Introduction

Can my degree be comparable to a JD degree in Canada?

Do I need an LLM for practising in Canada? Or a J.D.?

Do I have to spend money and travel to Canada to take NCA exams in person?

I have passed the All-India-Bar exam in India, are foreign equivalency exams similar to that?

I am a first-generation lawyer in India, but I want to live and practice in a foreign jurisdiction, preferably an English speaking country with a legal system similar to that of India. 

I want to relocate to Canada because I have heard the country is very welcoming of immigrants.

If these questions or thoughts come to your mind, we are going to tell you how you can clear NCA exams in Canada by just sitting in your house.

We are India’s first legal education company that is going to train students to take the Canadian NCA exams. It is not even that difficult. One of our own former employees passed the NCA exams while working full-time at Lawsikho.

We will ensure that you get the skills needed to first take and pass the NCA exams. 

Things to know before you fill your application form and pay the application fee

• How to fulfil the eligibility requirements to take the NCA exams;
• How to manage time between the exam preparation and your work commitments;
• How to write analytical answers using the Issue Rule Analysis Conclusion (IRAC) method;
• Get the right printed notes to attempt the open book examinations; and
• Ability to write answers well in English.

What does it take to get called to the Canadian Bar:

Canada follows a common law system in majority of its provinces except for the province of Quebec where a civil legal system is followed for all adjudicatory pruposes. A lawyer licensed to practice law in a non-Canadian jurisdiction or a law graduate from a non-Canadian law school can get licensed to practice law in a Canadian common law province by completing the first step of the process: Clearing the National Committee of Accreditation (NCA) process. 

A candidate must apply to the Federation of Law Societies of Canada (FLSC) and fill the application form costing 450 CAD (approx INR 27,000) plus taxes.

A candidate has to submit the application form, with law school transcripts, and a certificate of good standing from the bar council.
The NCA takes about 2 months  to assess a candidate's application.
After NCA completes the assessment, the candidate takes the NCA recommended examinations by himself/herself or studies them at a university.

On successfully passing the NCA exams, the candidate is required to take Barrister and Solicitor examinations. These are the official bar examinations held in different provinces of Canada. 

Most candidates are required to undertake a year of articling with a lawyer licensed in Canada or to do the Lawyer’s Practice Program in Canada after clearing their Bar examinations. 

Finally, the candidate gets a call from the provincial law society to get their law licence.

LawSikho shall be providing training to those who wish to clear the first step of this journey i.e. clearing the NCA examinations.

Certification

This course is recognized by the National Skill Development Corporation, a PPP under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship of the Government of India. You will receive a certificate co-branded by NSDC and Skill India on successful completion.

This is how the certificate from NSDC and Skill India will look as per the current applicable format (may change as per the approval authorities):

About the NCA exams

NCA assesses each candidate according to their education, legal work experience, and law license. For example, an Indian lawyer who has scored more than 50% in her law school, would have to demonstrate proficiency in 6 core Canadian law subjects as of January 2022. These 6 core subjects are:

• Foundations of Canadian Law;
• Canadian Constitutional Law;
• Canadian Administrative Law;
• Canadian Criminal Law; 
• Canadian Professional Responsibility; and 
• Legal Research and Writing

LawSikho aims to teach five of the six subjects i.e. Foundations of Canadian Law, Canadian Constitutional Law, Canadian Administrative Law, Canadian Criminal Law and Canadian Professional Responsibility. All of these courses will be taught by a practising Barrister/Solicitor who has taken NCA exams enroute to his/her journey to the Canadian Bar.  

These subjects could vary depending on the NCA’s assessment of the candidate. Some candidates are asked to take Business Organizations, Commercial Law, Evidence, Torts, Contracts, Property Law, Family Law, Civil Procedure, Taxation, and Trusts, in addition to these 5-6 core subjects.

Each of these courses can be studied at one of the Canadian Law Schools as well. But they cost around 6,000-8,000CAD (approx INR 3,60,000- 4,80,000) per course. The Law School does not award a degree or diploma certificate on completion either. It just sends a report to NCA stating the requirement has been fulfilled. Taking the exams works out to be cheaper as the cost of the exams as of February 2023 is 550 CAD (approx INR 34,000)

Each of these exams is an essay-based exam and occasionally have a multiple-choice part or true and false component as well. Ever since the pandemic, they have been administered online through the remote proctor system. They are open book- exams wherein the candidates can refer to their paper notes. Electronic notes are not permitted. The online exams are 3 hours in duration. 

