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The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) just announced that the upcoming Solicitor Exam (originally scheduled for March) will be given in an online model. Similarly, the June Barrister Exam and the July Paralegal Exams likely will also be given online, perhaps starting a trend for other examinations in other jurisdictions both in Canada and the United States.
Typically, admission exams are given in-person, usually at large facilities that can handle hundreds of applicants. With the current pandemic and social distancing guidelines in place, that traditional model is no longer workable.
It will be interesting to see if other US states and Law Societies in Canada decide to switch to an online testing model as well, to address these current conditions that may persist for some time into the future, or even permanently alter the way large-scale examinations are given.
As a member of the Law Society of Ontario and the State Bar of Michigan, I have taken both the barrister and solicitor exams, the SBM admission exam, and the also USPTO registration exam (online), I can speak to the various challenges and possible improvements to the experience that may benefit future applicants.
This situation presents opportunities for innovation – to ensure that applicants are able to take these examinations securely and fairly.
