This greatly exceeds the average income for all occupations in 1995. A majority of workers in this occupation are males - 75 per cent. About 25 per cent of employed workers are females. Most workers in this occupation are employed full-time. Only 4 per cent work part-time.
Employment is spread across Canada, with highest concentrations in larger urban areas.
Two to three years of undergraduate studies and a bachelor's degree from a recognized law school, a period of articling and a bar admission course and successful completion of the bar examination set by the provincial law society are required. A licence issued by the provincial law society is also required. Lawyers wishing to practise in another province may be required to pass examinations set by the relevant provincial law society. The trend towards alternate dispute resolution by a mediator outside of the court system is negatively impacting on the legal profession. Under another concept, called partnering, parties to a contract develop agreements prior to undertaking large contracts to ensure that disputes do not arise.