Some candidates who cannot demonstrate legal proficiency, are even asked to study JD/LLM from Canada or another common law jurisdiction. This usually happens if the candidate has scored less than 50% aggregate marks in her law school on graduation or has not been licensed in a foreign jurisdiction.

Once a candidate passes all these exams (50% is the passing criteria); NCA issues a Certificate of Qualification. With this certificate, a candidate can apply for admission to one of the 9 provinces in Canada or territories. The province of Quebec has its own requirements to get a lawyer’s license. It also has a French language requirement criteria.

Things to learn before the NCA exam

How to read foreign laws;

How to read foreign judgements;

How to write essay type answers in the IRAC method;

How to take an open book exam;

Time management; and

Fast typing because all of the essay type answers are typed out on a computer. A candidate must be able to type 1,000 to 4,000 words in 3 hours while also referring to the written notes, analysing the question requirements, making an answer structure, and finally typing out the answer.

Who should take these exams (NCA and others)?

Lawyers who are migrating to Canada;

Law graduates who intend to do an LLM from Canada; and

Lawyers whose law firm or company is sponsoring their work visa in Canada.

You do not have to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to take the exams since they are online.

Here are some additional details about the unique features of the NCA Test Prep Course from LawSikho:

• The course is taught by a team of experienced and knowledgeable instructors who have extensive experience in the legal field. They are passionate about helping students succeed, and they are committed to providing students with the best possible education.
• The course covers all of the material that is tested on the NCA exam, including both common law and civil law, as well as Canadian specific content. This ensures that students are fully prepared for the exam and have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
• The course is interactive, which means that students are actively engaged in the learning process. They are not just listening to lectures, they are also participating in discussions, completing exercises, and taking practice exams. This helps students to learn more effectively and retain information better.
• The course is offered at a fraction of the cost of a traditional law school education. This makes it an affordable option for students who are looking to become lawyers.

We believe that the NCA Test Prep Course from LawSikho is the best way to prepare for the NCA exam and become a Canadian lawyer. 

What is unique about this course

Testimonials

Nishant Goyal (June’ 23 Batch), I would take this opportunity to thank the entire team of lawsikho for admitting me as a student in their endeavour to build a class of students having dual licence to practise law, both in India and Canada. The journey of preparing and appearing for the exams has been overwhelming, but the constant support of the entire Lawsikho team was the biggest motivation all along. The team was supportive, cooperative and fully committed towards the needs of the students right from the very start. I would also take this opportunity to thank the mentors. I could pass all my exams in the first go, that too in a short span of six months, only with the cooperation and team effort of all the mentors and members. I believe the Lawsikho team has done a commendable job and I wish them good luck for the coming batches of NCA students.

Bankim Mehta (April’ 23 Batch), I truly appreciate and thankful to all the efforts made by the Lawsikho NCA Team. Look forward to the same kind of support in all the exams.

Varsha lali (April’ 23 Batch), I am quite impressed with the way the Lawsikho NCA team ensures the classes to be conducted in a very timely, efficient and professional manner. I would like to appreciate how they take charge of the entire class. I love how the classes are being conducted. Thank you for a knowledgeable and insightful session.

Tania Khurana (October’ 22 Batch), I was able to complete my exams within the time period because of the notes provided by Lawikho and the Exam Preparation sessions given by them for my exams. The lectures were delivered in such a way that every concept could be recalled while writing the answers.

Simardeep Kaur Puri (October’ 22 Batch), Lawsikho has provided me with all the help I needed to clear my NCA exams in my first attempt. The mentors and experts are really good at their role during concept as well as exam preparation sessions. It is great to have them by my side during my NCA journey and I will be grateful for having them for my BAR examination as well.

