Licensing Examination Study Materials
General Information
Study Materials and Licensing Cycles
Accessing Study Materials
Study Materials FAQ
General Information
Once you have applied to the Licensing Process and selected an examination sitting, or registered or deferred an examination sitting, you will require the applicable examination study materials.
The information below is intended to provide general information regarding the study materials and how to obtain them in preparation for an examination sitting. It is each candidate’s responsibility to thoroughly review the information as well as all the Examination Rules and Protocol, Dates to Remember, policies, applicable deadlines, and procedures pertinent to the Licensing Examinations and the Licensing Process.
- Once your application or examination registration/deferral form has been processed, you will receive your invoices: one for your examination(s); and one for the study material(s) for the Licensing Year within which the examination is held.
- If you are re-writing an examination within the same licensing year, your material(s) would still be valid for that licensing year’s sittings. You are required to access and print the PDF of the study materials from your online account if you are re-writing in the same Licensing Year.
- Online access to your materials will be provided only if payment is received in full by the Law Society and materials have been released for the Licensing Year. You must pay for the study materials in addition to the examination fees in full as part of the registration process. You will not be permitted to sit an examination unless all fees relating to examinations and study materials are paid in full by the registration deadline and the required transcript or NCA Certificate of Qualification is filed with the Law Society.
- You will have digital access to your study material in the form of a PDF in your online account approximately 2 business days after your payment has been processed, provided the materials have been released for that Licensing Year. Otherwise, you will have access to them after 12pm on the day of their release. Materials will be available up to the final examination sittings of the Licensing Year.
- Please go to the Dates to Remember page related to Lawyer candidates and Paralegal candidates to view the release date of the study materials. Please also see the Examination Deadlines and Dates section for information on applicable registration and accommodation deadlines for each sitting of the examination.
- Once study materials are available to you, you are required to arrange to print the study materials so that you have a printed copy to bring to your examination Testing Area as well as for your preparation/studying. The Law Society will not be providing printed copies of the materials and candidates are expected to arrange printing their own materials. NOTE: Electronic copies of the materials are not permitted in the Testing Area. You must ensure you bring a paper copy to the Testing Area on the day of the examination.
- Your Law Society photo identification card will be mailed to the address on file with Licensing and Accreditation, in time for the first time you write an examination.
Study Materials and Licensing Cycles
One of the requirements to be licensed in Ontario is to pass the mandatory licensing examination(s). Lawyer candidates must successfully complete a Barrister examination and a Solicitor examination. Paralegal candidates must successfully complete the paralegal licensing examination.
The Law Society develops study materials on which the exams are. Candidates do not require additional study materials to prepare for an examination. It is therefore essential that you review the Law Society’s study materials provided carefully in preparation for a Licensing Examination. Competencies that are tested on the examinations are posted in detail on the website under the Licensing Examinations tab at left.
Study materials are released prior to the start of each Licensing Year and are valid and accessible up until the final examination sitting of that Licensing Year. Each Licensing Year typically has three sittings of each examination (fall, summer and winter).
The lawyer Licensing Year begins on May 1 of one calendar year and ends on April 30 of the following year. The study materials you purchase are valid for the sittings in that licensing year.
The paralegal Licensing Year begins on June 1 of one calendar year and ends on May 31 of the following year. The study materials you purchase are valid for the sittings in that licensing year.
The examination study materials are revised each year and candidates are expected to keep this in mind when they register within or between cycles: for instance, candidates who defer to or re-write an examination in a subsequent Licensing Year will be invoiced for the revised Licensing Examination study materials and will not be reimbursed for the previously purchased materials. Once materials are released to a candidate, the fee is non-refundable.
Candidates are required to purchase and pay for the version of the study materials that is current to the Licensing Year in which they register to write.
Please refer to the Dates to Remember page for specific release dates related to Lawyer candidates and Paralegal candidates.
Accessing Study Materials
The exact release day for the study materials will vary slightly from year to year. These dates can be found under the Dates to Remember page for Lawyer candidates and for Paralegal candidates.
