How to Become a Lawyer in Manitoba
Do you need a licence?
Licence required
You must be registered with the Law Society of Manitoba to work as a lawyer in Manitoba or to use a protected title.
- Protected titles
- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“To practise law in Manitoba you must be a member of the Law Society of Manitoba.”
From lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/..., checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Licence required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 5 steps, listed one-time fees $630 (1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total)
- Licensed in another province: 2 steps
- Trained outside Canada: 2 steps, listed one-time fees $168 (1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total)
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with LSM
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 5 done
- Listed one-time fees: $630
- 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total
- 3 steps without a listed fee
- Listed time: 12.9 months (only 2 of 5 steps state a time)
-
- Application fee: $105 (non-refundable)
Source
“The non-refundable application fee ($105.00)”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/...
Source
“To apply for admission as an articling student, you will need to complete the Application for Admission as an Articling Student and provide original documentation and information listed below.”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/... - Application fee: $105 (non-refundable)
-
Complete the equivalent of 52 weeks of full-time articling with an approved Manitoba lawyer, including a mid-term review of the education plan and a certificate of completion of articles.
Time: 52 weeksTime source
“52 weeks of full time articling”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/articling-program-prep-overviewSource
“Before being called to the Bar, you will have to complete the equivalent of 52 weeks of full time articling with an approved Manitoba lawyer (a principal)”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/articling-program-prep-overview -
Register with and successfully complete the Practice Readiness Education Program delivered by the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education.
Source
“you will have to successfully complete the Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP) administered by the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED).”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/articling-program-prep-overview -
Submit the application and petition for call, the final assessment of the education plan, the certificate of completion of articles and the call to the Bar fee.
- Call to the Bar fee: $630
Source
“Remit call to the bar fee ($630.00)”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/...
Time: 4 weeksTime source
“4 weeks | Call assessment | $630.00”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/...Source
“You will need to submit: Application and petition for call; Final assessment of education plan; Certificate of completion of articles; Call to the Bar fee”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/articling-program-prep-overview - Call to the Bar fee: $630
-
To start practising after your call to the Bar, submit the practising fee and professional liability fund contribution or an insurance exemption form.
Source
“To start practising law in Manitoba following your call to the Bar, you will need to submit: Practising fee and professional liability fund contribution or insurance exemption form.”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/articling-program-prep-overview
Listed fees for this route
One-time total listed: $630
| Fee type | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Application | $630 | 100% |
| One-time total | $630 | 100% |
1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Licensed in another province
0 of 2 done
- 2 steps without a listed fee
-
Familiarize yourself with Manitoba law, including the Professional Responsibilities materials on the Law Society Education Centre website, to the extent needed to practise competently.
Source
“You have familiarized yourself with Manitoba Law to the extent necessary to be able to practice law competently in the areas in which you will practice, including the materials in the Professional Responsibilities section of the Law Society Education Centre website”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/lawyers-outside-of-manitoba/canadi... -
Remit your annual practising fee and liability insurance contribution.
Source
“You remit your annual practising fee and liability insurance contribution.”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/lawyers-outside-of-manitoba/canadi...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with LSM
2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Trained outside Canada
0 of 2 done
- Listed one-time fees: $168
- 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total
- Listed time: 12.7 to 24.7 months
-
If the NCA requires further education or examinations, either self-study and take NCA examinations, or complete the University of Manitoba micro-diploma in Canadian Public Law or Canadian Private Law.
- Additional NCA examinations and self-study costs: $2,000 (Option A - self study and NCA exams, typically, but may be much more)
Source
“The additional cost are typically $2000-$3000. However they may be much higher depending on if you demonstrate competence by taking courses in a Canadian Law school or if you demonstrate competence through the NCA’s examinations.”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/...
Time: 1 to 2 yearsTime source
“1-2 years | Option B - Undertake Micro-diploma in Public or Private Law at the University of Manitoba”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/...Source
“If you are required to take further education or examinations, , you can proceed one of two ways: Option A – Self Study & NCA Exams ... Option B – Enroll at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law, Study with Peers & Professionals Complete the UM Micro-diploma in Canadian Public Law or its counterpart Micro-diploma in Canadian Private Law to meet the NCA’s required competencies.”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/... - Additional NCA examinations and self-study costs: $2,000 (Option A - self study and NCA exams, typically, but may be much more)
-
Submit an application for admission as an articling student with the required documentation, and have a Manitoba lawyer approved to act as your principal for 52 weeks.
- Criminal records check: $63
Source
“Up to 6 months | Obtain criminal records check | $63.00”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/... - Admissions assessment: $105
Source
“3 weeks | Admissions assessment | $105.00”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/...
Time: 3 weeksTime source
“3 weeks | Admissions assessment”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/...Source
“To be admitted as an articling student, you will need to be a person of good character and fit to practise law, you must have a Certificate of Qualification and you will need to find a Manitoba lawyer who can act as your principal (supervisor) for a period of 52 weeks.”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/... - Criminal records check: $63
Listed fees for this route
One-time total listed: $168
| Fee type | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Application | $168 | 100% |
| One-time total | $168 | 100% |
1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- Minimum cost of the internationally trained applicant process: $4,200
Source
“Minimum Cost | $4,200.00”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/... - Application fee for exemption from articling: $367.50
Source
“Submit application for exemption from Articling and attached required documentation: ... Application fee ($367.50)”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/...
