Career Guide for Canadian Law Students Career Planning Services 2020
Contents 3
Message from the Canadian Law Students Association (CLSA)
4
Services
5
Career Paths
6
Resources
7
Articling and the Licensing Process
7
NCA Challenge Exams
8
General Checklist for Students
9
Bar Requirements
10
Articling Deadlines
11
Articling and Judicial Clerkships
12
Testimonials
14
Q&A with Alumni
15
Frequently Asked Questions
Message from the Canadian Law Students Association (CLSA) There are roughly 200 Canadian students currently studying Law at Bond University. The Canadian Law Students Association (CLSA), with the Faculty of Law, works to ensure that these students make the most of their time here at Bond and assist with their transition back home. The Career Development Centre staff are the key point of contact for career guidance in Canada, and can help you start planning your legal career from your first week at law school. While law school can be rigorous and require a lot of time, it’s also essential that you get involved in leadership positions, extracurricular activities and work opportunities, whenever possible. While we have a fairly small student population at Bond, there’s no shortage of opportunities to get involved in. Within the Faculty of Law alone there are three student groups: the Law Students’ Association (LSA); the Asian Law Students’ Society (ALSS); and, of course, the CLSA. Each association works to enhance the student experience at Bond. In addition to these groups, there are over 100 other cultural and sporting clubs that you can get involved in. Some notable mentions include the Bond University Ball Hockey Association (BUBHA), who can be found playing ball hockey every Saturday afternoon, rain or shine and Bond Think, an apolitical club that aims to generate new ideas and solutions to the social issues. If the club of your choice doesn’t exist, you can start one with an application through the Bond University Student Association (BUSA). Some of the best extracurricular activities to get involved in are mooting, client interviews and negotiations. Your level of involvement can consist of signing up for the on-campus competitions or by joining a domestic or international team where they prepare for an entire semester. Not only will you gain valuable legal skills, you will prepare yourself for assessments that are included in Bond’s Legal Skills program. Opportunities to participate in the competitions are promoted through the LSA, the CLSA and the Faculty. ‘Like’ our Facebook pages to stay up to date on the various opportunities offered. The biggest selling point of your application for a law firm job will be work experience. There are many clerkship and volunteer opportunities available during your time at Bond. Most are publicised through the Career Development Centre but there are also many advertised on individual firm and government websites. One opportunity includes the Bond Law Clinic. The Bond Law Clinic provides free legal assistance to members of the public. It is staffed by Bond Law students and supervised by legal practitioners.
Career Guide for Canadian Law | 3
We hope you make the most your time here at Bond and in Australia. If you have any questions or just want to chat, feel free to pass by our office. Best of luck with your studies and your job applications.
Whether you want to change the world, change your community or change your life, the journey to your future starts on campus at the Career Development Centre (CDC).
Services The CDC provides a one stop shop for students on a full suite of career guidance services. For assistance in any of the below areas please come and see us at the CDC. BEYOND BOND Facilitation of the Beyond Bond program, offering support and guidance to all students on a one on one basis where necessary.
INTERVIEW ASSISTANCE The CDC are available to assist in the preparation for interviews, including mock interviews and practice material.
LEGAL CAREERS GUIDANCE AND ADVICE Personalised career consultations.
LEGAL JOB POSTINGS Employment opportunities are listed in ‘Scout’ and emailed on a weekly basis to Law students.
LEGAL CAREER ACTION PLAN A step-by-step action plan to take you from day one right through to preparing for employment upon graduation CAREER WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS AND PANELS Facilitation of student engagement and interaction with experts in the legal profession. NETWORKING / COVER LETTER / RESUME REVIEWS Facilitation of student engagement and interaction with experts in the legal profession.
WORK EXPERIENCE / CLERKSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Established industry experience programs are offered to Law students via the CDC.
