London's Top Law Destinations for Students

Written by Canada Law from Abroad - 06/09/2023

All but one of the Canadian provinces uses the Common Law legal system, the same system used by one third of the world's population today. Therefore, if you are a future Canadian lawyer you will likely be practicing and living under Common Law. So, why not study where it all began?

Common Law began in England during the Middle Ages under King Henry the II. When you attend one of Canada Law from Abroad's preferred UK Law Schools not only do you get the opportunity to study law from world class experts, but you get to do so while surrounded by centuries of legal history.

When you need a study break during your academic adventures, you won't want to miss these top law destinations found in England's capital: London!

1. The Old Bailey

With the golden Lady Justice standing on guard atop of this iconic London building, the Old Bailey, known as The Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, is a place no future lawyer should skip. Inside the Old Bailey all major criminal cases from the Greater London area are tried and these trials are open to viewing from the public galleries. The building received its name as it was built along London's original fortified walls and has a long history dating back to 1674. Here, many of England's most notorious and violent criminals were sentenced to hanging in the public square between the Court and the Newgate Prison. Entry is free and privately booked guided, inexpensive tours can be obtained.

2. Temple, London and The Inns of Court

There are four historic Inns of Court: Lincolns Inn, Inner Temple, Middle Temple and Grays Inn, where barristers in training traditionally received their legal education. If you are a City Law School student you will become very familiar with the Inns of Court as they are now a part of the campus. The Inns of Court were the first providers of legal education in England and each society dates to Middle Ages. The Inner and Middle Temple are named after the Knights Templar, whereas Lincolns Inn is named after the Third Earl of Lincoln, and Grays Inn after the Baron Grey of Wilton. The Inner and Middle Temple are located in-between the Dickson Poon School of Law at Kings College London and the Royal Courts of Justice, and Grays and Lincolns Inn are located in the nearby London Borough of Camden. Some of their famous alumni include Francis Bacon, Margaret Thatcher, and William Osgoode the first Chief Justice of Ontario. Private and group visits can be booked at the individual Inns of Court and range from complimentary to 25 for guided tours.

3. Royal Courts of Justice

A place no law student should miss while in London! The Royal Courts of Justice is one of the largest courts in all of Europe. In 1882 the impressive Victorian Gothic building was opened by Queen Victoria herself. The Royal Courts of Justice still contain the High Court and the Court of Appeal for England and Wales. The Royal Courts are just a stones throw from the Old Bailey, the Inns of Court, and Kings College London's Dickson Poon School of Law. Entry is free and inexpensive two-hour guided tours are available. You may briefly watch a High Court Case from the public gallery, view exhibits on historical legal costumes throughout history, famous works of art, learn about of the Courts most famous cases, and see firsthand the original court documents from the Guy Fawkes trials.

4. Palace of Westminster

The Palace of Westminster should top the site-seeing list for anyone lucky enough to make a visit to London. While this place likely needs no introduction, Westminster is the UK's current parliament building and was formerly used as a private Royal residence. Rebuilt after the great fire of 1834, the palace holds both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The House of Commons, like in Canada, is where elected Members of Parliament meet to discuss and implement laws and legislation. The House of Lords acts much like our Canadian Senate with appointed membership. You can have a guided tour of the Palace and visit the Lords Chamber, Princes Chamber, Commons Chamber, Westminster Hall, St. Stephens Hall, the Royal Gallery, the Queens Robing Room, and more. They offer a student price for guided tours, and it's well worth each penny. For an additional fee, you can also enjoy a high tea in the Terrace Pavilion.

5. The Supreme Court

Not every legal hotspot in London is historical. You might be surprised to know that Canadas Supreme Court outdates the one in England by a whopping 134 years. However, that doesn't mean that the UK's Supreme Court, created in 2009, isn't a must see for students. The Supreme Court is the highest court for legal matters in the country and took over the judicial functions of the historic House of Lords housed in the Palace of Westminster. The Supreme Court can be found just around the corner from Westminster in the 1906 Grade II listed historic Middlesex Guidehall. With a caf, gift shop, and permanent exhibits, you can join one of the Courts hour long guided tours (special price for students available), opt to do a self-guided tour, or get in on the legal action by observing real cases while the court is sitting.

Travel opportunities are just one of the many perks to studying law with one of our preferred law schools. Studying in the UK isn't just all about the degree; it's also about living the international experience. Canada Law from Abroad encourages you to craft your law education inside and outside of the classroom in ways you simply can't by studying at home.

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What You Need to Know About the Accreditation Process in Canada

Written by Canada Law from Abroad - 24/04/2026

Understandably, one of the questions we most often get asked by prospective Canadian Law students is "what is the process like coming back to Canada to get licensed as a lawyer?" This question tends to be one of the deciding factors in your decision to study law abroad.

Truth be told, the accreditation process is not as scary as it might sound. In this blog, we discuss how the accreditation process works and what your options are after completing your UK degrees, and returning to Canada.

You've Graduated Law School in the UK - Now What?

The accreditation process in Canada is regulated by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. The National Committee on Accreditation (or NCA, for short) is a standing committee for the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, and it is through the NCA that you will have to apply for an assessment report of your law-related credentials. You can apply to the NCA at any time but your file will not be assessed until the NCA receives your final law school transcripts.

The application process involves an application fee ($400 CAD plus taxes), a resume, pre-law school transcripts, final law school transcript, English language screen (now required for all applicants), and a completed application form. We suggest applying to the NCA after you finish your final law school exams. Then, once you receive your final transcript after graduation, have your UK University send your transcript to the NCA directly.

It takes approximately 4-6 weeks for the NCA to assess your file and respond to you with a report detailing the requirements you must meet in order to obtain a Certificate of Qualification. Do note that as each assessment is made individually, this time frame can be longer depending on the assessment.

NCA Challenge Exams

After The NCA assesses your file, they will inform you of any additional items you need to complete in order to receive your Certificate of Qualification and qualify for law society bar admission.

If you studied the 2-year accelerated LLB Degree in the UK (sometimes called 'Senior Status' or 'Graduate Entry' depending on the university), you'll most likely be required to complete 7 challenge exams in order to obtain a Certificate of Qualification.

If you completed a 3-year LLB you will be required to write between 5 to 7 exams. Note: The number of exams assigned are determined on an individual basis.

Here is a list of the core exams:

Foundations of Canadian law
Canadian Constitutional law
Canadian Administrative law
Canadian Professional Responsibility
Canadian Criminal law

Other Requirements:

Those who have their qualifications assessed after January 1, 2022 will also need to complete a course in legal research and writing module. In addition, students must also show competencies in Indigenous Law and Peoples.

Choosing the right UK University

Currently, our preferred partner universities have been accepted by the NCA (providing the student meets their assessment criteria), but it is up to the student to keep track of any changes that may occur within the programme/university during their studies that may impact NCA assessment. Students are encouraged to remain updated on the NCA's policies to ensure they are aware of any changes during their studies abroad.

If you have any questions or concerns about the NCA requirements as they relate to your selected UK degree, it's recommended that you reach out to the NCA directly so that they can provide you with the appropriate feedback.

Canada Law from Abroad is not affiliated with the NCA and this information is given as a supplement to the official information found on the NCA website based on our understanding at the time of distribution. Before applying to any professional program that leads to a regulated career in Canada please be sure you have thoroughly reviewed the requirements for registering as an international educated professional in your field before proceeding with your degree overseas. Ultimately it is your responsibility to ensure the degree you complete in the UK will meet the accreditation requirements in the country and province in which you wish to work.

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