Application for Admission to the 2023-2024 Lawyer Licensing Process

Welcome to the online application for the Ontario lawyer licensing process.

You must ensure that both parts of this application, the application fee and the required supporting documentation are received by the Law Society by December 1, 2022, by 5:00 p.m. E.S.T. or a late filing fee will be applied to your account.

This is the first of a two-part application process for admission to the Ontario lawyer licensing process:

• Part I is to be completed online. 
• Part II requires you to print and mail the completed application with the supporting documentation to the Licensing and Accreditation Department of the Law Society of Ontario (LSO).
• The application fee must be paid by credit card (online) or by certified cheque or money order (sent to the LSO’s Accounts Office). Payment must be received by the application deadline to avoid being charged a late fee.

Prior to applying, please read the following information, which will provide you with a thorough understanding of the application process, the submission process, the schedule and the choices to be made:

• the webpage entitled Completing the Lawyer Licensing Process Application, which has directions on how to complete and submit the application; 
• the Licensing Process Policies; and
• the Licensing Examination Rules and Protocol. 

By submitting this application, you are declaring that the information you have provided in this application and any supporting documents is complete, true and correct. You also understand that providing false or misleading information to the Law Society in relation to this application will result in your not being licensed under the Law Society Act.

Before you can begin any experiential training program, you must ensure that your application to the lawyer licensing process is complete (Part I and Part II). For additional information about the requirements that have to be met before proceeding with your experiential training selection, refer to the path that you plan to take to fulfil this requirement (Articling, Law Practice Program or Exemption).

Additional date information can also be found on the Dates to Remember page and the Licensing Examination Deadlines and Dates page. Applicants who wish to write a licensing examination in the 2023-24 Licensing Cycle (Summer 2023, Fall 2023 or Winter 2024) should apply by this application deadline. An earlier sitting held in Winter 2023 is available on the application for applicants who graduate in time, apply and become registered prior to the applicable examination registration deadline. Please note that candidates who choose to write the early sitting held in Winter 2023 belong to an earlier Licensing Cycle (2022-23) and therefore have only two full subsequent Licensing Cycles in which to complete their licensing requirements, instead of three.

Following the application deadline, applications may still be filed; however, a late filing fee will be applied. It is recommended that you apply by the deadline, as a late application may delay your eligibility to obtain study materials and register for the licensing examinations.

If you are a lawyer licensed to practise law in any province within Canada, you should first refer to the following section on requirements for admission to the Ontario Bar:

Mobility and Inter-jurisdictional Frequently Asked Questions 

If you have any questions while applying online, please contact the Licensing and Accreditation Department.

To begin your online application to the licensing process, you will need:

• A valid email address that has not reached its inbox limit and will remain active for the entire time you are in the licensing process. A personal email account is recommended over a school or work account. 
• A valid credit card to pay the application fee when you complete the application online.
• Approximately 20 to 60 minutes of your time to complete the application. For security reasons, your connection will be terminated if there are 30 minutes of inactivity during your session. 
• Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader. Do you need to download Acrobat Reader?

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