INDUSTRY NETWORKING SESSION with
Don Thompson, Executive Director
Law Society of Alberta

Date: Monday, February 28, 2005
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Mr. Don Thompson met with a group of clients who were practicing lawyers in their home countries and provided information on the path to practicing law in Alberta for lawyers with foreign credentials.

The Law Society of Alberta sets standards and enforces those standards for lawyers in Alberta. Their mandate is to regulate the profession in the public interest. All practicing lawyers must be a registered member of the Law Society of Alberta.

Mr. Thompson recognizes that the process for foreign trained lawyers to practice in Alberta can be difficult and arduous. However, he does provide some advice on the steps that one may take to better their chances of finding employment and a successful career in Calgary�s legal environment.

A review of the process of becoming a practicing lawyer in Calgary for Canadian-educated and foreign-educated law practitioners:

In addition to the procedures stated above, Mr. Thompson suggests that lawyers with foreign credentials should:

1. Become a student member with the Canadian Benchmark Association. The CBA is an advocate for lawyers, and will allow you the opportunity to meet practicing lawyers and keep up to date with the legal practice in Calgary through events, sessions and newsletters.

2. Work for a company that will facilitate your transition from a foreign trained lawyer to a lawyer with the recognition and ability to practice in Calgary. This may mean finding an entry-level position, but with a company that has the growth capability to offer you an articling position in the future.

FACT: Even if the NCA determines that your law degree is equivalent to that of a Canadian one, you must still perform articling duties for a lawyer/law firm for one year.

Articling is a form of apprenticeship/internship that all law students in Calgary must achieve before practicing as a lawyer. It must be performed under the supervision of a licensed lawyer. The pay scale is approximately $30,000 to $65,000 per year for an articling position.

Mr. Thompson reviews SOME TIPS TO FINDING AN ARTICLING POSITION:

* Attend events and sessions for lawyers to network and learn more about the business culture of Canadian lawyers in Calgary
* Have business cards to provide to people, be assertive, introduce yourself!
* Important to establish a personal repertoire with people in Calgary�s legal industry

Remember! Law students graduating from a Canadian law program are in the system and you are not. Law firms will be posting their jobs directly with the University of Calgary to find Canadian educated law students to fill their articling positions.

YOU MUST BE proactive and network in order to acquire an articling position.

The EMPLOYER�S PERSPECTIVE: The 1-year articling position is a recruiting mechanism to them. They employ a law student for 1 year, and after 1 year, may determine whether to retain them or not. It�s up to you to convince the company why they should hire you as an articling student, rather than a new graduate from a Canadian law program.

Other Alternatives:

1. Try finding a position as a Legal Assistant or Paralegal while you are learning about Canadian Law and having your credentials assessed, or if you need to re-take the Law program in Calgary.

2. Research the possibility of becoming a Foreign Legal Consultant. This professional standing will allow you to provide legal counsel on the laws of the country that your legal education and practice experience is from. Contact the Law Society of Alberta for more information.

For further information:

Law Society of Alberta
#500, 919 - 11 Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta T2R 1P3
Phone: (403) 229-4700
Fax: (403) 228-1728
Call Toll-Free: 1-800-661-9003