solicitor Exams vs. the Philippine Bar Exam

Let’s just say law school here in Ontario is a much happier place. You won’t encounter violent outbursts from professors yelling, “Get out of my classroom!” No more shaking knees or puking on the sidelines from the sheer terror of horrifying recitations. And definitely no embarrassing insults. Although, I must admit, this pressure did shape us into brilliant—but let’s be honest, slightly traumatized—Philippine lawyers. Right?

I still crack up every time I think about one of the best recitation burns from my law school days in the Philippines. (Not aimed at me, thankfully!) Back then, surviving law school was all about growing a thick skin, and somehow, even the insults ended up being hilarious. This one came from one of my favorite professors, and honestly, it still lives rent-free in my head:

Judge: “Look outside the window, Mr. Law Student. What do you see?”

Law Student: “Nothing, Judge, it’s so dark outside.”

Judge: “THAAAAT’S YOUR FUTURE!”

During law school in the Philippines, we didn’t just memorize the wording of the law—we deeply understood its intent and analyzed its application through court interpretations. In Ontario, however, you can forget about memorizing laws or case laws. Why? Because the exams here are open book. That’s right—open book and multiple-choice questions!

Unlike the Philippine Bar Exams—where you must master landmark cases and relevant jurisprudence in all fields of law, spanning from time immemorial to the most recent Supreme Court decision, along with the content of over 40 law books studied across four years (assuming you can even finish law school in just four years!)—the Ontario Barrister and Solicitor exams cover just about 2,200 pages of material.

The Philippine Bar is a grueling 4-day ordeal, with 8 hours of testing each day. In contrast, the Ontario Bar Exams are spread over 2 days, with 4 hours and 30 minutes of testing each day. And here’s the kicker: while the pass rate for the Philippine Bar hovers around 20% (with rare exceptions), the pass rate for the Ontario Bar Exams is said to be around 90%.

So, yeah—you’ve got this in the bag!

What’s Next?

But what’s next after you become a licensed barrister and solicitor? Stay tuned for the next chapter: Pathways to Canadian Permanent Residency (PR) and Citizenship for Philippine Lawyers.

Amie Rose Lisking Onda