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Call and Admission to the Bar

Students must complete the Law Society Admission Program satisfactorily before applying for call and admission to the Bar.

At least 30 days before their anticipated licence date, students must submit an application package for call and admission which includes:

  • Petition for Call and Admission
  • Declarations of Principals and Applicants
  • Joint Final Report signed by both the student and principal
  • An indemnity or non-practising membership application
  • Completed Fee Option sheet and applicable payment

After completion of all requirements for call and admission and approval of appropriate documentation, the student must take the barristers and solicitors oath prior to becoming eligible for practice.

Transfers

Lawyers transferring to BC must complete the transfer process. To be called and admitted in BC, a transfer candidate must either:

  • attend a call ceremony and be presented in open court; or
  • before beginning the practice of law, take the barristers and solicitors oath before a judge or a practising lawyer.

Call ceremonies 

As of March 8, 2024, attending call ceremonies is encouraged, but no longer mandatory.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the requirement to attend a call and admission ceremony was postponed until late 2021. Subsequently, to manage the backlog of those wishing to be called, Rule 2-84 was amended to provide that lawyers transferring from other Canadian jurisdictions and articled students could choose whether to attend a call ceremony or not. The Benchers made the temporary changes permanent at their March 2024 meeting. The Law Society still encourages new calls to attend a call ceremony in person to take advantage of the benefits of connecting with peers and mentors and to celebrate the important milestone.

A new lawyer who applies for call and admission will be informed of the options available for presentation to the court.

Approximately 30 days before a call ceremony, eligible candidates will receive a confirmation email with the ceremony details, schedule and instructions for the day. This email also includes information about obtaining robes.

Vancouver call ceremonies are held four times a year in the Great Hall at the Vancouver Law Courts. Customarily, there is one ceremony in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Arrangements can be made to be called at a regional call ceremony elsewhere in BC. 

How to apply

Step 1: Review the Information Circular for instructions on how to complete your application

Step 2: Download the Call & Admission application package

Step 3: Download the relevant indemnity or membership application

Step 4: Download the Fee Option sheet that corresponds to the month of your anticipated call date:

Step 5: Email all documents to Registration and Licensee Services at least 30 days prior to your anticipated call date