Administrative Call to the Bar - Ontario - 2025

[SNAILS]

Does anyone know the dates where an articling student can be called to the bar in 2025 in Ontario? 

I know there is an in person call to the bar ceremony in June 2025. "Administrative calls" are also available. According to https://canlawforum.com/topic/7337-how-long-does-it-take-to-get-your-license-after-passing-the-bar-exams/#comment-71022 , administrative calls to the bar ended in the COVID era, and candidates are now limited to the official call dates. People in this thread don't seem to know specifics either ( https://www.reddit.com/r/LawCanada/comments/1f55lt7/does_anyone_know_when_the_next_administrative/ )

• What day exactly in June 2025 is this in person ceremony?
• Can a candidate be called early with the "administrative call" option? (I.e. in May 2025?)

[SNAILS]

Bumping my own topic.

Does anyone know when the 2025 in person call to the bar ceremonies are? And does anyone have any specific information about dates and process for administrative call to the bar?

[Turtles]

On 1/1/2025 at 7:08 AM, SNAILS said:

Bumping my own topic.

Does anyone know when the 2025 in person call to the bar ceremonies are? And does anyone have any specific information about dates and process for administrative call to the bar?

I saw someone on LinkedIn who got their admin call to the bar confirmation this week. I think they do them on a rolling basis now and anyone eligible who elected an admin call and submitted their oath document can get a surprise email several weeks later confirming admittance to the bar. I don't think there are set timelines so it is a gamble whether it would actually happen prior to the ceremonial date (obviously the earlier you finish articling and apply increases the chances of it happening before the ceremonial date).

I don't think LSO has confirmed the June ceremonial date yet (I am keeping an eye as I am vacation planning). I did see one of the robes sites had posted the 2024 dates back on January 8, 2024, and it makes sense they would be one of the first to know to plan their inventory ordering in time. So you can keep an eye on both the LSO page and those sites. Based on that date last year, I expect we'll know within a week or so. 

[SNAILS]

Thank you @Turtles. Please, everyone, let me know if you hear any updates on this topic.

[halamadrid]

Is there any benefit to doing the ceremonial call? I'm planning to be called in June (hopefully) but debating whether it's worth it to do the ceremonial vs admin. 

[SNAILS]

On 1/4/2025 at 10:52 PM, halamadrid said:

Is there any benefit to doing the ceremonial call? I'm planning to be called in June (hopefully) but debating whether it's worth it to do the ceremonial vs admin. 

For me, it's about hire backs. My employer will post a position in the Spring that needs to be filled somewhere between March and June. Being called even a month earlier could make the difference for me.

[halamadrid]

3 hours ago, SNAILS said:

For me, it's about hire backs. My employer will post a position in the Spring that needs to be filled somewhere between March and June. Being called even a month earlier could make the difference for me.

Is the admin call faster vs the ceremonial? For context, I'll be done my articling placement in the first week of June. 

[SNAILS]

@halamadrid The short answer is "yes," but only if there is indeed a separate administrative call to the bar this Spring. This will be almost no advantage to someone who finish articles in June since the ceremonial call will be sometime in June probably towards the end, where as I would be called in May and gain more.

From the information I have gathered, some people have been called administratively, especially during COVID. These calls were apparently done on a "rolling basis," so someone eligible in, for example, May, could be called 1-4 weeks after they are eligable.

[Turtles]

https://lso.ca/becoming-licensed/lawyer-licensing-process/granting-of-licence/call-to-the-bar-ceremony

 

up now

[SNAILS]

Thanks! 🙂 I'm still hoping for an early administrative call.

[BadFallen]

Hi all:

I have been checking in on this this thread from time to time for about a month. I have been eligible to be called from early December (articling term + exams completed), but have not heard anything from the LSO. I have contacted them multiple times about the completion of my articles and an administrative call to the bar, with the most recent response to allow for a week to review before advising my eligibility for the March 2025 ceremonial call. The week has elapsed and I have not yet heard back.

Have any others heard back about an administrative call in the new year?

Thanks!

[BadFallen]

To bump my own post, I got the oath document message through LSOConnects Friday February 7, 2025. Total time between completing articles & receiving that message was two months, given I completed my articles in early December. Holiday break may have had some impact on timeline.

[OhDee]

Hi there - thank you for updating on your licensing process, BadFallen. I've been checking this thread a lot too and was curious what happened with your situation. I appreciate knowing how long the process was for you. 

Can I ask, did you submit your End of Placement Record on LSO Connects before the date on which you finished your articling placement? Or did you submit your End of Placement Record when articling was already over (either on the last day of your articles, or sometime within 10 days of finishing)?

The instructions on the LSO site state that the End of Placement Record must be submitted within 10 days of completing articles; I can't tell if that means I can submit it now with my anticipated End date (about ~5 weeks until end of articling), or if I have to wait until I've finished articling to submit the End of Placement Record.

If submitting my End of Placement Record with my anticipated end date will speed up  how quickly I receive the message asking me about my call preference (strong preference for administrative, as I'd love to be called ASAP), I'd love to submit my End of Placement Record now. I'm also wary to inadvertently create a red flag on my account. Any tips from what you did will help me. Thank you. 

