4112-NOC

Lawyers and Quebec notaries

(NOC 41101)
High opportunity occupation High opportunity occupation
Annual Earnings
$120,318
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
University Degree
Job Openings
(2023-2033)
4,120

Career Overview

Lawyers advise clients on legal matters in negotiations and mediations. They also draft legal documents and represent clients before courts of law, tribunals and administrative bodies.

Duties

In general, lawyers:

  • Offer legal advice to clients
  • Research legal precedents and gather evidence
  • Argue clients' cases
  • Negotiate business transactions and civil dispute settlements
  • Draft legal documents such as wills, contracts, real estate and divorce papers
  • Prepare statements of legal opinions
  • Do managerial tasks

Lawyers can also act as mediators, conciliators or arbitrators. In estate matters, they act as executors or trustees.

Lawyers can specialize in areas such as:

  • Administrative law
  • Commercial law
  • Contract law
  • Corporate law
  • Criminal law
  • Family law
  • Indigenous law
  • Intellectual property law
  • International law
  • Labour law
  • Real estate law
  • Taxation law
  • Will and estate law

 

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$120,318

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$94.87/hr
Median$57.69/hr
Low$30.00/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2023 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

13,930

% Employed Full Time

74%
Source: 2021 Census

Lawyers usually work in offices and courthouses. They may travel to meet clients, attend meetings, conduct research and gather evidence.

In law firms, the hours are often very long. The work can be stressful, particularly when facing deadlines or preparing for court. Lawyers working in government or businesses may have more regular schedules.

Career Pathways

Lawyers can work as in-house counsel for businesses. With additional training and experience, they may become general counsel or vice-president of the company.

Lawyers can also work for government. They can advise and represent the government and prosecute criminal and regulatory cases.

Lawyers with additional training may expand their practices to include mediation or legal coaching services.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Enterprising
Enterprising

Job Titles

Barrister
Corporate counsel
Crown attorney
Law partner
Lawyer
Legal advisor
Legal counsel
Legislative counsel
Notary (Quebec)
Prosecutor
Solicitor

Education, Training and Skills

Lawyers in B.C. must have three to four years of undergraduate studies and a Juris Doctor or bachelor’s degree from a recognized law school. They must also complete the bar courses, provincial law society exams, and carry out a period of articling. To practise in B.C., lawyers must be members of the Law Society of British Columbia.

Lawyers who train outside of B.C. do not need significant additional training, experience, testing or assessment if their qualifications or certificates are recognized by a Canadian regulatory authority. However, those who train outside of Canada must apply through the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.

Lawyers who are certified for that occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.

For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.

Contact the Law Society of British Columbia for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.

For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.

View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Law
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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

90%
Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

90%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

84%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

81%
Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

78%
Complex Problem Solving

Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.

78%
Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

75%
Persuasion

Convincing others to change their mind or behaviour.

75%
Negotiation

Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

75%
Active Learning

Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.

72%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

13,930
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 185 1.3%
Kootenay 140 1.0%
Mainland/Southwest 10,405 74.7%
North Coast and Nechako 75 0.5%
Northeast 55 0.4%
Thompson-Okanagan 955 6.9%
Vancouver Island/Coast 2,125 15.2%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2023-2033)

4,120
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2023-2033)

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 40 -0.3%
Kootenay 10 -1.1%
Mainland/Southwest 3,030 0.9%
North Coast and Nechako 10 -0.6%
Northeast 10 0.7%
Thompson-Okanagan 340 1.3%
Vancouver Island/Coast 680 0.7%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2023-2033)
Professional, Scientific And Technical Services3,260
Public Administration460
Finance, Insurance And Real Estate100
Repair, Personal And Non-Profit Services80
Health Care And Social Assistance30
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Insights from Industry

New lawyers with high grades and related experience have better job prospects. Those willing to relocate to urban areas outside of the Lower Mainland will also find more opportunities.

Certain areas of law have higher demand. These include family, international, environmental, internet, entertainment, immigration and construction law. Openings are also available in Aboriginal rights, mediation, and intellectual property, patents and trademarks.

Downturns in the economy can mean less demand for optional legal services such as estate planning and real estate transactions.

Resources