In the multicultural landscape of British Columbia, the legal profession reflects the diversity and richness of its population. Globalization has brought a surge of Internationally Trained Lawyers (ITLs) to British Columbia, some of whom are experienced lawyers in their home countries, enriching the legal community with diverse backgrounds, specialized skills and unique perspectives.

The journey to becoming a lawyer in B.C. varies depending on where the law degree was earned. There’s a predictable path for those who earned their law degrees in Canada, and a not so predictable one for those who earned their degrees outside Canada — ITLs.

ITLs seeking admission to the B.C. Bar must have their foreign law degrees evaluated by the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada (FLSC) to ensure their knowledge of Canadian law is equivalent to that of a Canadian law school graduate. The NCA may require supplemental exams or courses for full accreditation. Upon passing these, ITLs receive a Certificate of Accreditation, allowing them to pursue articles and enroll in the BC Law Society Admission Program.

Tolu, who moved from Lagos, Nigeria to Victoria, B.C. in 2018, faced unique challenges in trying to be a lawyer in B.C. due to limited information about the NCA process, cultural integration and the lack of study buddies. Tiffany, who pursued law school in the United Kingdom, found the journey particularly challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic while navigating NCA qualifications and seeking articling positions. Tolu and Tiffany’s NCA experience tested their adaptability, determination and resilience as they balanced work and study to complete the NCA exams.

Finding articles can be daunting for both Canadian law school graduates and ITLs. Many ITLs often lack the strategic advantages that Canadian law school graduates possess, such as access to a Law Careers Office, On-Campus Interviews and peer support. This void is even more acute for ITLs who are members of visible minority groups or recent immigrants to Canada. ITLs need creativity and resilience to navigate the challenges of finding articles. Creativity involves exploring unconventional routes to find articles and to learn by osmosis, including working as a legal assistant, paralegal or other law adjacent roles in a law firm or legal department.

For Tolu and Tiffany, working as legal assistants proved valuable for finding articles and gaining insights into B.C. legal practice. This role provided skills that helped them transition into their articles. ITLs in legal assistant roles can acquire technical and soft skills for a smoother transition to articling and practising law. As a legal assistant, Tolu worked on a large and complex litigation file, familiarized herself with the B.C. court system and rules, learned e-trial software and built valuable relationships with team members. Tiffany on the other hand gained experience in drafting contracts and litigation documents, managing transactional and litigation matters and expanding her professional network.

The landscape of the Canadian workforce is evolving, and those seeking articling students should consider ITLs with law degrees who are eager to practise in Canada. The talent pool for articling students is broader than initially thought, and ITLs are a valuable asset to the legal field. Their diverse backgrounds and unique perspectives reflect Canada’s multiculturalism, enriching the legal profession with a broader range of experiences and insights.