How to become a lawyer and Quebec notaries
Official title: Lawyers and Quebec notaries
Also called: Lawyer, Tax lawyer, Civil lawyer, Staff lawyer, Title lawyer, Labour lawyer, Patent lawyer, Quebec notary, Review lawyer, Criminal lawyer, Notary (quebec), Associate lawyer
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 unit group.
Main tasks
- Advise clients of their legal rights and all matters related to law
- Research legal precedents and gather evidence
- Plead clients' cases before courts of law, tribunals and boards (lawyers only)
- Draw up legal documents such as real estate transactions, wills, divorces and contracts, and prepare statements of legal opinions
- Negotiate settlements of civil disputes (lawyers only)
- Perform administrative and management functions related to the practice of law
- May act as mediator, conciliator or arbitrator
- May act as executor, trustee or guardian in estate and family law matters
How to become one
Lawyers Two to three years of undergraduate studies or, in Quebec, completion of a college program, a bachelor's degree from a recognized law school, successful completion of the bar examination and completion of a period of articling are required. Licensing by the provincial or territorial law society is required. Be an active member of a law society in the province or territory of legal practice. Notaries (Quebec) A bachelor's degree in civil law from a recognized law school and a master's degree in notarial law, which includes a 16-week internship, from a recognized law school are required. A 15-day training program at the Chambre des notaires du Québec is required. Licensing by the Chambre des notaires du Québec is required.
Ways in
- University: Law & Justice degrees, Offered by 15 universities in Canada
- Licence or registration: Licensing by the provincial or territorial law society is required. Licensing by the Chambre des notaires du Québec is required.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $116,532 a year The middle half earn $87,458 to $166,062.
- About 124,300 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 140,200 are projected by 2033. (+12.8%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a lawyer and Quebec notaries?
Lawyers Two to three years of undergraduate studies or, in Quebec, completion of a college program, a bachelor's degree from a recognized law school, successful completion of the bar examination and completion of a period of articling are required. Licensing by the provincial or territorial law society is required. Be an active member of a law society in the province or territory of legal practice. Notaries (Quebec) A bachelor's degree in civil law from a recognized law school and a master's degree in notarial law, which includes a 16-week internship, from a recognized law school are required. A 15-day training program at the Chambre des notaires du Québec is required. Licensing by the Chambre des notaires du Québec is required.
How much does a lawyer and Quebec notaries earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $116,532 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $87,458 to $166,062.
Is a lawyer and Quebec notaries a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 13% by 2033, from about 124,300 to about 140,200 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a lawyer and Quebec notaries?
Usually. 100% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03