Foreign Trained Lawyers Program

The Foreign Trained Lawyers Program (FTLP) is a 12-month Post-bachelor’s Certificate offered by the Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary for internationally trained lawyers who wish to become accredited to practice common law in Canada.

Please be sure to read carefully the requirements in your National Committee on Accreditation assessment report or letter and all relevant information about the Foreign Trained Lawyers Program, including the University Calendar, to see if this Program best suits your needs.

The FTLP is run by Professor Kellinde Wrightson, who is an internationally trained lawyer herself and has lived this journey. Students in the FTLP are supported by their own Admissions and Student Services Advisor and an International Coaching Federation accredited Certified Executive Coach. Professor Wrightson and a team of experienced Calgary-based legal practitioners teach the mandatory FTLP courses.

The FTLP is custom-built for the needs of internationally trained lawyers, both those who are newcomers to Canada and Canadians who have chosen to attend law school abroad and wish to return to Canada to practice common law.

The FTLP covers the five core NCA common law subjects in which internationally trained lawyers must demonstrate competence: Canadian Criminal Law, Canadian Constitutional Law, Canadian Administrative Law, Foundations of Canadian Law, and Ethical Lawyering/Professional Responsibility.

In addition, the FTLP’s Law 430 Professional Development course is approved by the NCA under its Policy Manual section 10.3.1 as satisfying the NCA legal research and writing requirement. The Executive Director of the FTLP, Professor Wrightson, teaches Law 430 and her new book Decoding Canadian Legal Research, Writing and Conventions: A Guide for Internationally Trained Lawyers is the set text and offers a host of information to help internationally trained lawyers navigate the journey to practice common law in Canada.