We are interested in well-rounded law students whose drive, resourcefulness and leadership abilities are already evident in their professional and personal lives. In addition to high academic standing, we consider the personal attributes in which your intellectual capability is grounded. We look for people who are enthusiastic, engaging, confident and who conduct themselves with civility in all their dealings. Not surprisingly, we place a premium on being focused and well organized.

Above all, we expect students to have a keen interest in litigation, demonstrated through participation in debates, moots, clinics and other opportunities to begin honing advocacy skills. We are passionate about what we do, and seeking out others with the same passion is vital to the continued success of our firm.

At Lenczner Slaght, our articling and summer students play a vital role in the day-to-day life of our firm. Working alongside our lawyers at all stages of the litigation process, students draft pleadings and factums, prepare motion records and conduct legal research. Articling students attend court on opposed and unopposed motions, trials, appeals, arbitrations and other hearings. All students meet with clients and witnesses, attend examinations for discovery, take on small claims court files for our clients and regularly accompany lawyers to every level of court, as well as to various tribunals.

Because Lenczner Slaght focuses solely on litigation, we have no rotation system – although any student who is interested in a particular area of our practice is encouraged to pursue it. Every student will be exposed to a wide variety of practice areas and lawyers while at the firm. They will take on a wide range of important responsibilities that share one common theme: intensive exposure to the litigation process. At the end of the day, our goal is to nurture future advocates whose dedication and enthusiasm mirror our own.
 

The Social Network

Because Lenczner Slaght remains a relatively small and close-knit firm, students quickly become part of the professional and social fabric of the office. The collegial atmosphere is reinforced by a regular cycle of informal events designed to help everyone get to know each other a little better outside of work. Our organized social activities include a summer celebration, champagne reception and our end-of-year Holiday Party. We also host a barbecue for our summer and articling students, and throughout the year we organize pub nights, bowling tournaments and other gatherings.

Once a month, the lawyers, students and senior administrative staff come together for a delicious lunch. With no agenda or speakers, it's simply a chance to catch up on what is going on with your colleagues and often to engage in lively debate about the law. In the same spirit, lawyers regularly invite students out for lunch, coffee or dinner. Impromptu events are also often organized to celebrate good news, or just to break up a long winter.

Lenczner Slaght provides an orientation and training program for all students during their first week at the firm. We introduce our perspective on the practice of law, with content ranging from an overview of the life of an action to more in-depth discussions of motions, examinations for discovery, undertakings and other litigation building blocks. We also focus on more specific practical topics, such as starting your research project, adding value to a client file and developing your professional "survival skills" – with presentations from firm lawyers at every level.

The learning continues – for students and lawyers alike – through breakfast meetings on a variety of subjects, from substantive legal issues to helpful practice tips. In addition, we encourage our students to attend continuing legal education programs outside the firm, many of which are taught by our lawyers. The goal underlying all of these efforts is to give students the solid grounding they need to shorten the learning curve and achieve success – at our firm and in the profession.

To facilitate the growth of each lawyer's practice and the firm's business as a whole the firm provides training and support in business development which grows and evolves throughout one's career.

Mentoring – Formal and Informal

We pair each new student with a formal mentor whose role is to ensure a smooth integration into the firm and aide in the student's professional development. Each mentor ensures that his or her mentee benefits from a diverse summer or articling experience, including regular opportunities to attend client meetings, pre-trials, discoveries and court proceedings. Mentors also ensure that students have an opportunity to gain valuable experience in working with a wide range of Lenczner Slaght lawyers.

This mentoring program – which extends to lawyers in their first year with the firm – includes guidelines for both mentors and mentees that are designed to facilitate the relationship. Parallel to this formal arrangement there is also a very strong informal mentoring process that unfolds naturally as students and lawyers forge connections with one another. 

As a student working at Lenczner Slaght, you can count on having the support you need to be successful. In addition to your standard-issue work tools – a smartphone and a laptop – you have the backing of a pool of experienced assistants who understand what your role entails and can both support and guide you. You can also rely on research guidance from our Research Counsel, as well as continued support from our Professional Development team, Kyle and Allison, for any questions or concerns that may arise as you settle into your role.

Compensation and Benefits

Lenczner Slaght’s summer and articling student compensation is competitive with other downtown Toronto firms. Summer and articling student compensation is currently $1,900 per week.

In addition to a competitive salary, students will benefit from the following:

• Dedicated mentor
• Extensive orientation and training
• Flexible fitness and wellness benefit
• Licensing and Call to Bar fees
• Individual offices
• Two weeks paid vacation (articling students)
• Extended health and dental benefits (articling students)

For more information about our student program, please visit our NALP profile.

Feedback and Reviews

As with our mentoring process, at Lenczner Slaght feedback is provided on a formal basis but also happens informally – we encourage our lawyers to provide comments on each piece of work that a student undertakes. For our formal mid-term and end-of-term reviews, students are provided with an evaluation template at orientation to ensure everyone is clear on the criteria.

Lenczner Slaght observes the guidance for recruiting summer and articling students set annually by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO).

Communications: All applications are acknowledged by email. We will advise you in advance whether we're going to contact you on Call Day, usually one week before. Interview details are also confirmed by email.

On-campus Interviews: The Lenczner Slaght lawyers who visit your law school are looking to get to know you through an informal conversation during your interview. You can expect that they may ask for more detail around the academic and extracurricular activities summarized on your résumé. They are particularly keen to know more about your interest in litigation. At the same time, the on-campus interview is a great opportunity for you to ask us questions – to make sure you get a chance to get to know us as well. Everyone at Lenczner Slaght is happy to talk about why we love the firm. We attend OCIs at the following schools: Dalhousie University, McGill University, Osgoode Hall Law School, Ottawa University, University of Toronto, Queen’s University, Western University, Windsor University, and Toronto Metropolitan University.

Call Day: You will begin receiving calls from law firms at 8 a.m. on the designated day to arrange in-firm interviews. If we call you, we will schedule your interview for Monday of the designated interview week.

In-Firm Interview: You will meet with four or more of our lawyers during your interview. You can also arrange to meet one of our articling students who can answer any questions you may have about the student experience. There is no need to send thank you notes following your interviews as they are not expected.

Offers: We extend formal offers by telephone at 5:00 p.m. on the date prescribed by the LSO. 

Your application package should include a covering letter expressing why you are interested in our firm, a résumé, a copy of your law school and undergraduate transcripts, and a list of your anticipated upper year courses. Reference letters, while helpful, are not mandatory.

Applications are accepted through the viLawPortal and should be addressed to:

Kyle Magee
Senior Manager of Student Programs and Professional Development
Lenczner Slaght 
130 Adelaide St W
Suite 2600 
Toronto, ON 
Canada  M5H 3P5
You can also reach us by email: kmagee@litigate.com