• Overview
• Services for Students
  • Student-at-Law
  • Articling
  • CPLED
  • Becoming a Member
• Membership & Insurance Status Changes
• Member & Insurance Certificates
• Contact Information Changes
• Trust Accounting Requirements
• Mobility within Canada
• Membership & Insurance Renewals
• ALIA & Insurance Claims
• Professional Corporations
• Limited Liability Partnerships
• Lawyer Referral Program

Becoming a Student-at-Law

Requirements

To become a student-at-law with the Law Society of Alberta, you must:

Review both the:

Articling Manual

Articling Handbook

Complete and submit the following:

• Application for Admission for Student-at-Law
• Certificate of Character and Reputation (two required)
• Education Plan (to be completed by a lawyer) OR
  Education Plan (to be completed by a judge)
• Articles of Clerkship (to be completed by a lawyer) OR
  Articles of Clerkship (to be completed by a judge)
• Last page of Articling Manual (to be completed by principal)
• Certificate of Standing from each governing body of which you are or have been a member, inside or outside of Canada
• Official law school transcript, which must be sent directly to the Law Society from the law school
• Application and admission fees (Fee Schedule) payable to the Law Society of Alberta (making a payment)

Please send the information by fax, mail or email to Membership Services.

Additional Information

Approval to Provide Legal Services

Before you can provide legal services, you must receive written approval from the Law Society. Time spent working prior to this approval does not qualify toward the required term of articles.

Deadlines to Submit Documentation: 30-Day Rule

The required documents listed above must be received by the Law Society at least 30 days prior to the proposed articling commencement date.

The Law Society’s Executive Director may abridge the 30-day requirement. To request abridgment, you must apply in writing, explaining your reasons for not being able to comply with the 30-day requirement. Reasons for not being able to meet the 30-day requirement must have arisen from exceptional circumstances.

You and your proposed principal must certify to the nature of the exceptional circumstances.

For further information, consult Rule 51 of the Rules of the Law Society of Alberta.

Receipt of Transcripts

When applying to be a student-at-law, if you are unable to provide an official transcript confirming your law degree has been granted, the Law Society will accept written confirmation from the Dean of your law school that you have met all requirements of the degree.

Complete Disclosure

If you have responded "yes" to any of the questions listed on your application for admission, you must provide full disclosure and include all official documentation. This may include court documents, bankruptcy discharge documentation and medical reports.

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