March 17, 2026Back to Latest

The Law Societies of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society (NSBS), and the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED) are seeking input from the legal profession on a proposed new approach to the bar admission process. The proposed approach, grounded in educational best practices, would represent a shift in what is taught and assessed during bar admission training and articling.

There are four opportunities for lawyers and other parties involved in student development in Alberta (MDT) to participate. 

Two sessions for new lawyers (called to the bar in the past three years)  

• Thursday, April 16 – 9:30 to 11 a.m. 
• Wednesday, April 22 – 12 to 1:30 p.m.

One session for public sector employers that hire articling students, including the Courts 

• Friday, April 24 – 12 to 1:30 p.m. 

Two sessions for articling principals from all other workplaces that hire articling students  

• Tuesday, April 21 – 9:30 to 11 a.m. 
• Monday, April 27 – 12 to 1:30 p.m. 

One general session for Alberta participants 

• Monday, April 20 – 12 to 1:30 p.m. 

Participants will be asked to do the following: 

• Read a consultation paper related to the new proposed approach to the bar admission process in advance (~30-minute activity).  
• Commit to attending a 90-minute virtual consultation session facilitated by our external consultants, WestRock Measurement, LLC. 
• Be willing to engage in discussion with other lawyers and key stakeholders during the session. 

Submit Your Expression of Interest 

If you are interested in participating, please fill out this brief survey by Friday, March 27.  

Be sure to indicate each session you could potentially participate in and tentatively block the date(s)/time(s) in your calendar. If there are other people in your workplace who are involved in student development, we invite you to forward this invitation to them. Note that if you cannot participate in the consultations, there will be another chance to provide input later this Spring when an Invitation to Comment will be disseminated widely.

Selected individuals will be notified by Monday, April 6.

We appreciate your interest in these consultation opportunities.