Bar Admission Course

All articled clerks in Prince Edward Island must take and pass the prescribed Bar Admission Course (“BAC”) before they are eligible for admission to the Bar and membership in the Law Society. The course is designed to give new lawyers an overview of PEI law and procedure and the skills necessary to practice law, so that the new lawyer will have entry level competence when called to the Bar. The course is organized by the Bar Admission Committee, coordinated by the Legal Education Coordinator, and taught by volunteer lawyers and judges.

Course Components

The course consists of two components:
  • A two-week course offered in the province, which concentrates on substantive law and practice specific to the province
  • A seven-week Bar Admission Course in Nova Scotia, which concentrates on the skills necessary to the practice of law

Nova Scotia Component

The Nova Scotia BAC consists of a skills course, bar examination and seminars. Clerks from P.E.I. are expected to make their own arrangements with the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society to attend the skills component of the course. Registration and payment of the materials fee is the responsibility of each clerk. Clerks should register early for the Nova Scotia component, as late registrants may not be accommodated in the session of their choice, and Clerks may have to extend their articling time to complete the course.

Nova Scotia Bar Admission Course

Exemption for N.S. Component

Clerks who have already passed a Bar Admission Course in another province may be excused by Council from taking the Nova Scotia component. Clerks in these circumstances may apply to Council for an exemption from the Nova Scotia component. However, they must take and pass the PEI component.

P.E.I. Component

The PEI component is offered in the Fall each year, and is compulsory. To complete the course successfully, a clerk must attain a mark of at least 60% in each subject. Materials are available to clerks at one to two weeks before the beginning of the course. The tuition fee must be paid beforehand. The materials will cover topics in the course, and includes reference materials for future use.

Dates and Deadlines for 2009 PEI Component

This year the PEI Bar Admission Course will be offered from October 26 to November 6, 2009. The deadline to submit the application form is no later than Friday, October 9, 2009.

Bar Admission Course Application Form

Bar Admission Course Leaders and Topics

The 2008 Bar Admission Course instructors were:
  • Supreme Court Practice - Donald K. MacKenzie
  • Legislation - Shawn Flynn
  • Commercial & Corporate - James C. Travers, Q.C.
  • Administrative Law - Murray L. Murphy
  • Real Property - Allen J. MacPhee, Q.C.
  • Estates - George A. Lyle
  • Criminal Trial Practice - Patricia L. Cheverie, Q.C. and John A. MacMillan, Q.C.
  • Family - Brian L. Waddell, Q.C.
  • Law Office Economics & Management - John W. Hennessey, Q.C.
  • Ethics - Rosemary Scott, Q.C.
  • Discipline - M. Lynn Murray, Q.C.
Contact the Legal Education Coordinator: John McMillan at (902) 368-4596 or jamcmillan@gov.pe.ca.