Articling Programme
We are one of the few remaining firms that looks outside its summer student group to hire articling students. We participated in the articling student recruitment process for 2009/2010, and hired 11 additional articling students through this process.
The focus of our articling programme is flexibility and hands-on learning and training. We provide you with the option of obtaining a broad exposure to several practice areas over your articling term or focusing your interests on a few particular practice areas - all of which will encourage your growth and development.
Some of the highlights of our articling programme include:
Flexibility of the Rotation System: We offer 2 rotations during the articling term: corporate and litigation/employment/tax/real estate/competition. You have the flexibility to decide on whether you'd like to spend 5 months in each rotation or do a 4/6 months combination.
Mentorship Programme: We view our mentorship programme as being a cornerstone to our articling programme. You'll be matched with 3 mentors (a partner and 2 associates) from your practice area(s) of interest. Your mentors work with you, provide you with ongoing guidance, and help you to manage a diverse workload to gain a well-rounded articling experience.
Work Allocation and Responsibility: You'll get a high degree of responsibility which will help you to develop your practice skills and knowledge of law. You'll receive a significant amount of your work through your mentors and from the lawyers from whom you seek out work. You'll meet once a week as a group with Ritu to discuss workload, and will discuss work with your mentors as well, which will help you to maintain a balanced workload.
Continuing Legal Education Programme: We have a very broad and comprehensive CLE programme for articling students that includes: off-site skills training and development program, in-house seminars, seminars conducted by external organizations we invite to the firm, and practice area discussions that are followed by group dinners for students and lawyers. Our CLE programming helps you gain important legal and practical skills.
Evaluation Process: You'll receive formal feedback 3 times during the articling term. The Students Committee reviews and discusses review feedback from the lawyers you have worked with and then provides each student with an individualized message from the Committee. The lawyers you're working with will also provide you with ongoing, informal feedback, which will assist with your continued development. At the end of the articling year, we ask you to evaluate your articling experience, which helps the firm to continually improve our articling programme.
Knowledge Management (KM): Students have access to an innovative portal-based intranet, searchable KM system, cutting-edge precedents, extensive electronic and print library collection, and a committed team of KM lawyers to assist you.
Articling Compensation and Benefits
Salary: Our articling compensation philosophy is to pay our students at the forefront of our market. Currently, our articling students are paid $1,450 per week.
Bonuses: Students who commit to completing their articles with us receive a "pre-articling bonus" of $4,000. In past years, we have also given a discretionary, merit-based bonus at the end of the articling term.
Technology: We offer a $1,000 grant to articling students and associates towards the purchase of technology that will assist them in their practice. We also pay for and provide a BlackBerry to all articling students for their use during their time working with us.
Vacation: Articling students receive two weeks paid vacation.
Bar Admission Process: We pay tuition and salary for our students during the Skills and Professional Responsibility Program of the Bar admission process and the licensing examinations.
Fitness Membership: For articling students, the firm pays 50% of the monthly fitness membership fee.
Health Care/Dental Plan: Articling students receive an extended health care and dental plan.
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