ON Solicitor Exam study guide
ON Solicitor Exam · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Ontario Solicitor Examination is one of the two licensing examinations administered through the Law Society of Ontario's licensing process for lawyers. Candidates typically write it alongside the Barrister Examination; the solicitor paper tests the transactional and advisory side of practice rather than courtroom advocacy. The ON Solicitor Exam study guide has 8 sections and about 3,608 words.
01Civil Litigation: Ontario Procedure, Limitation Periods, and Cost Consequences
The Civil Litigation domain tests procedural accuracy under the Rules of Civil Procedure (RCP), the Courts of Justice Act , and the Limitations Act, 2002 . Expect questions that hinge on a single rule number or a precise timeline: when a statement of claim must be served, what a notice of intent to defend does, what happens if a defendant is noted in default, and how costs consequences follow offers to settle.
584 words, about 3 min02Real Estate Transactions: APS, Title, Land Transfer Tax, and Closing Mechanics
The Real Estate domain tests the mechanics of residential and commercial conveyancing in Ontario: the agreement of purchase and sale (APS), title and registration under the Land Titles Act , the Planning Act consent rules, land transfer tax, and the interaction of solicitor and client duties at closing. Questions often turn on which party bears a risk, when time is of the essence, and what a requisition date does.
532 words, about 3 min03Business Law - Corporate and Commercial: CBCA/OBCA, Directors, and Commercial Transactions
The Business Law domain tests the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) and the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) (OBCA), directors' and officers' duties, shareholder remedies, and core commercial transactions such as secured lending under the Personal Property Security Act (PPSA). Questions frequently compare federal and provincial rules and test the priority rules in secured transactions.
464 words, about 2 min04Estates and Trusts: Wills, Intestacy, Probate, and Trustee Duties
The Estates and Trusts domain tests the Succession Law Reform Act (SLRA), will formalities, intestate distribution, probate procedure, dependant support, and trustee duties under the Trustee Act . Questions often turn on the validity of a will, the effect of marriage or divorce, and the priority of claims against an estate.
438 words, about 2 min05Family Law: Divorce, Property Division, Support, and Parenting
The Family Law domain tests the Divorce Act (federal) and the Ontario Family Law Act (FLA), covering divorce grounds, equalization of net family property, spousal and child support, and parenting under the best interests of the child. Questions often turn on the equalization calculation, the Federal Child Support Guidelines , and the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines .
428 words, about 2 min06Bankruptcy and Insolvency: BIA, Proposals, Priorities, and Discharge
The Bankruptcy and Insolvency domain tests the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA), the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA), priorities among creditors, and the discharge process. Questions often turn on the timing of bankruptcy, the treatment of secured and preferred creditors, and the effect of a proposal.
397 words, about 2 min07Employment Law: ESA Standards, Wrongful Dismissal, and Human Rights
The Employment Law domain tests the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), the common law of wrongful dismissal, and human rights obligations under the Human Rights Code . Questions often turn on termination notice, severance pay, just cause, and the interaction between statutory minimums and contractual entitlements.
391 words, about 2 min08Administrative Law: Procedural Fairness, Standard of Review, and Remedies
The Administrative Law domain tests the Statutory Powers Procedure Act (SPPA), the duty of procedural fairness, the standard of review after Vavilov , and the remedies available on judicial review. Questions often turn on whether a decision-maker followed fair procedure and whether the decision is reasonable.
374 words, about 2 min