Job prospects Associate Lawyer in Québec

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "associate lawyer" in Québec or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Québec

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Lawyers and Quebec notaries (NOC 41101) in Quebec for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

The employment of this group depends primarily on increases in the income of their various clients and the number of court litigations.

Many of the traditional areas of practice for lawyers are still in demand, such as family law, tax law and immigration law. Newer sectors, such as intellectual property law, are expanding.

As for notaries, the ageing of the population will support the demand for wills and powers of attorney.

Legal education and experience also provide access to a wide range of professional activities both within and outside the legal field.

While the employment outlook for this occupation is good at the provincial level, it will be moderate in Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Chaudière-Appalaches.

Here are some key facts about Lawyers and Quebec notaries in Quebec:

• Approximately 27,550 people work in this occupation.
• Lawyers and Quebec notaries mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Legal services (NAICS 5411): 71%
  • Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 7%
  • Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing (NAICS 52, 53): 5%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 93% compared to 82% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 7% compared to 18% for all occupations
• 73% of lawyers and quebec notaries work all year, while 27% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 36% of lawyers and quebec notaries are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 44% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 56% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: less than 5% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 51% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 49% compared to 11% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Québec by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "associate lawyer" Lawyers and Quebec notaries (NOC 41101) or across Canada.

Learn more