Such lawyers face issues securing employment, limited access to articling positions: report
With the release of its report synthesizing the results of a survey of internationally trained lawyers, the ITL Network emphasized the importance of a continuing national dialogue about the professional integration of these lawyers into the Canadian legal system.
“I hope this report contributes to ongoing dialogue across the legal profession on how pathways for internationally trained lawyers can continue to evolve in an increasingly global legal environment,” said Kenny Okunola, survey project lead, president of the ITL Network, and convener of the inaugural ITL Conference.
The report urges regulators, employers, educators, and professional organizations to consider how Canada can better integrate internationally trained lawyers into the legal system while continuing to uphold the Canadian legal profession’s high standards.
Challenges faced by internationally trained lawyers
A rising number of internationally trained lawyers have come to Canada over the past two decades. Per the report, the perspectives of such lawyers can help institutions better comprehend international legal frameworks, especially in matters involving cross-border legal issues.
However, many of these lawyers encounter substantial obstacles, including the following, as identified by the ITL experience survey report:
- difficulties securing employment that accounts for their prior legal training and experience
- limited access to articling placements
- the lack of established professional networks in Canada
- expectations to show their competence in the workplace, which appear to exceed the expectations placed on Canadian-trained colleagues
- issues concerning professional belonging and inclusion
“While many internationally trained lawyers build successful careers in Canada, the survey suggests that structural barriers continue to affect the pathway to professional integration for some candidates,” Okunola said on the page for the ITL experience survey report.
Dimensions of these lawyers’ experiences
The ITL experience survey encompasses various aspects of the realities of internationally trained lawyers navigating the Canadian legal profession, specifically those relating to:
- accreditation and licensing processes
- articling positions
- employment pathways
- long-term career progression
- mentorship and professional networks
- workplace integration
- experiences of bias or discrimination
More on the survey
According to the ITL Network, the survey seeks to provide clear, reliable, and detailed data for efforts to:
- Find opportunities for lasting improvements to the experiences of internationally trained lawyers
- Make the Canadian legal profession more inclusive, fair, dynamic, and globally responsive
At the 2025 Internationally Trained Lawyers Conference in Calgary, the ITL Network presented the preliminary survey results. On the other hand, the recently released report considers the full statistical survey findings and insights from contextual discussions.
Those interested can access the ITL experience survey report here.
More Canadian legal news
On Oct. 19, the Law Commission of Canada announced the release of a report titled “Beyond Tomorrow on Immigration: Legal Impacts of the Canada-Québec Accord relating to Immigration and Temporary Admission of Aliens for Federal and Québec Immigration Law and the International Student Program.”
In an Oct. 14 letter, Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada encouraged the federal government to take urgent and concrete steps to safeguard the International Criminal Court amid the US administration’s sanctions issued on Oct. 9.
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