The Federation of Law Societies of Canada has released an update on how the NCA (National Committee on Accreditation and Law School Programs) will evaluate graduates from England and Wales once the new SRA rules come into effect.
The NCA Assessment Policy requires all applicants to have a Qualifying Law Degree (“QLD”) (a degree that has been completed at an institution or through a law program that is “approved, recognized, accredited or otherwise accepted” by the local legal regulator or its delegate), typically designated as LLB, JD, BCL or LLL. The NCA policy also requires applicants to satisfy certain other educational requirements. For most jurisdictions, the NCA relies on public lists of approved programs or schools when evaluating legal credentials.
To date, the NCA has relied on the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority (the “SRA”) lists of qualifying degree providers when assessing graduates from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Commencing in November 2021, the SRA will no longer require that applicants for licensing as solicitors have a law degree, and therefore, the SRA will no longer publish the list of approved law schools and courses.
The planned changes to legal regulation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland do not change the NCA’s requirements. The NCA will continue to require that graduates from England and Wales complete a law degree (typically an LLB). Law degrees must meet the Quality Assurance Agency (the “QAA”) subject benchmark statement for law and must contain the seven “Foundations of Legal Knowledge” subjects developed by the SRA and Bar Standards Board (the “BSB”).
When evaluating graduates from Northern Ireland, the NCA will rely on the lists of approved law schools/courses from the following regulators:
- the Law Society of Northern Ireland (LSNI)
- the Honourable Society of the Inn of Court of Northern Ireland (Inns)
For more information about NCA assessment for graduates from England and Wales, contact your Consultant or enquire here.
