National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011

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National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011
Introduction

4 - Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services

41 - Professional occupations in law and social, community and government services

411 - Judges, lawyers and Quebec notaries

4111 - Judges

Judges adjudicate civil and criminal cases and administer justice in courts of law. Judges preside over federal and provincial courts.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • chief justice
    • county court judge
    • Court of Queen's Bench justice
    • district court judge
    • family court judge
    • federal trial court justice
    • provincial court of appeal justice
    • small claims court judge
    • superior court justice
    • Supreme Court justice

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Administrative tribunal judges (See 0411 Government managers - health and social policy development and program administration)
    • Citizenship court judges (See 1227 Court officers and justices of the peace)
    • Justices of the Peace (See 1227 Court officers and justices of the peace)

  • Main duties

    Judges perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Preside over courts of law, interpret and enforce rules of procedure and make rulings regarding the admissibility of evidence
    • Instruct the jury on laws that are applicable to the case
    • Weigh and consider evidence in non-jury trials and decide legal guilt or innocence or degree of liability of the accused or defendant
    • Pass sentence on persons convicted in criminal cases and determine damages or other appropriate remedy in civil cases
    • Grant divorces and divide assets between spouses
    • Determine custody of children between contesting parents and other guardians
    • Enforce court orders for access or support
    • Supervise other judges and court officers.

    Judges may specialize in particular areas of law such as civil, criminal or family law.

  • Employment requirements

    • Extensive experience as a lawyer or as a professor of law with continuous membership in the bar association is usually required.
    • Membership in good standing with a provincial or territorial law society or bar association is required.
    • Judges are appointed by federal or provincial cabinets.
    • Those appointed to more senior positions in a court, such as chief justice, usually have experience as judges in that court.
4112 - Lawyers and Quebec notaries

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 group.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • articling law student
    • corporate counsel
    • Crown attorney
    • law partner
    • lawyer
    • legal advisor
    • legislative counsel
    • notary (Quebec)
    • prosecutor
    • solicitor

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Legal department directors (See 0114 Other administrative services managers)
    • Legal firm managers (See 0125 Other business services managers)
    • Notaries public and trademark agents who are not lawyers (See 4211 Paralegal and related occupations)
    • Patent agents who are not lawyers or Quebec notaries (See 4161 Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers)

  • Main duties

    Lawyers and Quebec notaries perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Advise clients of their legal rights and all matters related to law
    • Research legal precedents and gather evidence
    • Plead clients' cases before courts of law, tribunals and boards (lawyers only)
    • Draw up legal documents such as real estate transactions, wills, divorces and contracts, and prepare statements of legal opinions
    • Negotiate settlements of civil disputes (lawyers only)
    • Perform administrative and management functions related to the practice of law
    • May act as mediator, conciliator or arbitrator
    • May act as executor, trustee or guardian in estate and family law matters.

    Lawyers and Quebec notaries may specialize in specific areas of the law such as criminal law (lawyers only), corporate law, contract law, taxation law, administrative law, international law, commercial law, real estate law, family and estate law, intellectual property law and labour law.

  • Employment requirements

    Lawyers

    • Two to three years of undergraduate studies or, in Quebec, completion of a college program
      and
      A bachelor's degree from a recognized law school
      and
      Successful completion of the bar examination and completion of a period of articling are required.
    • Licensing by the provincial or territorial law society is required.

    Notaries (Quebec)

    • A bachelor's degree from a recognized law school and a Diploma of Notarial Law (D.D.N.)
      or
      A master's degree of law with specialization in notarial law
      and
      A 32-week vocational training program are required.
    • Registration with the Corporation of Notaries is required.

  • Additional information

    • Lawyers wishing to practise in another province or territory may be required to pass examinations set by the provincial or territorial law society.
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