Online Access
Online access is provided once materials are released for the Licensing Year and the fees are paid and are available in the candidate’s online account up until the final examination sitting for that Licensing Year. Candidates will be notified through their online account when the materials are available in their online account. They are required to download and print the PDF file of the materials available from their online account so that they may study, prepare and refer to them during their examination. Printed copies of the study materials are not available through the Law Society and candidates are required to arrange printing their study materials so that they have adequate time to prepare for their selected sitting.
Confidentiality and Security of the Study Materials
The Law Society maintains strict confidentiality and security of the study material contents. Stringent protocols and measures have been put in place to ensure that the integrity and security of the Licensing Examinations and the study materials is maintained. These measures are designed to eliminate any unfair advantage among candidates and avoid the high cost of replacing the study materials and examinations. These protocols have been implemented at all phases of the creation and distribution of the study materials, especially in the areas of development, review, translation, printing, transportation, and disposal of the materials.
All study materials are the exclusive property of the Law Society and are protected by copyright. In order to preserve the confidentiality and security of the Licensing Examinations, candidates are always strictly prohibited from disclosing to any person or organization, reproducing (through memorization or by any other means) or publishing any part of the examination and study materials. If a candidate decides to bring print materials and/or other aids to the examination site, all approved materials, notes, and textbooks must be brought by the candidate into the Testing Area prior to the start of Part 1 of the Examination Sitting. Candidates are not permitted to bring any additional materials into the Testing Area after the Licensing Examination has begun.
For more information, please refer to this link for Lawyer Licensing Examinations and this link for Paralegal Licensing Examinations.
Materials FAQ
Q: When do I get access to my study materials?
A: The material release dates are available on the Dates to Remember page for Lawyer and Paralegal candidates. If the materials have been released for that Licensing Year you will have access to them online about two business days after your credit card payment for the materials has been received.
Q: Where will I find my materials once they have been released?
A: Please log into your Law Society account and go to “My Examination Study Materials” to access the PDF of the study materials you paid for.
Q: I wrote last year. Can I use my old materials to study?
A: Study materials are revised each year and you are required to purchase and pay for the revised study materials for the Licensing Year you are writing in. Please note the study material fee must be paid as part of the registration process.
Q: Is the purchase of materials mandatory?
A: Yes, unless you are re-writing in the same Licensing Year.
Q: Can I sell or give away my materials?
A: No, the materials are intended for your personal use in preparing for and writing your examination. Please see the section on the inside cover of your materials for further information.
Q: What if I find an error or typo in the content of the study materials?
A: Please send a message through your online account stating the exact page, section, and nature of the error.
Q: Can I be refunded for my materials if I didn’t end up writing?
A: Once materials are released to you through your online account, study material fees cannot be refunded, even in the event that you do not attempt the examination in the licensing year.
Q: I ordered French materials, but they are in English in my online account. What do I do?
A: You are able to access them in French as well: Please log out and close your browser. Then make sure to access the French site (click Français at the top of the page). Log in from the French site and you can access your materials in French.
Q: Can I bring my materials into the Licensing Examination Testing Area?
A: Yes, you must bring a printed copy of your study materials into the testing area if you want to refer to them during the examination since the examinations are open-book examinations. Please be sure to read the Licensing Examination Rules and Protocol for detailed information on items that are permitted and prohibited in the Testing Area.
Q: Can I highlight or write in my materials when I am preparing for my examination?
A: Yes you may. However, please be sure to read the Licensing Examination Rules and Protocol for further information on preparing for your examination and what is permissible to bring into the Testing Area.
Q: What happened to my online materials? They have disappeared.
A: Your materials will only be available in your online account during the Licensing Year for which they are valid. Please consider saving them to your personal computer if you wish to keep a copy of the PDF. Once the final exams have occurred for the licensing year, candidates will no longer have access to that year's study materials as we prepare for the new licensing year's materials release.
Q: Can I copy the material? My printing shop says they need written confirmation that they can print the material.
A: The study materials you have purchased are copyrighted by the Law Society. You may not sell, distribute, or reproduce them for others; however, you can make copies for your own personal preparation for the examination. Please have the print shop refer to the section at the front of the materials for further information.
If you have questions regarding materials that are not addressed in this section, please send a message to the Licensing and Accreditation department through your Law Society online account by logging in, going to ‘My Messages’ and then to ‘Compose Message’.