Learn about the Society’s Bar Admission Program consisting of PREP and the Cultural Competence Workshop.
What is the Bar Admission Program?
The Bar Admission Program is the program used by the Society, together with articles, to determine whether an Articled Clerk is competent to be called to the Bar.
The Bar Admission Program currently consists of two components:
- Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP) – regular or accelerated program
- Cultural Competence Workshop
What is PREP?
The Society has partnered with the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED) to deliver the Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP).
PREP will help articled clerks gain practical legal knowledge and competencies in lawyer skills, practice management, professional ethics, and the personal attributes needed to successfully practice law in Canada using a consistent, integrated approach that combines interactive, transactional learning and simulation within distinct phases. It is comprised of four phases: foundation modules, foundation workshops, virtual law firm, and the final capstone assessment.
How do I register for PREP?
Articled clerks, or firms on their behalf, must register directly with CPLED for PREP. The Society is not involved in the registration process. Visit the CPLED website to learn more about registering for the PREP program (regular or accelerated program)
What is the Cultural Competence Workshop?
As part of the Bar Admission Program, articled clerks are required to attend a one-day Cultural Competence Workshop.
Articled clerks will receive an email with further details once it is finalized.
How will my articling start date affect my completion of the Bar Admission Program and my call to the Bar?
Calls to the Bar take place quarterly. The call dates normally fall in January, April, June and November but may be moved for multiple reasons. PREP has one intake of the regular program commencing in June and one intake of the accelerated program commencing late May. The timelines accommodate articled clerks commencing June 1.
June Start
Articled Clerks who start their articles on June 1 will be called in June of the following year if they do not encounter any changes to the schedule and successfully complete the Bar Admission Program.
Non-June Start
Articled Clerks who start their articles on any date other than June 1 may have their call to the Bar delayed due to the timelines set for the delivery of the Bar Admission Program or the call dates set by the Court.