The Law Society of Ontario has announced that that the June 2020 Call to the Bar ceremonies have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 emergency. While disappointing, this was a necessary and justified decision. Lawyer licensing candidates do not want to expose our colleagues, friends and family members to the risk of infection posed by large gatherings.

To the relief of many candidates, the Law Society further confirmed that everyone scheduled to be called this June will still be licensed through a "paper call" process. However, the Law Society has yet to communicate whether a full Call to the Bar ceremony will be rescheduled following the COVID-19 emergency, promising only that a "celebratory event" will be held.

The Call to the Bar ceremony formally welcomes new lawyers into the profession and collectively entrusts them with the duty of upholding the administration of justice. There's no substitute for this time-honoured rite of passage: candidates don't want a mere reception to celebrate their accomplishments. Once the risk posed by COVID-19 has passed, the Law Society needs to reschedule formal Call to the Bar ceremonies for all candidates scheduled to be licensed this June.