Third-Year students should carefully read the following information about how to apply to graduate, confirming your degree, and completing your application to article.
Applying to Graduate
You must apply to graduate online through the Student Service Centre even if you do not intend to participate in the graduation ceremony. You cannot graduate unless you apply to graduate. The on-line graduation application is open for a defined period of time prior to each graduation period, and Susan Morin, the Director, Academic Services, will notify graduating students when the link to the online application is active.
Information about the graduation ceremony, dates and tickets is located at http://graduation.ubc.ca/welcome/
Law Society - Confirmation of Degree Completion
Each spring, the Law Society of BC (LSBC) sends Susan Morin a list of all Allard Law students who have applied to begin their articles (the Law Society Admission Program or LSAP) or the Professional Legal Training Course (PLTC) in May. Susan will confirm these students’ graduation directly with the LSBC. You do not require an individual letter from the Dean for the Law Society of BC, as stated in the Law Society Admission Program enrolment form. Please do not request one.
The earliest possible date you can begin your articles, if you are graduating in May 2023, is May 15, 2023.
If you are applying to a law society in a province other than BC, you must inform Susan Morin and provide her with the mailing address for that province's law society. Susan will send an individual letter to that law society once your graduation is approved in May.
If you are planning to start your articles prior to May (i.e. if you are completing your JD coursework in December), you must inform Susan Morin. Susan will send an individual letter to the law society once your graduation is approved.
Once your degree is conferred and reflected on your transcript in May, you will need to order an official transcript (through the Student Service Centre) to be sent to the LSBC. Faculty of Law staff cannot do this for you.
The LSBC will not need for you to have a transcript sent to them until your degree is posted and reflected on your transcript. You will be notified by Susan Morin once your degree is posted to your transcript so that you know when to order one.
Filing and Submitting Your Application for Articles
The Law Society of British Columbia places a great deal of importance on its function as a gatekeeper for the admission of law students into the legal profession. In particular, the Law Society seeks to protect the public interest in the administration of justice by only granting articles (or temporary "summer articles" to students who are of "good character and repute."
Consequently, it is important to be careful, complete and honest when filling out your application for temporary articles. The Law Society employs investigators (usually former police officers) who may conduct searches of applicants including, but not limited to, online materials (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, websites, blog posts), court registries and the Canadian Police Information Centre (a computerized information system which provides all Canadian law enforcement agencies with information on crimes and criminals).
Information and forms are at Law Society website. If you have any questions at all, particularly with respect to filling out the sections pertaining to good character, prior employment history, or medical fitness, contact, Assistant Dean of Career Services at 604.827.3604. You may also contact Lesley Small, Manager, Credentials & Licensing, Law Society of British Columbia at 604.443.5778 or by email.
If you submit your application and receive any follow up questions, meeting requests or other correspondence from the Law Society, we strongly recommend that you obtain legal advice promptly and do so before responding to the Law Society. Career Services maintains a list of lawyers who are experienced in dealing with Law Society matters.