Articling Program & PREP – Overview

If you are a graduate of a Canadian common law program or you have received a Certificate of Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation you can be admitted as an articling student at the Law Society of Manitoba if you are a person of good character and a fit and proper person to practice law.

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) and you will have to successfully complete the Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP) administered by the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED).

Articling

Articling students must successfully complete the equivalent of 52 weeks of full-time articling with an approved principal, although the Law Society may approve part-time articling arrangements.

Articling principals are required to provide guidance by instruction and example to students on the practice of law and the practical application of ethical standards and rules of professional conduct.

Resources available to assist you include:

• Sample education plan
• List of required practice skills
• Articling Handbook

During the articling year, you and your principal must complete a:

• Mid-term review of the education plan

At the conclusion of your articling year and in order to qualify to be called to the bar, your principal must certify that you have completed your articles by completing a:

• Certificate of Completion of Articles; and

Special Requests

Please refer to Law Society Rule 5-5 and 5-6 if you would like to:

• Transfer your articles to another principal
• Obtain credit for articles served elsewhere
• Abridge your articles

To apply to article on a part-time basis, please contact the Director of Admissions, Richard Porcher at 204-926-2020 or rporcher@lawsociety.mb.ca

PREP

PREP is the pre-call education program delivered by the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education over a period of approximately nine months.  It is comprised of four distinct phases which include foundation modules, foundation workshops, working at a virtual law firm and a final capstone assessment. Visit the CPLED website to learn more about registering for the Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP).

Students who have been approved to be admitted and are enrolled in PREP, are eligible to apply for financial assistance.

Call to the Bar and Admission as a Solicitor

Once you have successfully completed PREP and your articles, you are eligible to be called to the Manitoba Bar if you remain of good character and a fit and proper person to practice law.

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

Practising Requirements

To start practising law in Manitoba following your call to the Bar, you will need to submit:

• Application commence active practice
• Practising fee and professional liability fund contribution or insurance exemption form.

Your payments can be made in two installments with the first payment on the date of your application and the second payment on December 1^st.