Prospective Candidates
Program Overview
Imagine meeting a client and having to open a file and start work on their business acquisition? Or take a call from another client who has landed in jail? And soon after, you need to turn to completing some legal research to enable you to draft pleadings in a civil matter you have been given. The next day brings a new research assignment, a virtual meeting with your Firm to discuss client confidentiality and another virtual meeting with the Real Estate expert, as well as a Professional Development Webinar. Welcome to a small taste of what you can expect in the first four months of the LPP Training Component! This is work, not school; you engage in activities and assignments that help develop the skills you need as a lawyer. Once you have successfully completed the Training, you begin your in-person Work Experience within Ontario, applying all that you have learned. This licensing pathway is equivalent to articling. Innovative, rigorous and demanding, the eight-month LPP aims to help you succeed.
Who is Eligible
Candidates in the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) licensing process who have completed either a Juris Doctor (JD) from a recognized Canadian law school, or an equivalent degree as determined by the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) through the completion of exams and receipt of a Certificate of Qualification for internationally trained lawyers. Candidates must also be eligible to study and work in Ontario.
Get started
Learn more about the program, its expectations and the successes of current and past Candidates. Watch our Information Session here.
Candidates interested in registering for the LPP must first be registered in the Law Society of Ontario’s (LSO) Licensing Process (through the LSO website).
Once registered for the LSO’s Licensing, Candidates must select the LPP pathway, within the LSO Portal. The LSO provides the LPP a list of registered Candidates directly.
Beginning in the Spring, LSO licensing Candidates who have selected the LPP through the LSO will begin receiving communications from the LSO and LPP to begin the university registration process.
How Does It Work
4 Month Practical Training
(August – December)- Mondays to Fridays approximately 8AM – 6PM EST (Hours may vary)
- Candidates work both individually and in virtual law firms of approximately 4 to 6 – supported by practicing lawyers ("mentors"), who offer guidance, feedback and assessment
- Interactive and experiential – learn by doing
- Practical – files developed by practising lawyers
- Relevant – interview clients, conduct research, draft documents, letters and agreements, develop an approach, conduct negotiations, prepare the client, argue motions, conduct examinations and cross-examinations, and manage the client and the practice
4 Month Work Experience
(January – April)- Mondays to Fridays approximately 8AM – 6PM EST (Hours may vary)
- Candidates are trained to hit the ground running
- Employers include major institutions, large and small firms, specialty boutiques, governments, clinics and sole practitioners throughout Ontario
- As a work experience employer you will be joining us on the leading edge of practical legal training
Why LPP
The LPP is forward thinking and Candidate focused. It provides participants with the opportunity to develop the core skills and competencies essential for success in practice. Candidates benefit from the network of hundreds of experts from the profession who participate annually in developing and delivering the program. Candidates also benefit from hands-on use of innovative and cutting-edge tools used within the profession. These experiences translate into future success, as our alumni demonstrate.
What Our Alumni & Employers Are Saying
FAQs
All qualified Candidates who notify the LSO that they wish to participate in the LPP, and pay the required LSO licensing fees, will be invited to register for the program.
If you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and wish to participate in the LPP (Training Component and Work Experience) you must provide the LPP with the appropriate documentation issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This documentation must be provided before the LPP begins. You are personally responsible for obtaining such documentation from the relevant Canadian government agency or office. This documentation must confirm your proof of legal name and be valid for the duration of the LPP (August 2024 to April 2025). Note: You will not be able to begin the LPP in August without the relevant documentation.
In order to participate in the program and apply for work experience opportunities, you must be eligible to work in Canada. You are required to obtain an open work permit before the LPP begins. To determine if you qualify for an open work permit, please visit the “Work permit: About the process” link and click on the text that reads “You can only get an open work permit in specific situations”. A popup window will appear to outline eligibility requirements.
If you are a Refugee Claimant for whom no final decision has been made, or you have found to be a Convention Refugee or a Protected Person, you are also required to hold a valid open work permit to participate in LPP. You do not need to pay the processing fee for the work permit application.
If you are a Permanent Resident currently residing outside of Canada, you must be able to enter Canada to be eligible to work in-person as of early January 2025 (the start of the Work Experience Opportunity).
If you have questions and require assistance, please contact International Student Support at issask@torontomu.ca and one of their advisors will be able to provide support. International Student Support also provides drop-in sessions. Please see the ISS website for dates and times. Please inform them that you are a Law Practice Program Candidate.
To participate in the LPP, NCA students must have completed and passed all NCA requirements and filed with the LSO a Certificate of Qualification before the LPP begins in August.
The LPP strongly recommends Candidates complete both the Barrister and Solicitor examinations prior to beginning the LPP (in June): https://lso.ca/becoming-licensed/lawyer-licensing-process/licensing-examinations/examination-deadlines-and-dates/2021-22-licensing-examinations, although they are not required to do so.
Please also note that some of our work experience employers have stipulated that they will only accept applications from Candidates who have already completed both the barrister and solicitor exams.
