Unit Group
4112 Lawyers and Quebec notaries
Lawyers and Quebec notaries advise clients on legal matters, represent clients before administration boards and draw up legal documents such as contracts and wills. Lawyers also plead cases, represent clients before tribunals and conduct prosecutions in courts of law. Lawyers are employed in law firms and prosecutor’s offices. Quebec notaries are employed in notary offices. Both lawyers and Quebec notaries are employed by federal, provincial and municipal governments and various business establishments or they may be self-employed. Articling students are included in this group.
Example Titles
Crown attorney
articling law student
corporate counsel
law partner
lawyer
legal advisor
legislative counsel
notary (Quebec)
prosecutor
solicitor
View all titles
Main duties
Lawyers and Quebec notaries perform some or all of the following duties:
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Advise clients of their legal rights and all matters related to law
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Research legal precedents and gather evidence
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Plead clients’ cases before courts of law, tribunals and boards (lawyers only)
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Draw up legal documents such as real estate transactions, wills, divorces and contracts, and prepare statements of legal opinions
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Negotiate settlements of civil disputes (lawyers only)
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Perform administrative and management functions related to the practice of law
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May act as mediator, conciliator or arbitrator
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May act as executor, trustee or guardian in estate and family law matters.
Lawyers and Quebec notaries may specialize in specific areas of the law such as criminal law (lawyers only), corporate law, contract law, taxation law, administrative law, international law, commercial law, real estate law, family and estate law, intellectual property law and labour law.
Employment requirements
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Lawyers
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Two to three years of undergraduate studies or, in Quebec, completion of a college program
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and
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A bachelor’s degree from a recognized law school
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and
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Successful completion of the bar examination and completion of a period of articling are required.
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Licensing by the provincial or territorial law society is required.
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Notaries (Quebec)
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A bachelor’s degree from a recognized law school and a Diploma of Notarial Law (D.D.N.)
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or
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A master’s degree of law with specialization in notarial law
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and
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A 32-week vocational training program are required.
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Registration with the Corporation of Notaries is required.
Additional information
Lawyers wishing to practise in another province or territory may be required to pass examinations set by the provincial or territorial law society.
Classified elsewhere
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Legal department directors (in 0114 Other administrative services managers )
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Legal firm managers (in 0125 Other business services managers )
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Notaries public and trademark agents who are not lawyers (in 4211 Paralegal and related occupations )
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Patent agents who are not lawyers or Quebec notaries (in 4161 Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers )
