The COVID-19 pandemic is having an impact on those just entering the legal profession.
Normally, newly graduated law students take articling positions of a 12-month duration prior to passing the bar and becoming lawyers. But COVID-19 has resulted in a number of changes.
The Law Society of Saskatchewan has announced that in what is described as a “temporary response” to the pandemic, they are reducing the 12-month articling requirement to a minimum of 8 months for those students-at-law who have commenced their articles.
This takes effect March 31 and applies to the current group of articling students. It is possible a reduction could also be coming for the incoming group of articling students as well; the Law Society has indicated a decision will be made on that by April 15.
The Law Society still requires articling principals to complete Form A-9, which is the form confirming the articling student is suitable to be admitted as a lawyer.
Also, the requirement remains that students complete the CPLED Bar Admissions Program. There should be no impact on the timing of final marks, which the Law Society states will be available by early May.
There are some other changes. Those serving articles at one of the courts in the province, the requirement to complete a two-month secondment to a practising lawyer is being waived if that has not been completed yet. Also, students who commenced their articling term August 2019 or later who have concerns they may be unable to complete their articling term are urged to contact [email protected] to discuss their options. Those seeking further details are urged to contact the Law Society.