Licensing Exams
If you are planning to write the exams in November (during the Training Component) or in March (during the Work Experience), you are asked to think seriously about this decision as the LPP is a full-time, rigorous, intense program. You want to be able to succeed in both the Training and the Work Experience.
Study Time:
You should start your studying before the program begins. During the Training Component, there may be a few days where there will be no programming. These dates can be used as you wish. Please note that additional study time must be taken after hours.
Exam days:
If your licensing exam/s conflict with LPP activities, please contact Lee Mendelsohn (lee.mendelsohn@torontomu.ca) to discuss.
If you choose to write the exams during the Work Experience (March), time off for studying and writing the exams will be at the discretion of the employer.
The fee for the LPP is included in your licensing fee to the LSO. There will be no additional tuition costs from Toronto Metropolitan University at this time.
Please refer to the LSO for questions about fees and refunds.
As a practical training course required for professional licensure, the LPP does not qualify for OSAP funding. If you have previous Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) student aid, and wish to be considered for interest-free status, you can apply for OSAP Continuation of Interest-Free Status. For more information on next steps and timelines, please refer to the “Law Practice Program” accordion on Information by Student Group. 2024-2025 information will be updated in June/July 2024. Questions? Contact the ServiceHub.
Please note that the information above is subject to change without notice, as it is based on OSAP Policy and Guidelines at the time of publishing. While we do our best to ensure our website is up to date, OSAP Policy and Guideline from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU), who governs the OSAP program, always supersede our institutional website information.
The University does not provide financial assistance for LPP Candidates. For information on financial assistance, please visit Law Society of Ontario (LSO) Financial Assistance.
The LPP is a rigorous and intensive program; full-time commitment, dedication and focus is expected. Candidates are expected to be available and prepared to complete LPP expectations during regular business hours.
The entire Training Component of the LPP will be virtual, online from August 28th, 2023 to December 18th, 2023.
LPP Candidates will be considered full-time non-degree Toronto Metropolitan University students, receive a Toronto Metropolitan University student number, a Toronto Metropolitan University email and have access to some services available to other Toronto Metropolitan University students.
The progress of the LPP Candidates will be monitored throughout the online and practical portions of the course. Candidates will have ample opportunity for feedback, prior to assessed evaluations. Each four-month component will be individually assessed on a pass/fail basis.
If you are a Candidate who has a disability and requires accommodations you will need to register with Toronto Metropolitan University’s Academic Accommodation Support (AAS).
You can begin the registration process once you have received a TMU identity and email address. Begin the registration process as soon as you can, so your accommodations are in place when you need them. In order to guarantee accommodations you must register by the posted deadlines.
How do accommodations work in the LPP?
Specific accommodation plans may include extra time to complete assignments.
As the LPP requires Candidates to complete timed assignments, extra time accommodations may be explored if appropriate once a student has registered with AAS.
Who can I contact if I have questions about accommodations?
If you wish to speak to someone at the LPP, you may contact the Academic and Outreach Coordinator, 416-979-5000 ext. 553376 or lpp.accommodations@torontomu.ca
Email lpp@torontomu.ca to request your Confirmation of Enrollment letter.
Our goal is to ensure Candidates succeed in developing the skills and competencies required to meet the licensing requirements of the LSO. From the beginning, Candidates will be divided into “firms” of approximately four members and will work through case files virtually. Each firm will be mentored through the four months by a practicing lawyer/Mentor. The training component is a simulated work experience within a Virtual Law Firm.
Firm members will be actively involved in practice tasks designed to develop the following skills: ethics and professionalism; oral and written communications; analysis; research; client management and practice management. In addition to regular weekly virtual meetings with the mentor/senior partner, the “firm” will be required to open and work through client files (independently and as a group) in the areas of wills and estates, real estate, business law, administrative law, family law, criminal law and civil litigation. Successful completion of files in each area is required. Candidates will take simulated files from start to finish, including interviewing, drafting, researching, determining the approach, negotiating, arguing motions and key parts of trials and conducting business and real estate transactions. They will manage clients and time, and meet deadlines.
As per the Law Society of Ontario (subject to change): The Mandatory Minimum Compensation (MMC) is $620 per week for all Ontario-based articling and Law Practice Program (LPP) work placements that begin on or after May 1, 2023 (LPP website updated June 2023).
An employer may apply to the Law Society for an exemption from the MMC.
Our goal and priority is to have all work experiences be paid, recognizing that the pay range will vary across organizations and in different areas of the province.
To facilitate a mutually rewarding experience, input and preference information regarding the experiences will be obtained from both Candidates and work experience partners to assist in the experience process.
If a Candidate has a possible work experience, they are encouraged to notify the LPP Work Experience Office by emailing lpp.weo@torontomu.ca. We will work together with the Candidate to ensure that the organization and supervising lawyer qualifies to provide a work experience.
At present, all Candidates are expected to complete the work experience between January and April.
We will be updating our website frequently and invite you to check back regularly. In addition, for specific questions, contact lpp@torontomu.ca or (416) 979-5000 ext. 553024.