Articling
Articling is a 12-month period of experiential learning meant to assist in the transition from law school to the actual practice of law.
Articled clerks are members of the Society who are enrolled in the bar admission program. Find the articling forms and information documents, prerequisites for applying to article, information on how to find an articling position and how to apply.
Eligibility
To be eligible to commence articles and apply to NSBS, you must:
- have a law degree
- be lawfully entitled to work in Canada
- have an articling position arranged
Finding an articling position
To be eligible to commence articles and apply to NSBS, you must:
- have a law degree
- be lawfully entitled to work in Canada
- have an articling position arranged
Applicants are encouraged to review CPLED’s articling search resources and supports including their Student Resume Directory. Applicants can create a profile for CPLED’s directory to attract legal recruiters searching for articling students.
We also encourage applicants to review the Society’s Career Opportunities page as firms will often post articling opportunities to the Society’s website.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to find an articling position. An applicant can participate in interviewing sessions at law school and send out resumés to firms.
The traditional articling position will have a clerk working with a qualified principal or supervising lawyer.
There are also a number of other ways to fulfil the articling requirement, including sharing articles among several legal service providers over the course of the articling term, seconding to another lawyer for part of the term, and completing articles on a part-time basis.
Applicants who have completed clerkships in other provinces may apply for credit toward the requirement.
Student Resumes: CPLED’s Student Resume Directory is a central repository for law students to post their resumes where law firms can research suitable candidates for opportunities within their organizations.
Applicants can submit the Articling Application Form by creating an account within our member portal. Relevant documentation can also be uploaded via the online form. Please note: Applicants must receive an approval letter prior to commencing articles.
Some of the documentation is completed in conjunction with your Principal, who also must apply to the Society to become a Principal. They automatically will be emailed this form upon the submission of your application.
We process completed applications in the order in which they are received. NOTE: Please submit your application at least six weeks prior to your preferred articling start date (or by April 1 if applying to begin on June 1) or your start date may be delayed.
You may submit your application prior to registering for the Practice Readiness Education Program.
While articling the goal is to provide each articled clerk with an opportunity to gain experience in a variety of relevant areas, including (but not limited to) professional responsibility, personal practice and office management, interviewing and advising, negotiation, and advocacy.
- Bar Review Materials (Please note: the Bar Review Materials are updated every three years. They were last updated on May 1, 2023.)
- Articling Handbook
- Articling and Admissions Guidelines
- Competency Framework
- Guide for New Lawyers
- Statement of Articling and Admission Process Purpose and Principles