Regulator will phase out Professional Legal Training Course, used since 1984
The Law Society of British Columbia has announced its plans to transition to the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education’s Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP), upon retiring the Professional Legal Training Course (PLTC), which has been operational since 1984.
“After more than 41 years of running the successful PLTC program, the Law Society recognizes that the needs of law students and the competencies required to practice law have significantly evolved, and updated training was required,” said Gigi Chen-Kuo, the law society’s chief executive officer and executive director, in a news release.
In its news release, the law society said the shift to the new bar admission training program followed an extensive review, its benchers’ and leaders’ thorough consideration, and the adoption of the Western Canada Competency Profile.
The law society noted that Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Nunavut and Saskatchewan have previously implemented PREP as their new lawyer training programs. The law society said following their examples would enable parallel training standards and promote mobility for new lawyers.
The law society added that PREP has undergone refinements based on user insights and data since it began.
On PREP
The law society shared that PREP is a four-phase online program designed for virtual learning, offering tools enabling virtual engagement. It features an accelerated 11-week format or a standard nine-month format.
Meanwhile, PLTC has been delivered virtually since 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, though it was initially designed for in-person delivery. It is a full-time, 10-week course offered three times per year.
“I want to thank all the staff and instructors who have made immense contributions to PLTC over the past four decades,” Chen-Kuo said in the news release. “This decision is not, in any way, a reflection of your much-valued expertise and hard work.”
In its news release, the law society said PREP:
- reflects best practices
- features a consistent and integrated approach
- assesses students’ knowledge, ethics, oral and written lawyering skills, and client relationship management and practice management skills
- equips future lawyers with the practical skills, competencies, and deep knowledge they need
The law society acknowledged the benefits of an online-only course, particularly for students not residing in Vancouver. However, the law society shared its plans to offer opportunities for students to network personally with their peers and mentors.
The law society added that services such as PREP Recess and PREP Connect will support engagement through enabling student networking within each cohort and across jurisdictions.
Implementation
In its news release, the law society said it expected to take about a year to shift entirely to PREP, projected to launch in September 2026. At that point, new students can enroll, while those who did not pass PLTC in February or May 2026 can access workshops and take or retake assessments.
The law society expected all students in the province to enroll in PREP by 2027.
The law society noted that the changes would not affect current PLTC students and those enrolling in the February and May 2026 sessions.
