Transfer to BC from another Canadian jurisdiction
This section does NOT apply if you:
- want to seek Temporary Practice in BC
- are a Practitioner of Foreign Law seeking to practise the law of your home jurisdiction while in BC
Transfer from a reciprocating jurisdiction
Lawyers who qualify under Law Society Rule 2-49.2 and the National Mobility Agreement or the Territorial Mobility Agreement must fulfill all the requirements of Law Society Rule 2-49 for call and admission on transfer as well as:
- certify that you have read and understand the Legal Profession Act, the Law Society Rules and the Code of Professional Conduct for British Columbia
- certify that you have read the following sections, including the related statutory provisions, regulations and rules, of the current Professional Legal Training Course(PLTC) Practice Material:
- Professional Responsibility;
- Law Office Management; and
- all other sections that you anticipate will be relevant to your practice of the law of in BC.
- meet the requirements of your home law society to be entitled or authorized to practise law.
For example, if you are required to have insurance in your home jurisdiction to be considered entitled to practise and you do not currently have insurance, you are not eligible to transfer under Law Society Rule 2-49.2. You must first be reinstated to practising insured status in your home jurisdiction.
If you do not possess a Canadian law degree in the common law, you must obtain a Certificate of Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation before applying for transfer to BC.
Transfer from a non-reciprocating jurisdiction
If you are not eligible to transfer to BC under Law Society Rule 2-49.2, you are still eligible to transfer to BC from another Canadian jurisdiction under Law Society Rule 2-49.
The requirements depend on your recent practice history:
- Called to the bar in home jurisdiction within the last three years: Must pass transfer examination (Law Society Rule 2-49(3))
- Called to the bar in home jurisdiction more than three years ago and out of practice for no more than three years within the last five years: Must pass transfer examination (Law Society Rule 2-49(3))
- Called to the bar in home jurisdiction more than three years ago and out of practice for more than three years within the last five years: Must past qualification examination (Law Society Rule 2-49 (2))
- Called to the bar in home jurisdiction at least seven years ago and has not practised law within the last seven years: Must pass qualification examination (Law Society Rule 2-49(2)); The Credentials Committee has discretion to impose additional conditions, such as re-articling and completion of the Professional Legal Training Course (PLTC)
Enrol in the Law Society Admission Program
You may wish to enrol in the Law Society Admission Program and complete articles and the Professional Legal Training Course (PLTC) despite your eligibility to be called and admitted on the basis of transfer. To pursue this option:
- Complete the enrolment process for the Law Society Admissions Program
- provide a letter to the Law Society confirming that you are aware of your options and have chosen the Law Society Admissions Program route;
- pay the unsubsidized fee for PLTC
If you decide to change to a transfer applicant while enrolled in the Law Society Admission Program, you must submit a completed transfer application form and the transfer application fee at least 30 days before your proposed call date.
For more information, contact Member Services
How to apply for transfer
Step 1 Submit to the Law Society:
- a Transfer to British Columbia Application Form
- a Certificate of Character (supporting document)
- certificates of standing from all law societies of which you are or have been a member, issued not more than 30 days prior to the date of application
- the application/investigation fee
If applicable, also submit at this time:
- the Professional Lawyer Training Course (PLTC) Practice Material order form
- the Practice Material fee (indicated in the order form)
Step 2 Fulfil any applicable exam or reading requirement
If you are applying to transfer to BC from a reciprocating jurisdiction under Law Society Rule 2-49.2, submit to the Law Society:
Statutory Declaration re Transfer Reading Requirement Application (supporting document)
If you are applying to transfer from a non-reciprocating jurisdiction under Law Society Rule 2-49:
- Make arrangements (upon approval of your transfer application) to write the applicable examinations.
Step 3 Finalize arrangements for call and admission and pay call, admission, practice and insurance fees.
Step 4: Attend a call ceremony
For more information, contact Member Services
