Recently, the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) issued a newsletter addressing some concerns relating to the decision of moving to an in-person examination method for the 2022-2023 licensing cycle. This update arrived as a consequence of the cancellation of the summer examinations announced by the LSO in March 2022. The decision to cancel the summer examinations was made due to the examination content being improperly accessed by some candidates and/or third parties.
Expectantly, this decision severely affected approximately 1,100 candidates, who were set to write their online examinations. In an open letter directed to the LSO and the Attorney General of Ontario, licensing candidates expressed their frustration and disappointment regarding the LSO’s decision to postpone the June 2022 bar exams to July 2022, in addition to cancelling online assessments. Lawyers and students have also expressed their confusion with returning to an in-person format – solely because the examination content was leaked, as they argue that it can potentially be leaked again even if they were to cancel online assessments.
Subsequently, the rescheduled examinations has left candidates who live outside the province, or in some cases – outside the country, wondering how they will attempt to appear for the in-person examinations. Arguably, even if such candidates arrange to appear for these examinations, there is no telling if they won’t be affected by COVID-19 protocols that will be implemented by the LSO.
In such times of stress and anxiety caused not only by the impact of COVID-19 but also navigating career plans, is it safe to assume that Internationally Trained Lawyers (“ITLs”) should start planning for an in-person reality in Canada? With the Canadian government easing the COVID-19 restrictions, and schools/colleges/universities moving back to an in-person format for the upcoming summer/spring term, it does look like ITLs will have to alter their current plans and expect a return to ‘normal’ environment going forward.
Organisations are also beginning to host networking and social events in-person. Even though some of these events have the option of attending remotely, ITLs should understand the importance and difference of networking in-person. Since day one, as a Canadian law student, I was told that significant importance is given to ‘networking’ and it is extremely vital for building a legal community in Canada. However, our expectation of a seamless transition of such events being held remotely were not appropriately met in the last year. As per our conversations with alumni, organisations were known to host a lot more social events for incoming ITLs and law students before the pandemic.
Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, there was a severe void and struggle felt by many of my peers and law students across Canada, in navigating their career paths in the last couple of years. Notably, there have been very few opportunities to even meet or interact with all of our classmates/peers. I acknowledge that the shift back to an in-person format is stressful and inconvenient, and continuing to attend events remotely might be the only option for many ITLs. However, keeping not only the goal of becoming a licensed lawyer in Canada in mind but also the upcoming bloom of summer, ITLs should prepare for a shift back to an in-person reality.
– By Moushmi Mehta