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Ontario · Licensing exams

Ontario bar exam study materials and indices

The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) develops the study materials both exams are based on, and it says they’re the only materials you need. You get each exam’s set as a PDF in LSO Connects, then print it yourself, because electronic versions aren’t allowed in the exam room. Your Ontario bar exam study materials are good for one licensing year, so a rewrite in a later year means paying for that year’s set.

  • PDFHow you receive the materials
  • May 1Start of each lawyer licensing year
  • 2 business daysDeadline to post updates before a sitting
Read the study materials pageFree practice test

Updated November 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

What’s in the Ontario bar exam study materials?

They support every competency the exams test, and the exam items are written from that licensing year’s materials. The LSO updates them once a year, for a lawyer licensing year that runs from May 1 to April 30, and posts any updates no later than two business days before a sitting.

Getting your copy

You must pay for an exam’s materials before you can register for that exam. To get them:

  1. Check the release date for your licensing year. The LSO releases the materials before the year starts.
  2. Pay for the set that matches the licensing year of your exam, in LSO Connects.
  3. Download the PDF from your online account.

The materials stay available until the final sitting of that licensing year. Once you’ve paid and have digital access, the fee isn’t refundable. The fee itself is listed with the study options.

Check the release dates →Compare study options →

Printing and organizing them for an open-book exam

You must print your own copy and bring it, as the LSO doesn’t provide printed copies at exam locations. You may mark up your printed copy, and you can check the Rules and Protocol for what counts as a permitted item.

The LSO’s guide suggests organizing your printed materials like this:

  • Mark sections with tabs or colour codes
  • Write short summaries of key points
  • Build an index of key topics, with page references
  • Keep any formulas where you can find them quickly

Can you use Ontario bar exam indices made by others?

The LSO’s guide tells you to build an index of key topics yourself. Indices and notes made by other people are third-party materials, which the LSO says it doesn’t review or endorse, and you use them at your own risk.

Whatever you bring, you must not obtain, use or share prohibited exam content. The LSO’s full statement on outside prep is with the study options.

Sharing them, and artificial intelligence (AI) tools

The materials are protected by copyright and are for your own preparation only. You must not share, post or publish, send or sell them, give them away, or reproduce them for others, including by copying, scanning, memorizing or rewriting them.

Using AI tools with the materials is strictly prohibited, whatever the purpose. You must not upload, paste, share or transmit any part of them to an AI tool, including to study, summarize, paraphrase, translate or make notes. Misuse may breach copyright and the Rules and Protocol and lead to serious consequences in the licensing process.

Sources: Law Society of Ontario and 2 more. Checked November 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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