Singapore

Persons seeking admission to the Singapore Bar must obtain an approved law degree through completing a course of study of at least three academic years leading to that degree as a full-time internal candidate in either of a list of approved universities. The degree is typically a LLB or a LLB (Honours), depending on the university or a JD (from only five universities). They are then required to sit for the Bar Examinations, which is divided into parts A (for overseas graduates) and B (a five-month practical course, which is compulsory for both local and overseas graduates), before they can contact the Singapore Institute of Legal Education and wait to be called to the Bar.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong makes a distinction between barristers and solicitors. Admission to either profession requires a law degree (either the four-year LL.B. or the two-year Juris Doctor) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (which requires nine months). The apprenticeship to become a barrister is only one year, while a solicitor must apprentice for two years.

Canada

Canadian applicants to the bar must obtain admission (referred to as the “call to the bar”) to one of the provincial or territorial Law Societies in the various jurisdictions of Canada. As an example, in order to sit for the bar exam, the Law Society of British Columbia requires that a student complete an undergraduate degree in any discipline (B.A. of four years), and an undergraduate law degree (LL.B. and/or B.C.L., three to four years) or Juris Doctor (three years). Upon obtaining his or her law degree, the applicant must then successfully complete the bar exam for that jurisdiction and/or complete course work as required by that jurisdiction’s Law Society, such as the Professional Legal Training Course. As well, the applicant must complete an apprenticeship referred to as “articling” (nine to fifteen months depending on the jurisdiction and nature of the articling process).