Education · 1 of 5

The path

Same licence as every lawyer. The specialty comes from one course, a clinic and where you article.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   English, French and any other language you can pick up.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree

   3 to 4 years

   International relations, languages, political science and social work are common. Any subject works. Write the LSAT (law school admission test).

3. 3

   Law school (JD, juris doctor)

   3 years

   Take immigration and refugee law and administrative law. Several schools run refugee law clinics where students represent real claimants.

4. 4

   Articling

   About 1 year

   8 to 10 months at an immigration boutique, a community legal clinic or a big firm's immigration group, plus the barrister and solicitor licensing exams. Ontario's Law Practice Program is the alternative.

5. 5

   Called to the bar

   Ceremony

   Many immigration lawyers go solo within a few years. The overhead is low and the clients find you through community and language networks.