Internationally trained lawyers are not one homogeneous group. They may be immigrants to Canada, international students interested in studying in Canada, or Canadians who completed their law degree outside the country. Each internationally trained lawyer brings unique academic, professional, and lived experiences that help inform their interests and goals. However, regardless of your background, if you are an internationally trained lawyer interested in becoming licensed to practise law in Canada, you likely have questions about the process.
At OsgoodePD, we have spent more than a decade working in this space, helping thousands of internationally trained lawyers pursue their goal of becoming licensed to practise law in Canada. Every day we connect with current and prospective students to discuss their goals and share advice and information about the accreditation process. In this four-part blog series, we hope to share this information with a broader audience. We will cover the four most common topics students and prospective students want to discuss:
Part 1 – Identifying Your Goals and Getting Licensed to Practise Law in Canada
Part 2 – The NCA Process
Part 3 – Consider Your Options for NCA Requirements
Part 4 – Landing a legal job in Canada
Keep your long-term goal top of mind
Before beginning the NCA process, the first question you should ask yourself is: What are my goals? When answering this question, avoid being short-sighted. Often, NCA candidates say their goal is “to complete my NCA challenge exams.” While this may be accurate in the short term, it should not be your ultimate goal. Completing the NCA exams is a step on the pathway toward your broader objective.
Passing the NCA exams alone will not determine the trajectory of your career. Instead, even before you enter the NCA process, you should begin thinking about your end goal: securing a job in a practice area that interests you.
With this long-term goal in mind, take time to reflect on your academic and professional experiences, your personal achievements, and your interests.
What’s your story?
Whether you are applying for a job or applying to an academic program, you need a clear and compelling story or narrative. Think of your narrative as a way of explaining your CV in human terms, bringing together the different elements of your lived and professional experience to explain why you are interested in a particular job, practice area, or academic program.
To illustrate the importance of a well-crafted narrative, imagine you are the hiring manager for a corporate lawyer position reviewing the following three cover letters.
1. A highly experienced professional who has spent 15 years practising criminal law with no clear connection to corporate law, but who is currently enrolled in an LLM in Business Law. The applicant notes that practising criminal law requires resilience and suggests this resilience would allow them to thrive in a corporate law setting.
2. A recent law school graduate who has no direct corporate law work experience but presents a persuasive and engaging narrative that highlights their passion for the field. They describe their involvement in a business law organization during law school, the corporate law electives they completed, and a well-researched paper on a niche corporate law topic. The applicant also draws parallels between their background in competitive team sports and the resilience, teamwork, and discipline required in a corporate law role.
3. A junior applicant who may not have extensive experience but demonstrates enthusiasm for corporate law and highlights coursework, internships, or volunteer work that directly or indirectly relates to the role.
In this scenario, although the second applicant may not have direct experience, their persuasive and coherent narrative would likely make them a competitive candidate. Their genuine interest in corporate law is demonstrated through involvement in business law organizations and academic work in the field. Combined with their proactive approach to growth and learning, this narrative could make them stand out. By drawing parallels between their sports background and the demands of corporate law, the applicant humanizes their CV and signals to the hiring manager that they understand the skills required for the role.
The first applicant, however, has not created a compelling narrative despite having extensive experience and being enrolled in an LLM in Business Law. This applicant does not demonstrate clear self-awareness. Nothing in their CV, aside from the LLM, connects to corporate law. The lack of self-awareness is compounded by equating the practice of criminal law with corporate law. Although completing an LLM in Business Law is impressive and relevant, the hiring manager may perceive this applicant as someone who has not clearly defined their interests.
The third applicant could also be a competitive candidate, particularly for a role requiring a few years of practice experience. By connecting seemingly unrelated experiences to the role, the applicant demonstrates what makes them unique while also displaying self-awareness and strong analytical reasoning.
Crafting a strong narrative can help you make a lasting impression and increase your chances of success when applying for corporate law roles or academic programs.
Why do this work now?
Many people find developing their narrative difficult and postpone this work. It can be tempting to think, “I will craft my narrative when I start applying for jobs.” However, your story should inform how you proceed through the NCA process.
Developing your narrative early in the NCA process offers several advantages.
Clear Goals: A well-defined narrative helps you establish clear goals throughout the accreditation process. Understanding your desired practice area and recognizing your strengths and weaknesses allows you to focus on the most relevant subjects, electives, and experiences. Setting clear goals early will help you identify gaps in your experience and give you time to address those gaps by pursuing the right educational or professional opportunities, such as short courses or an LLM in a relevant field.
Networking Opportunities: Your narrative can guide how you network, helping you connect with professionals and alumni working in your preferred practice area. Engaging with the right people will allow you to gain valuable insights and advice.
Personal Branding: Developing a strong narrative early also helps you build a consistent personal brand. Your personal brand reflects your unique value in the legal market and helps distinguish you from other candidates. A clear and cohesive personal brand can make you more memorable to potential employers.
As you progress through the NCA process, your narrative will evolve. Regularly revisiting and refining your story ensures that it remains relevant and aligned with your goals. This process will help you better position yourself as you learn more about the Canadian legal market.
By shaping your narrative early and allowing it to inform your NCA journey, you will be better prepared when the time comes to apply for jobs. A persuasive narrative not only helps distinguish you in a competitive legal market but also provides a strong foundation for your long-term professional growth.
Next Up: Landing a Legal Job in Canada
The next part of the series explores tips for entering the Canadian legal job market: Part 4 – Landing a Legal Job in Canada
This blog is part of our four-part series for internationally trained lawyers:
Part 1 – Identifying Your Goals and Getting Licensed to Practise Law in Canada
Part 2 – The NCA Process
Part 3 – Consider Your Options for NCA Requirements
Part 4 – Landing a Legal Job in Canada
Want to discuss the next step in your journey?