Canada International Trade in Legal Services

Is there legislation governing the legal sector

Governance of the legal profession in Canada is a matter of provincial and territorial responsibility.  Every lawyer in Canada and notary in Quebec is required by law to be a member of one of Canada’s 14 provincial and territorial law societies and to be governed by its rules.  All law societies are members of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada (FLSC), the national coordinating body of the regulators.  Each law society in Canada has its own legislation governing the regulation of its members, however, with national mobility of the profession, the law societies recognise the benefit of moving toward a harmonised national standard of rules of conduct.

Under what title do lawyers practise?

See specific province.

How does an individual lawyer obtain a "licence" to practise law? How often must this be renewed?

Admission is undertaken at provincial level and requirements may vary.

Does this entitle the holder to practise throughout the country? If the law license only permits one to practice on a sub-national level, please explain the jurisdictional limits

Licensing by a provincial or territorial law society entitles a lawyer to practise in that jurisdiction. The law societies have also entered into   two National Mobility Agreements that provide broad permanent and temporary mobility rights to members of the legal profession. Lawyers admitted in any of the provinces or territories of Canada (other than Quebec) may become licensed in any other province or territory without passing an examination. These permanent mobility rights will be extended to mobility to and from the Barreau du Québec under a new National Mobility Agreement expected to come into force before the end of 2014. In addition, lawyers can practise temporarily, for a maximum of 100 days, in any of the following:  British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

Are there certain activities that are "reserved" to those who are licensed to practise law in the jurisdiction?

The scope of reserved practice is the law of the province of qualification and Canadian Federal law.

No

The legal forms permissable to lawyers are determined at provinical level.

What other ethical or regulatory requirements must a licensed lawyer comply with? 

Ethical rules are determined at provincial level but the Federation of Law Societies of Canada (FLSC) has approved a Model Code of Professional Conduct which is in the process of being implemented by the Canadian law societies. Over time, it is expected that any significant differences in rules of conduct across Canada will be eliminated.  http://www.flsc.ca/_documents/ModelcodeWTCrevdec2012FI.pdf

Do law firms need to receive a "license" (or permission/approval) to practice law?

Licensing is undertaken at provincial level - see relevant body under each province.

Which authority issues licences? Are there different authorities for individuals and firms? 

Licensing is undertaken at provincial level - see relevant body under each province.

Is the jurisdiction a member of the WTO?

Canada joined the WTO on 1 January 1995

Has it made any commitments under GATS in legal services?

Canada has made GATS commitments in relation to foreign legal consultants (advisory services on foreign and public international law only)

Is the jurisdiction party to bilateral agreements which offer special treatment to businesses or individuals from particular countries?

Canada is party to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and also has bilateral trade agreements with: Chile, Costa Rica, Israel, Colombia, Peru and the EU.

NAFTA includes a chapter on legal services which sets out a process for moving towards the establishment of mutual foreign legal consultancy regimes.

Are foreign lawyers from different jurisdictions treated differently as a result of any such agreements?

NAFTA includes a chapter on legal services which sets out a process for moving towards the establishment of mutual foreign legal consultancy regimes. But this has not yet been implemented.

See responses by province. A number of Canadian firms have recently merged with UK and US firms and therefore become part of larger international verein structures.

Foreign lawyers who are practising in a Canadian province are required to register as foreign legal consultants. Only the province of British Columbia permits foreign layers to “fly-in fly-out” without a permit.  Lawyers who intend to stay for less than six months and do not plan to enter the Canadian labour market and who can demonstrate their main place of business and source of income is located outside Canada and the profits from their business will accrue outside Canada, may obtain visas for business purposes.  US and Mexican lawyers have more flexibility to market their services under NAFTA.

Yes

See provincial information.

See provincial information.

See provincial information.

No

Can foreign lawyers requalify as local lawyers?

Can a foreign law firm obtain a licence to open an office?

See provincial information.

Even if a foreign law firm does not require a legal licence must they register in some form in order to set up an office? (e.g. with a ministry of company affairs etc)

Not applicable

See provincial information.

See provincial information.

See provincial information.

See provincial information.

Federation of Law Societies of Canada: http://www.flsc.ca/en/
Canadian Bar Association: http://www.cba.org/