Membership Application

Regular Membership

Regular membership allows lawyers to actively practice law in the Territory.

Learn about the application process including the requirement to complete the Mandatory Reading List.

We encourage transferring applicants to acquaint themselves with the culture, geography, and history of Nunavut and its people using this Supplemental Resource List. The List was updated and shared at the June 23, 2025, Law Society AGM.     

Learn about reactivating an inactive membership.

A Restricted Appearance Certificate (RAC) allows lawyers to actively practice law in the Territory on up to three (3) legal matters for the period of one year. Learn about the application process.

Renewing your Restricted Appearance Certificate

The RAC must be renewed prior to each anniversary of the day it was granted or when the three (3) legal matters have been completed (whichever comes first). For more information, read the RAC Policy and information on how to renew your RAC online.

Amending your Restricted Appearance Certificate to add new matters

If a RAC has been issued for one matter, it may be amended by submitting a request in writing to the administrator of the Law Society of Nunavut to permit the addition of up to 2 matters. Unless the RAC has been amended, the holder is not authorized to engage in the practice of law other than as described in the RAC. For more information, read the RAC Policy.

Previous Restricted Appearance Certificate Holder and Re-Application 

If your RAC expired,  you will need to re-apply for a new RAC. 

Timeline to issue your Restricted Appearance CertificateC 

From the date your completed application is received online by the administrator, the Deputy Secretary requires up to a maximum of 10 (ten) working days to issue your RAC.

Supplemental Resource List 

We encourage all applicants to acquaint themselves with the culture, geography, and history of Nunavut and its people using this Supplemental Resource List. 

The Canadian Legal Advisor (CLA) Certificate is for a member in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec (Bachelor of Civil Law.) CLA members are restricted to giving legal advice and doing legal work on:

1. the law of Quebec,
2. matters under federal jurisdiction, and
3. matters involving public international law.

Canadian Legal Advisors are subject to specific rules with respect to marketing of services; see Rule 39.6 (10) of the Rules of the Law Society of Nunavut.

Members of the Barreau du Québec

Since November 26,2020 a member in good standing of the Barreau du Québec is eligible to apply for full regular membership.  

Learn about the application process. 

There are two combined membership options: 

• Restricted Appearance Certificate (RAC) and Regular Membership
• Restricted Appearance Certificate (RAC) and Canadian Legal Advisor (CLA) - For members in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec (Bachelor of Civil Law)  

Both are appropriate if you urgently require the entitlement to practice law in the Territory. In such a situation, you will be issued a RAC in the interim (no limitation on the number of clients or files) while your application for regular membership or CLA is being reviewed by the Membership and Admissions Committee. Learn about the application process.

This timeline applies to

• regular membership applications
• applications for Canadian Legal Advisor (CLA) certificates, and
• student-at-law (articling) applications.

A lawyer who urgently requires the entitlement to practice law in the Territory can apply for a combined Restricted Appearance Certificate (RAC) and Regular Membership or Canadian Legal Advisor (CLA) option. 

1. Submission - Applicants must submit their application within ten (10) working days before the next scheduled MAC’s scheduled review date (every 2 weeks on Mondays–see Calendar below).
2. Receipt - Applicants will receive a confirmation of receipt within three (3) working days, which will include a request to provide any outstanding information or materials.
3. The Membership and Admission Committee (MAC) will examine an application and provide a recommendation to the Executive Committee within fifteen (15) working days, assuming no further information is required from the applicant.
4. The Executive Committee will consider the MAC’s recommendation and provide their decision to approve (or not) the application for admission within ten (10) working days, assuming no further information is required from the applicant.

2025 Calendar

Timeline to issue your RAC application:

From the date your completed application is received by the administrator, the Deputy Secretary requires 7 (seven) business days to issue your RAC.

Unless we require further information from you, you will receive an update by the established timeline of twenty-five business days from the date your application was submitted to the Membership and Admissions Committee.

Please note the CEO does not provide updates on membership applications unless we have advised you that your application has been forwarded to the CEO- Deputy Secretary.

An applicant will receive two (2) courtesy follow-ups within a period of four (4) weeks following the last correspondence sent by the LSN to the applicant.  

When completing the online form, applicants must upload the following documents as pdf files. Required documents vary depending on the type of application. Please see the document templates below.

Two letters of good character (Form X)

• From lawyers in good standing and/or judges in the applicant’s home jurisdiction;
  • When completing the letter, a one or two-word description of the applicant's character and reputation is insufficient. We expect a minimum of one sentence to establish the applicant's character and reputation when completing the letter.
• Download the template;

A certificate of good standing from each law society to which the applicant is currently a member

• Not more than 30 days older than the date of the application;
• Indicating whether they are in good standing;
• Indicating how long they have been an active member of the society or body;
• Indicating whether disciplinary proceedings are pending against them; and the nature and disposition of such action; and
• If the certificate lists claims or complaints, the applicant should supply an explanation for each one.

Accountants Report (Form E) OR a Statutory Declaration regarding trust accounts (Form F)

• Download the Accountant’s Report template;
• Download  Statutory Declaration for trust accounts template:
  • If in Nunavut, the Report is signed by a Commissioner for Oaths/Notary Public;
  • If outside Nunavut, the Report is sworn (signature) before a Notary Public under seal (or in Quebec, a Commissioner for Oaths). The seal must be visible in the scanned document.

Statutory Declaration for Rule 39.3 related to the Mandatory Reading List if applying for regular membership

• Download Statutory Declaration for reading list template:
  • If in Nunavut, the Declaration is signed by a Commissioner for Oaths/Notary Public;
  • If outside Nunavut, the Declaration is sworn (signature) before a Notary Public under seal (or in Quebec, a Commissioner for Oaths). The seal must be visible in the scanned document.
• Supplemental Resource List
  • We encourage transferring applicants to acquaint themselves with the culture, geography, and history of Nunavut and its people using this Supplemental Resource List. The List was updated and shared on June 23, 2025, Law Society AGM.     

Declaration of Applicant and Authorization

• Download the template.

Insurance Exemption Certificate and Undertaking (if required)

• Submit if the applicant does not require liability insurance coverage through the Law Society of Nunavut;
• Download the template.

The applicant will be asked to list:

• Law degrees with dates received;
• The law societies or governing bodies of which they are or have been a member, with dates; and
• A Certificate issued by the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) and its date of issue.     

Payment of applicable fees and levies these are payable by:

• EMT to administrator@lawsociety.nu.ca
• Cheque to “The Law Society of Nunavut” 
  Note: Please confirm courier delivery to the administrator
• In-person direct deposit at the Royal Bank of Canada

Invoices and Receipts