Permanent mobility
Solicitor permit (Canadian lawyer or law professor)
You can be entered on the Roll of the Order of the Barreau du Québec as a solicitor. There are two types of permits for solicitors.
- for members of the Bar of another province or a territory of Canada who hold a position in an organization that has its head office, an office or a subsidiary in the province of Quebec (section 55 of the Act respecting the Barreau du Québec); and
- for professors who have been teaching law full time for at least three years in a law faculty or a department of legal studies recognized under section 184 of the Professional Code (section 56 of the Act respecting the Barreau du Québec).
Holders of a solicitor permit become members of the Barreau du Québec and have the same duties and obligations as other members of the Barreau du Québec: they must comply with the Code of Professional Conduct of Lawyers and hold professional liability insurance with coverage limited to $1 million and the activities authorized under the solicitor permit.
The permit is annual and must be renewed by petition to the Board of Directors no later than April 1 each year.
Activities you may carry on with a solicitor permit
| Canadian lawyer (section 55) | Members of the Bar of another province or a territory of Canada admitted as a solicitor may practice only within the limits of the activities set out in section 128 of the Act respecting the Barreau du Québec for the exclusive account of their employer or the employer’s subsidiaries. |
| Law professor (section 56) | Pursuant to sections 56 and 128 (1) (a) of the Act respecting the Barreau du Québec, law professors may only give legal advice and consultations on legal matters. |
Conditions to obtain a solicitor permit
Canadian lawyer (section 55)
Canadian lawyers must provide the following documents:
- the following forms, duly completed:
application for admission to the Barreau du Québec, which will be reviewed by the Committee for Access to the Profession before the application for a solicitor permit is referred to the Board of Directors for a decision;
application for a solicitor permit (s. 55, Act respecting the Barreau du Québec); - all documents that must be submitted with the application for admission (listed in schedules 1 and 2 to the application for admission), including proof of identity, Canadian police clearance and documents attesting to your knowledge of French;
- a certificate issued by a competent officer of the Bar of which you are a member, attesting that you are legally authorized to practice law and that you have not been disbarred or that your right to practice law outside Quebec has not been limited or suspended;
- your law degree(s);
- your CV; and
any other document that may be required.
You must remain a member of your own Bar even after the Barreau du Québec issues you a permit.
Law professor (section 56)
Law professors must provide the following documents:
- the following forms, duly completed:
application for admission to the Barreau du Québec, which will be reviewed by the Committee for Access to the Profession before the application for a solicitor permit is referred to the Board of Directors for a decision;
application for a solicitor permit (s. 56, Act respecting the Barreau du Québec); - all documents that must be submitted with the application for admission (listed in schedules 1 and 2 to the application for admission), including proof of identity, Canadian police clearance and documents attesting to your knowledge of French;
- a certificate from an authorized person attesting that you are a professor who has been teaching law full time for at least three years in a law faculty or department of legal studies which grants a diploma recognized pursuant to section 184 of the Professional Code;
- a certificate from an authorized person attesting that you have a university degree in law;
- your CV; and
any other document that may be required.
How to obtain a permit
Applications for a solicitor permit are reviewed by the Secretary of the Order, who ensures that the conditions for the issue of a permit are met. If the conditions are met, the application for admission to the Barreau du Québec is referred to the Committee for Access to the Profession, which, pursuant to section 45 of the Act respecting the Barreau du Québec, must examine whether the applicant has the moral character, conduct, skills, knowledge and qualifications required to practice the profession.
Upon receipt of the decision of the Committee for Access to the Profession declaring the applicant eligible to practice the profession, the application for a solicitor permit is submitted to the Board of Directors, which decides whether or not to issue a permit.
It takes at least three months to process an application for a solicitor permit. If the application is incomplete, it may take longer. Moreover, the Committee for Access to the Profession may consider it necessary to meet with the applicant.
Once the Board of Directors decides to issue a solicitor permit, you must follow the steps outlined below to be entered on the Roll of the Order and to be able to practice within the limits of your solicitor permit:
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Annual membership dues
You must pay the full amount of the annual membership dues for the current year to be entered on the Roll of the Order.
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Professional liability insurance
You must take out professional liability insurance for members of the Barreau du Québec. You will be covered for $1 million.
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Oath
Before being entered on the Roll of the Order, you must take an oath or pledge allegiance.
Administrative fees
The permit application fee is $248, payable online by credit card (Visa or MasterCard).
Once you are entered on the Roll of the Order, you must pay the annual membership dues.
Commissioner for Admission to Professions
If you are dissatisfied with the way in which the Barreau du Québec handles or has handled your application, you may file a complaint with the Commissioner for Admission to Professions. You may also file a complaint if you are dissatisfied with other stages of the admission process.