Is the bar exam the best way of ensuring the readiness of new lawyers? Jennifer Pink of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society and legal analyst Jordan Furlong discuss why several provinces and territories have already ditched it, and what they’re replacing it with.
Passing the bar exam has long been accepted as a natural step for new lawyers. But in Canada, that seems to be changing. The Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP) has already replaced bar exams in PEI, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and Nunavut. British Columbia is set to make the switch soon, and the Law Society of Ontario is considering doing the same. What’s driving this transformation, and what does it mean for lawyers, aspiring lawyers, and their clients?
Jennifer Pink is the Interim Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society. Jordan Furlong is an Ottawa-based legal sector analyst, author, and advisor with an online newsletter about how to build a better legal system.
Verdicts & Voices is a legal current affairs podcast presented by the Canadian Bar Association. With her retinue of expert guests, host Alison Crawford keeps listeners up to date on news, views, and stories about the law and the justice system in Canada.