Introduction
Hello everyone,
I’m sorry for the very long hiatus. I was very busy leading up to the day of my bar call ceremony and I was away for two weeks on vacation shortly after so I had to play catch-up with work once I got back.
Yup, that’s right! I am officially a lawyer. I was called to the Alberta bar on August 15, 2024 at the Alberta Court of Justice (previously known as the Provincial Court). It still feels surreal. To finally reach the end after so many years of schooling and to be surrounded and celebrated by everyone I love, I can’t even begin to explain how that felt. Of course, it’s not really the end. Actually, it’s more like the beginning. But it is a good moment to pause and reflect on how far you’ve come. At least for me, it was a day that made all the long nights of studying, long work hours and all of my hard work worth it. And if you’re an aspiring lawyer reading this, know that if I can make it this far then so can you.
What is a Bar Call?
A little bit about bar calls. Bar calls or bar admission ceremonies are when articling students become a member of their respective province’s Law Society. It occurs in the presence of a judge in open court.
Fun fact: In a courtroom, a physical bar or railing separates the area where lawyers and judges sit from the rest of the room. The general public sits behind this bar, and only lawyers who have been called by a judge to cross this barrier (hence the term “called to the Bar”) can sit in front of it.
Bar Calls in Alberta
In Alberta, bar calls are individual. Instead of being called in a group, articling students each have their own ceremony that’s just for them, and they are the star of the show. Alberta is one of the only, if not the only province that still does individual bar calls and these bar calls can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a little more than an hour. Each bar call is different, depending on the level of court (Court of Justice, Court of King’s Bench, or Court of Appeal), the presiding judge or justice, the principal, and the applicant.
I’ve seen bar calls where the applicant is “robed” (they wear their lawyer robes) during the ceremony, after they take the oath. This is usually the practice in the Court of Justice. I’ve seen bar calls where the applicant dons their robe from the beginning. This is usually the practice in King’s Bench. I’ve seen bar calls where the applicant speaks, others where the judge reads their speech for them or they don’t speak at all. I’ve even seen bar calls where the principal has entered exhibits into evidence (for fun).
What to Expect at a Bar Call
That said, the general format of a bar call goes as follows:
- Opening remarks. The judge will welcome everyone in the courtroom and typically acknowledge the applicant (the articling student, soon-to-be lawyer) and their family and friends.
- Application for admission. The applicant’s principal will make an application to court for the admission of the student into the Law Society of Alberta.
- Granting of application. The judge will grant the application for admission.
- Oath-taking. The applicant will swear or affirm the oath of Barrister and Solicitor.
- Speeches. The judge and sometimes the new lawyer will say a few words. For the judge, a few words of wisdom and advice, and for the new lawyer, usually a few words of appreciation to everyone who supported them.
Conclusion
Unlike the usual cases heard in a courtroom, bar calls are a time for celebration, so if you’ve recently been called to the Bar or you’re about to be called, congratulations! Not quite there yet? Keep going. Your hard work and dedication will pay off soon, and your bar call will be here before you know it.
