Rule 2-70 allows you to apply for temporary articles if you are:
- a student at a common law faculty of law in a Canadian university who is completing summer articles or a co-op articling placement with a definite termination date
- a student at a BC law school who is required to be enroled as a temporary articled student for a clinical program
- approved for enrolment as an articled student, but waiting for your articling term to begin in the next six weeks
- qualified to practice law in a Commonwealth country and have actually practiced law in that country for two years or more. In this case, your temporary articles cannot exceed three months.
Your time as a temporary articled student will not be considered toward the nine (9) month articling requirement for call and admission.
How to apply for temporary articles
At least 30 days before your planned start date, you must:
- submit your temporary articles application to registration@lsbc.org; and
- pay an application fee.
Prepare your application
The application must include:
The Temporary Articles Enrolment Form contain questions designed to assist the Law Society to determine whether an applicant is of good character. This good character test is a prerequisite to your enrolment.
Pay the enrolment fee
Pay the enrolment fee using one of the Law Society’s accepted payment options:
- $157.50 ($150, plus GST), or
- if enroled in a clinical program at a BC law school, $52.50 ($50, plus GST).
Consider attaching a copy (cheque payments) or screenshot (online payment or wire transfer) with your application for tracking purposes.
Once enrolled as a temporary articled student
Generally, temporary articled students have the same rights, privileges and responsibilities of an articled student. We note two exceptions:
- Temporary articled students may not appear as counsel before a court or tribunal without the presence and direct supervision of their principal or another practicing lawyer, except in the specific circumstances set out in Rule 2-71
- The Credentials Committee may revoke temporary articles at any time for any reason that the committee considers sufficient, without giving notice to the student and without holding a credentials hearing.
Reporting requirement
At the end of the temporary articles term, your principal must submit a final report to the Law Society (registration@lsbc.org) that includes a brief assessment of your progress. Please include the student name and “Temporary Articles – Final Report” in the subject line.
More information
If you have any questions about temporary articles, contact the Registration & Licensee Services Department:
Email: registration@lsbc.org
Phone: 604.605.5311
Toll-free: 1.800.903.5300