These individuals have earned their law degrees and have been admitted/called to a foreign Bar. They may or may not have practised law in the country where they were admitted/called. They must be lawfully entitled to be employed in Canada.
The following is an overview of the steps required to be called to the Bar in Nova Scotia:
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Apply to the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) to have the lawyer’s law degree and credentials assessed. Commence this process before immigrating to Canada as it will take time.
Note: Nova Scotia, as a province of Canada, is a Common Law jurisdiction. Therefore, the NCA criteria are generally greater for lawyers with civil law degrees and who practise in a country with a Civil Code than they are for lawyers with a non-Canadian common law degree. - NCA issues a Certificate of Qualification.
- Submit an Application for Admission on Transfer to the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society.
- Application is considered by the Executive Director.
- Application is approved.
- Applicant completes the necessary requirements set by the Executive Director. This will include at the least the writing of the Bar Examination.
- Upon successful completion of the conditions set by the Executive Director or the Credentials Committee (as per #5 above), the lawyer is eligible for admission to the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society.