Requirements
Education
Internationally trained applicants must obtain a Certificate of Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation verifying their academic training is equivalent to Canadian academic training.
Source
“Internationally trained applicants must obtain a Certificate of Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation that verifies that their academic training is equivalent to Canadian academic training.”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/...
Police check
You must provide a national fingerprint-based Criminal Record Check sent directly to the Law Society from the RCMP Real Time Identification Service.
Source
“A national finger-print based Criminal Record Check. This is to be sent directly to the Law Society from the RCMP Real Time Identification Service.”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/...
Insurance
Canadian lawyers transferring to Manitoba must provide proof of insurance or an insurance exemption.
Source
“Proof of insurance or insurance exemption”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/lawyers-outside-of-manitoba/canadi...
Good character
You must be a person of good character and fit and proper to practise law to be admitted as an articling student and called to the bar.
Source
“To be admitted as an articling student, you will need to be a person of good character and fit to practise law”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/...
Other
Applicants who have practised law in another jurisdiction must provide a Certificate of Standing from each jurisdiction where they practised law.
Source
“For applicants who have practised law in any other jurisdiction, a Certificate of Standing provided directly to the Law Society from each jurisdiction where you have practised law.”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/...You must complete the application process with utmost good faith and full disclosure, as omissions or inaccuracies may be grounds for rejection.
Source
“You must complete the application process with utmost good faith and with full disclosure. Omissions or inaccuracies may be grounds for rejection of your application.”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/...Canadian lawyers transferring to Manitoba must have requested confirmation certificates of good standing from every jurisdiction in which they have held membership.
Source
“Confirmation Certificate(s) of good standing has been requested, from every jurisdiction in which you have had membership at the time of this application, with instructions to send certificates directly to The Law Society of Manitoba.”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/lawyers-outside-of-manitoba/canadi...To practise temporarily in Manitoba without a permit, a visiting Canadian lawyer must carry liability insurance reasonably comparable to Manitoba coverage that extends to the temporary practice, plus defalcation compensation coverage.
Source
“You carry liability insurance that: is reasonably comparable in coverage and limits to that in Manitoba; extends to your temporary practice in Manitoba; you have defalcation compensation coverage that extends to your temporary practice in Manitoba”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/lawyers-outside-of-manitoba/canadi...
Already licensed in another province?
Direct transfer
A practising lawyer in any common law province or territory in Canada may be called to the Bar and admitted as a solicitor in Manitoba by submitting an application with fee, good standing certificates and proof of insurance, with no entry-to-practice exam or competence assessment required. Source
“If you are a practising lawyer in any common law province or territory in Canada, you may be called to the Bar and admitted as a solicitor in Manitoba if:”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/lawyers-outside-of-manitoba/canadi...
Familiarize with Manitoba law
Source
“You have familiarized yourself with Manitoba Law to the extent necessary to be able to practice law competently in the areas in which you will practice”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/lawyers-outside-of-manitoba/canadi...Submit application and fees
Source
“At least 30 days prior to your anticipated start date, you submit: Application for Admission – Canadian Lawyers; Application fee ($945.00)”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/lawyers-outside-of-manitoba/canadi...Remit annual practising fees
Source
“You remit your annual practising fee and liability insurance contribution.”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/lawyers-outside-of-manitoba/canadi...
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with LSM
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with LSM
Exams
-
NCA examinations
Source
“Option A – Self Study & NCA Exams”
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/...
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with LSM
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with LSM
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with LSM
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manitoba | $16.83 | $47.18 | $81.28 | Moderate (3 of 5) |
| Canada | $30.22 | $59.76 | $107.14 | — |
Lawyers in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Licence required
- Alberta Licence required
- Saskatchewan Licence required
- Ontario Licence required
- Quebec Licence required
- New Brunswick Licence required
- Nova Scotia Licence required
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- Internationally Trained Applicants - The Law Society of ManitobaClick to open the search input fieldClick to open the search input fieldSearchScroll to topScroll to top lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Articling Program & PREP - Overview - The Law Society of ManitobaClick to open the search input fieldClick to open the search input fieldSearchScroll to topScroll to top lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/articling-program-prep-overview · fetched October 10, 2026
- Articling Students - The Law Society of ManitobaClick to open the search input fieldClick to open the search input fieldSearchScroll to topScroll to top lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/application-and-admission-process/... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Canadian Lawyer Mobility - The Law Society of ManitobaClick to open the search input fieldClick to open the search input fieldSearchScroll to topScroll to top lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/lawyers-outside-of-manitoba/canadi... · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a lawyer in Manitoba?
Yes. Registration with the Law Society of Manitoba is required to practise in Manitoba.
Which exams are required?
NCA examinations.
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