Vidya Purthran ( October’ 22 batch), From exceptional lecturers to incredible team support, Lawsikho has truly exceeded my expectations in every way. NCA course subjects were taught by experienced professionals who were not only subject matter experts but also exceptional educators. Their expertise and passion for their respective fields shone through in every lecture, making complex legal concepts easily understandable and highly engaging. The dedication and enthusiasm of the lecturers truly made a significant difference in my learning experience, and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to learn from them. Consistent assignment trackers by the team were also commendable. Assignments helped me to practise answer writing and the grading system in the portal also kept me motivated. Lawsikho has truly exceeded my expectations as an online learning platform.

What is unique about this course?

There are a few things that make the NCA Test Prep Course from Lawsikho unique.

• The course is designed by a team of experts who have extensive experience in the legal field. They know what it takes to succeed on the NCA exam, and they have created a course that will help students achieve their goals.
• The course covers all of the material that is tested on the NCA exam. This includes both common law and civil law, as well as Canadian specific content.
• The course is interactive, which means that students are actively engaged in the learning process. They are not just listening to lectures, they are also participating in discussions, completing exercises, and taking practice exams.
• The course is affordable, which means that it is accessible to a wide range of students.

If you are serious about passing the NCA exam, then the NCA Test Prep Course from Lawsikho is the best option for you. It is designed by experts, it is comprehensive, it is interactive, and it is affordable.

Areas in which we will help you to develop knowledge and skills

• Trends analysis of Past Year Paper
• Answer Writing Skills
• Time Management
• How to approach the essay based questions

What LawSikho NCA Experts and Team Say

Megha Sharma (Course Anchor and Expert) - Lawsikho NCA Course is structured to enable a student to become NCA Qualified within 8-10 months. All concept sessions and exam preparation sessions are well planned and scheduled in advance. 

Irveen Kaur (Course Anchor and Counsellor) - We counsel the student right from the beginning i.e.  from NCA Assessment till NCA Qualified. We try to make this journey as easy and flexible as we can. We motivate students in every step and help them in achieving success.

Abhinav Sharma (Course Evaluator) - Overall, I find the course to be highly informative and well-structured. The content covered in each module is relevant and up-to-date. The course materials, including the readings, presentations, and weekly exercise, are comprehensive and well-designed. They provide a solid foundation for understanding the concepts and allows for further exploration of the topics. Additionally, I would like to commend the efforts made by the Lawsikho NCA Team. They are approachable, responsive to questions, and provide valuable insights during discussions.

Krusha Bhatt (Concept Expert) - NCA coaching offered by Lawsikho is one the first kind in India wherein assimilation of NCA subjects is taken up online. An amazingly designed course keeping in mind both the theoretical and practical aspects required to sit for these examinations.

Kunal Sinha (Content Expert) - The content is easy to grasp and very well-structured. All topics are broken down into simple, easy-to-understand lessons. Course provides an in-depth look into the Canadian legal system, which is incredibly useful for students new to the Canadian legal landscape. The course material is well-researched and informative and aids in understanding the fundamental concepts of the Canadian legal system in a short span of time.

Syllabus for NCA exams

All the syllabus has been taken from the official NCA website. 

​Syllabus for Canadian Administrative Law

1. Setting the stage:
    - Procedural fairness
    - Substantive review
    - Judicial review

2. Sources of procedural obligations

  (i) Procedural obligation triggers
      - Knight’s three-prong test and legitimate expectation
      - legislative decisions and emergencies
      - Procedural obligation triggers 
      - Charter and Bill of Rights
      - Constitutional duty to consult and accommodate aboriginal persons

3. Content of procedural obligations 
     - Right to be heard
     - Unbiased and independent decision-maker
     - Issues arising from institutional decision-making

4. Backdrop to the standard of review analysis
5. Vavilov test for the standard of review selection and application
6. Venue and basic procedure for judicial review
7. Remedies

Syllabus for Canadian Constitutional Law Exam

1. Sources and Nature of the Constitution 
2. Amending Procedures 
3. Federalism 
4. Judicial Review and Principles of Interpretation
5. Property and Civil Rights 
6. Trade and Commerce
7. Peace, Order, and Good Government 
8. Criminal Law 
9. Ancillary Powers 
10. Paramountcy 
11. Interjurisdictional Immunity
12. Introduction
13. Aboriginal Rights
14. Aboriginal Title
15. Treaty Rights 
16. Duty to Consult
17. Interpreting the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms 
18. Application of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms 
19. Override of Rights
20. Freedom of Conscience and Religion 
21. Freedom of Expression 
22. Life, Liberty and Security of the Person 
23. Equality Rights 
24. Limitation of Rights 
25. Remedies