[BadFallen]

18 hours ago, OhDee said:

Can I ask, did you submit your End of Placement Record on LSO Connects before the date on which you finished your articling placement? Or did you submit your End of Placement Record when articling was already over (either on the last day of your articles, or sometime within 10 days of finishing)?

I submitted my End of Placement Record on the day my articling placement ended.

 

18 hours ago, OhDee said:

The instructions on the LSO site state that the End of Placement Record must be submitted within 10 days of completing articles; I can't tell if that means I can submit it now with my anticipated End date (about ~5 weeks until end of articling), or if I have to wait until I've finished articling to submit the End of Placement Record.

If submitting my End of Placement Record with my anticipated end date will speed up  how quickly I receive the message asking me about my call preference (strong preference for administrative, as I'd love to be called ASAP), I'd love to submit my End of Placement Record now. I'm also wary to inadvertently create a red flag on my account. Any tips from what you did will help me. Thank you.

The LSO website states, "When an articling placement ends, candidates must enter their end of placement information (...)" Based on the wording, I would assume that the End of Placement Record can only be submitted once that placement actually ends, however, the LSO would be able to give a definitive answer.

Best of Luck!

[SNAILS]

Based on this, is it fair to say that people not yet done their articling (but who will do so in the Spring) should count on waiting until the ceremonial call in June?

[SNAILS]

I'm going to bump this thread.

Does anyone know if it is is possible for an articling student who has finished articles to be called to the bar before the next ceremonial call? (Which is around June 20)

If an administrative call is possible, how long does it usually take? (I have heard 4-6 weeks after the request is made on the LSO Connects portal).

[Pathos]

2 hours ago, SNAILS said:

I'm going to bump this thread.

Does anyone know if it is is possible for an articling student who has finished articles to be called to the bar before the next ceremonial call? (Which is around June 20)

If an administrative call is possible, how long does it usually take? (I have heard 4-6 weeks after the request is made on the LSO Connects portal).

I've found question like these are best answered by messaging the Law Society directly through the LSO portal, which will give you the correct information. It is a bit slow, but

I'd rather have correct information about a licensing process concern than playing broken telephone through an internet forum - convenience be damned.

My personal experience, they will provide succinct answers and may even move to resolve certain issues themselves if necessary. 

[SNAILS]

The LSO's response it that administrative calls are processed on a "rolling basis." This still leaves me without a definitive answer. From what I have gathered online, the whole process would end 4-6 weeks from the end of articles.

[SNAILS]

Here is an update for anyone else interested in an administrative call to the bar. 

1. I went to the LSO portal to request my articling term be shortened from the original 10 months to the minimum 8 months. This was granted without any problems. (The articling principle does not submit any documents for this, nor does the candidate; you simply fill out the application on the website).
2. Upon completion of my eight month term, I received an a message on LSO Connects within 1 day asking for a sworn Oath document and payment of my Call to the Bar fee. I uploaded and paid this right away.
3. Within 4 days I received a message through LSO connects advising me that my L1 licence has been granted and providing me with my Law Society Number. The whole thing was quick and easy, though quite unceremonious.

*** My application may have been processed quicker (though I don't know for sure)  than most since I indicated there is a lawyer shortage where I am, and that our clients are quite vulnerable and financially disadvantaged.

Edited March 28 by SNAILS

[halamadrid]

On 3/28/2025 at 3:55 AM, SNAILS said:

Here is an update for anyone else interested in an administrative call to the bar. 

1. I went to the LSO portal to request my articling term be shortened from the original 10 months to the minimum 8 months. This was granted without any problems. (The articling principle does not submit any documents for this, nor does the candidate; you simply fill out the application on the website).
2. Upon completion of my eight month term, I received an a message on LSO Connects within 1 day asking for a sworn Oath document and payment of my Call to the Bar fee. I uploaded and paid this right away.
3. Within 4 days I received a message through LSO connects advising me that my L1 licence has been granted and providing me with my Law Society Number. The whole thing was quick and easy, though quite unceremonious.

*** My application may have been processed quicker (though I don't know for sure)  than most since I indicated there is a lawyer shortage where I am, and that our clients are quite vulnerable and financially disadvantaged.

How much was the Call to the Bar Fee? I completely forgot that we have to give the LSO even more money than already do....

[SNAILS]

I think it's $165+ tax for the administrative call fee. Then  $ 2038.92 as the base LSO licencing fee, unless you have a discount ( https://lso.ca/lawyers/about-your-licence/annual-reports-fees-and-insurance/paying-your-fees ) and LawPro (insurance) will run about $3,250 (https://www.lawpro.ca/your-policy/practice-status/private-practice/ ).

These numbers are just  a quick overview. There are a lot of nuances and exceptions. For example, some lawyers do not pay 100% to the LSO. LawPro insurance is more for real estate, and I think there are a lot of other variables. Not all of these payments are due immediately either.

One takeaway is to make sure your employers is paying for all or as much of this as possible.

[halamadrid]

My term is ending in early June and I won't be hired back. When do we need to have LawPro? Is it only when he actually start practicing?

[AlanDershowitz]

On 4/6/2025 at 12:24 PM, halamadrid said:

My term is ending in early June and I won't be hired back. When do we need to have LawPro? Is it only when he actually start practicing?

Yes

[SNAILS]

@halamadrid When you are searching for your next job, always check if LSO fees and/or LawPro is covered by the employer.