Lawyer
Learn about this occupation – including typical duties, education required, salary and job outlook information, job boards and more.
Lawyers and Quebec notaries advise clients on legal matters, represent clients before administration boards and draw up legal documents such as contracts and wills. Lawyers also plead cases, represent clients before tribunals and conduct prosecutions in courts of law. Lawyers are employed in law firms and prosecutor's offices. Quebec notaries are employed in notary offices. Both lawyers and Quebec notaries are employed by federal, provincial and municipal governments and various business establishments or they may be self-employed. Articling students are included in this unit group. (National Occupational Classification)
Occupational profile
Find detailed information about the occupation, including typical duties and working conditions, in the links below:
- National Occupational Classification (NOC) - Canadian occupational descriptions
- O*NET Online - U.S. occupational descriptions and information
- OCCinfo by alis (includes video)- Alberta-based occupational information
- A Day in the Life of a Lawyer - The Princeton Review
- Legal Careers - Government of Canada
- StudyinCanada.com interviews:
- Carrieres en Justice: Avocat
- Carrieres en Justice: Juge
- Environmental Lawyer career profile - ECO Canada
- Communications Attorney profile - National Association of Broadcasters' Career Link
- Cyber Lawyer - Careers 360
- Video Game Lawyer - American Bar Association
- UM Career Mentor profile - Corporate Lawyer, U of M alumnus
- UM Today alumni profile - Academic Lawyer, human rights and gender equity
Education
U of M Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar & Catalogue outlines program admission and course requirements. Use the left menu to navigate to a specific faculty and program. To determine which degree path suits your unique occupational goals, speak with a Career Consultant. For support with course registration and academic issues, speak with an Academic Advisor.
Faculty and Department Homepages
Visit the faculty and department homepage to learn about program application deadlines and processes, as well as additional in-house resources and opportunities.
Exploring Other Education Options
- Canadian Law Schools - Council of Canadian Law Deans
- Law School Directory (international) - Law School Admission Council (LSAC)
- Law School Profiles - from Oxford Seminars
- Search Education Directories
Information for foreign-trained Lawyers - Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials
Labour market information
Labour market information informs users of supply and demand for specific occupations and sectors. It includes such things as salary and job outlook information. These resources support informed career decision making and job search efforts.
Resources
- Trend Analysis - Job Market Report (Winnipeg Region) - Gov. of Canada Job Bank
- Occupational Outlook Handbook - Job outlook for the U.S.
- Compensation Survey 2017 - from Canadian Lawyer magazine
- Winnipeg: holding steady - a city-based report from Canadian Lawyer magazine
- In-House Counsel Compensation & Career Survey Report (2016) - by The Counsel Network, in association with The Canadian Bar Association & Canadian Corporate Counsel Association
- Collective Agreements:
- Robert Half Salary Guide for Legal Professionals - salary and hiring trends
- OpportuNext - salary range and job growth prospects - Manitoba
Professional Associations
Professional associations organize events and directories, job postings, career and labour market information. Student membership opportunities are also available. This is a great way to learn and network.
- Canadian Bar Association (CBA)
- Indigenous Bar Association
- Canadian Association of Black Lawyers
- Federation of Law Societies of Canada
- Law Society of Manitoba
- Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED)
- Criminal Lawyers Association
- Canadian Environmental Law Association
- Canadian Corporate Counsel Association
- Intellectual Property Institute of Canada
- Canadian Council on International Law
- Canadian Indigenous Law Firm Advocating For Aboriginal Rights
Directories, Industry Associations, and Sector Councils
These resources provide industry news, labour market information and a list of potential employers. Remember, there are usually multiple industries worth exploring.
Job Boards
Search occupations of interest in the industry-specific job boards below to learn about skill requirements, employers, job duties and available jobs. You may also wish to search more general online job boards.
Other links
External resources that will provide you with additional information about the occupation, areas of work and opportunities to build experience:
- Manitoba Law Students' Association
- About the LSAT - from the Law School Admission Council
- Manitoba Law Library
- Legal Aid Manitoba
- Community Legal Education Association
- Aboriginal Legal Services
- Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba
- John Howard Society
- Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)
- Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights
- The Supreme Court of Canada
- The Pros and Cons of... Law and Specializations - from Canadian Lawyer magazine
- Canadian Lawyer magazine
- CBA Magazines
- Law Times - news website
- Animal Justice Canada - non-profit advocate for humane treatment of animals
- Animal Law Lawyers Toronto,
- Lawyer career profile- The Job Talk Podcast- a Business Immigration Lawyer speaks to his career journey and experience attending law school as a mature student
- Lawyer Talk with Donovan Francis - The Job Talk Podcast
- Criminal Defence Attorney Talk with Amy Lind - The Job Talk Podcast
- Q & A with an Indigenous Lawyer - CBABC - BarTalk