Do I need to take the NCA exams if I graduate from an LLM program in Canada?

It depends on what your NCA assessment is and the type of LLM you graduate from.

What is your NCA Assessment?

If the NCA assessment requires you to study at a Canadian law school, you don’t have much choice. You have to attend a Canadian law school to fulfill the requirement.

If your NCA assessment requires you take NCA courses, you can decide whether to take the NCA exams privately or graduate from an LLM program.

LLM Program you graduate from?

Please be careful choosing the program. NCA applicants MUST must have NCA approval of all courses they wish to take at law school prior to starting the course. Please visit Assistance for NCA Students page. Please not that NOT ALL LLM PROGRAMS IN CANADA FULFILL NCA REQUIREMENTS. 

Here are a few programs that may fulfill your NCA requirements.

1. University of Toronto: The Global Professional Master of Law (GPLLM) in Canadian Law in a Global Context offered by University of Toronto is a 12-month Master of Laws (LLM) program that enables participants to work full-time while earning their degree.  The GPLLM program includes nine (9) courses designed to meet the National Committee on Accreditation’s Requirements for internationally trained lawyers, including the core subject areas and optional courses others. If you would like to learn more about the program, please visit the GPLLM website.  You can also email the GPLLM Program at gpllm@utoronto.ca or call 416.978.1400 with any questions. 

2. Osgoode Professional Development, Toronto: OsgoodePD has a variety of NCA exam preparation program. For example, Canadian Common Law LLM program and LLM Single Course Enrollment.  Visit the International Lawyers and Law Graduates page for more information.

3. University of Calgary: The Foreign Trained-Lawyers Program (FTLP) is a one-year Post-bachelor’s Certificate which can help you complete the educational requirements of the NCA. Visit law.ucalgary.ca/FTLP for more information or email lawFTLP@ucalgary.ca.           

4. The University of Alberta: There are different NCA programs offered at the University of Alberta. Visit the University of Alberta’s Internationally Trained Lawyer Program, or email law.nca@ualberta.ca for more information.

We at Law Study Kit provide resources to NCA students including YouTube videos, NCA exam study material, and one on one sessions. We are working on expanding our exam study material. Our YouTube videos highlight different aspects of being an internationally trained lawyer. The struggle, the wins, and how to manage the lows. At LSK, we believe that as an internationally trained lawyer you might be different but you are not less than anybody else.