Syllabus for Canadian Criminal Law Exam

1. General Overview and preliminary matters
2. The Power to Create Criminal Offences and Rules of Criminal Procedure
3. The Procedural Classification of Offences
4. Interpreting Criminal Provisions
5. The Actus Reus
6. Subjective Mens Rea
7. Objective Mens Rea and True Crimes
8. Regulatory Offences
9. Aiding and Abetting
10. Counselling 
11. Attempts
12. Corporate and Association Liability
13. Mental Disorder
14. Automatism and Involuntary Acts “Negativing” the Actus Reus
15. Simple Intoxication and Specific Intent Crimes
16. Extreme Intoxication and General Intent Crimes
17. Defence of the Person
18. Necessity
19. Duress
20. Provocation
21. Entrapment
22. Error of Law
23. The Adversarial Process
24. Police Powers 
25. Securing Jurisdiction over the Accused and Interim Release 
26. Disclosure and Production 
27. Preliminary Inquiries
28. The Jury Trial
29. Pre-Trial Motions
30. Trial Within a Reasonable Time Applications 
31. General Principles of Sentencing
32. Appeals of Final Decisions and Judicial Review of Interim Decisions

Syllabus for Foundations in Canadian Law

1. Basic theories of Law
2. Indigenous Peoples and the Law
3. Sources of Canadian Law
4. Fundamental Principles of the Canadian Legal System
5. Parliament and its components
6. Functions of the Parliament
7. The Executive and its functions
8. The Courts and the Judiciary
9. Statutory Interpretation
10. Constraints on Legislative and Administrative Action
 
Syllabus for Canadian Professional Responsibility Exam

1. The Legal Profession: Lawyers in Society and a Society of Lawyers
2. Professions and Professionalism: The Profession of Law and Law as a Profession
3. Regulation of Lawyers and Regulation of the Legal Profession
4. Ethics, Lawyering and Professional Regulation
5. The Lawyer-Client Relationship
6. The Preservation of Client’s Confidences
7. Conflicts of Interest
8. The Adversary System and Lawyers as Advocates
9. Some Specific Practice Areas:
     - Ethics and Dispute Resolution: Counselling and Negotiation
     - Ethics and the Practice of Criminal Law
     - Lawyers in Organisational Setting: Corporate Counsel
     - Government Lawyers

10. Access to Justice

Sample questions for NCA exams

This question has been taken from the NCA sample Criminal Law Exam available on the NCA website

QUESTION TWO - 10 MARKS (18 minutes suggested time) 

Assume that Bosny was committed to stand trial and that the trial is now being held.   All of the evidence that was led at the preliminary inquiry has been presented at the trial.  In addition, evidence has been presented to the effect that Mr. Bosny admitted to having been home shortly before Mrs. Bosny’s death, and that the two had been arguing near the pool. Mr. Bosny admitted that he struck out at Mrs. Bosny, hitting her near the temple.  She seemed dazed but said she was O.K. so he left for work.   A  friend of Mrs. Bosny testified that was on the telephone with Mrs. Bosny around 8:50 in the morning, and that Mrs. Bosny sounded confused. Mrs. Bosny told her either that Bosny “was hitting her” or “had hit her,” the friend could not be clear. During the conversation, Mrs. Bosny stopped responding.  The friend ultimately hung up and called the police. A defence pathologist testified that Mrs. Bosny was not strangled, but had in fact asphyxiated. She showed that Mrs. Bosny had none of the classic indicators of strangulation, and offered the opinion that Mrs. Bosny, who was already oxygen-deprived from having fallen into the pool, suffocated due to improper resuscitation techniques.  The tracheal tube is a sharp plastic device that is literally forced into the throat, and the tube that was used, which the defence pathologist reviewed, had collapsed and had human tissue on it.   This accounted both for her neck injuries and asphyxiation. What verdict is likely to render on all of the evidence, explaining your answer fully. 

NOTE: Lawsikho is not affiliated to the Federation of Law Societies of Canada or any provincial law society in Canada. Anything taught by our instructors or employees does not constitute legal advice or solicitation under the laws of Canada.