Lawyer
Advocate, advise, and argue - law opens doors in every sector of Canadian society.
Lawyer Salary in Canada
Lawyers in Canada earn about $70,000 at entry level and around $300,000+ in senior roles.
- Entry level: $70,000
- Senior level: $300,000+
Bay Street corporate lawyers earn significantly more than legal aid lawyers. Partners at top firms earn in the millions.
About the Career
Legal services demand is stable - corporate, tech, and real estate law are growing areas.
Job Outlook
Stable demand. Legal services demand is stable - corporate, tech, and real estate law are growing areas.
How to Get There
- Any 3-4 yr undergrad + 3-yr JD (Juris Doctor) + Law Society bar admission
- Time to career: 7 years post-Grade 12
Degrees That Lead Here
- Law (JD) – 3.7+ GPA and 160+ LSAT for top schools
- Political Science – high 70s to high 80s
- Philosophy – high 70s to high 80s
- History – high 70s to high 80s
Key Skills
- Legal Research & Writing
- Argumentation & Advocacy
- Negotiation
- Client Counselling
- Attention to Detail
Typical Employers
- Law firms (Bay Street & mid-size)
- In-house legal teams
- Government & crown services
- Legal aid clinics
- Not-for-profits
High School Roadmap
- Join debate team. Read widely. Research what different types of lawyers do.
- Compete in debate and public speaking competitions. Take English seriously.
- Research the LSAT - written after undergrad. Join Model UN. Aim for 90%+ average.
- Apply to strong undergrad programs. Your undergrad GPA and LSAT score determine law school admission.
Top Universities for This Path
- University of Toronto – Toronto, ON
- Queen's University – Kingston, ON
- Western University – London, ON
- McGill University – Montreal, QC
- University of British Columbia – Vancouver, BC
Insider Tips
- Law school in Canada admits on LSAT score and undergraduate GPA - your undergrad field does not matter.
- Debate, Model UN, and moot court experience are the most relevant extracurriculars for law school applications.
- UofT, Osgoode (York), Western, McGill, and UBC are Canada's top five law schools.
- Bay Street corporate law (M&A, securities, capital markets) is the highest-paying legal specialty in Canada.