Career Paths - From Traditional to Alternative
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Barrister and Solicitor - private practice - Large firm - Mid-sized firm - Small firm - Boutique firm - Sole practitioner
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Barrister and Solicitor - in-house counsel - Commerical, transactional, property, M&A, litigation, regulatory, banking, insurance
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Barrister and Solicitor - Government Federal / Provincial Crown - Prosecutor - Civil litigation - Constitutional law Administrative agencies (like Securities Commission and Human Rights Commission)
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Barrister and Solicitor - Community Legal Centres
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Academic
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Legal Education Publication
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Continuing Legal Education Services
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Law Reform and Policy
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Media
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Business Consulting
Career Guide for Canadian Law | 5
A degree in Law can lead you into a career in a variety of roles and organisations. Some examples are listed below:
Resources This section provides a summary of the various requirements in the Canadian provinces with regards to articling and relevant professional legal training courses, in addition to key websites. KEY CONTACTS Lisa Bonin: Assistant Professor and Director, Canada Law Program, Faculty of Law +617 5595 1569 lbonin@bond.edu.au Michael Lauricella: CLSA President clsa@student.bond.edu.au +617 5595 1272
Name
Position
Michael Lauricella
President
Connor Farquhar
Vice President
Colleen Latus
Secretary
Francesco Tolfa
Treasurer
David Miniaci
Social Events Director
Kevin Lasaleta
Marketing Director
Joe Kennedy
Competitions Director
Manvir Kooner
Alumni Director
Joginder Bar
Outbound Director
Articling and the Licensing Process In order to be admitted to the Licensing Process applicants must possess either an LLB from a Canadian Law School or a Certificate of Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA). The NCA is a standing committee of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada responsible for evaluating the legal training and legal practice experience of persons with foreign legal credentials (for non-common law credentials from Quebec) who wish to be admitted to a common law Bar in Canada.
A uniform standard is applied on a national basis to determine what, if any, further legal education the applicant must complete to meet the standard achieved by graduates of Canadian law schools who earn the LLB degree. NCA candidates are either required to attend a common law Canadian law school for further studies or write challenge examinations in specified legal subjects. Whichever route is taken, NCA candidates must achieve an unconditional pass in courses and examinations to qualify for the Certificate of Qualification. (Law Society of Upper Canada, “Advice for NCA Students: An NCA Student’s Testimonial”, October 2005).
NCA Challenge Exams The five exams for the NCA Certificate of Qualification are Foundations of Canadian Law, Canadian Criminal Law, Canadian Constitutional Law, Canadian Administrative Law and Canadian Professional Responsibility.
The Faculty also offers a complimentary preparatory course in Canadian Professional Responsibility. It is strongly recommended that students meet with an Academic Advisor at the earliest possible time to map out their degree plan to incorporate the Canadian Law subjects in their Law degree.
It is important that students review the Federation of Law Societies of Canada website in regards to exam rules and schedules. Bond University supports students in preparing to sit these exams. The Faculty of Law offers the following elective subjects in their Law degree programs: Canadian Administrative Law Canadian Constitutional Law Canadian Criminal Law Foundations of Canadian Law Career Guide for Canadian Law | 7
• • • •
General Checklist for Students Below is a checklist for students. It is important to note that the applicant review is an individual process which is conducted by the NCA. It is highly recommended that students review the NCA website, understand the various deadlines that apply and contact the NCA directly with any questions they may have.
Complete degree / last semester
• •
Open file with the NCA Complete Transcript Request with the Student Business Centre
NCA Review
• •
NCA to assess applicant file NCA report emailed to applicant
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Once notified by the NCA, Bond graduates can register for exams
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Exams are conducted in January, May, August and October.
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Exams can take up to 10 weeks to mark
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Exam(s) marked and passed, issued with Certificate of Qualification
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Start articling
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As relevant, register / engage in provincial licensing process
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Study and sit for Bar exams
Register for exam(s) / sit exam(s)
NCA Certificate of Qualification
Start articling
Bar Requirements for the Various Regions in Canada Each province in Canada has different requirements for admission to the Bar. Some require specific course work and articling, while others do not. Therefore it is important that you review the requirements for the province that you wish to practise in. These may change and, as such, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are up-to-date on the relevant requirements.
British Columbia
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Bar School Course The Professional Legal Training Course (PLTC)
The Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED)
The Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED)
Law Society The Law Society of British Columbia lawsociety.bc.ca/
The Law Society of Alberta lawsocietyalberta.com/ CPLED Program cpled.ca/
The Law Society of Saskatchewan lawsociety.sk.ca/
Length of Course
Length of Articling
10 weeks
Nine months. Students cannot enrol in PLTC until they have secured articles.
The current CPLED Program consists of 3 one-week modules delivered in a face-to-face classroom setting and six modules delivered online. Running from August - April, the weekly time investment varies by student. Each assignment or competency evaluation requires an estimated commitment of 12 - 15 hours. Each online module is three weeks.
12 months
9 modules that take approximately six months to complete during articling period.
12 months
CPLED Program cpled.ca/
Manitoba
CPLED Program
The Law Society of Manitoba lawsociety.mb.ca/
Self-study
52 weeks
Ontario
Articling and Experiential Training Plan, and completion of an online Professional Responsibility and Practice Course
Law Society of Ontario lso.ca/
Self-study
10 months
New Brunswick
lawsociety-barreau.nb.ca/ uploads/LSNB_BAP_ Program_Guide_EN.pdf
The Law Society of New Brunswick lawsociety-barreau. nb.ca/
4 week course divided into 2 modules, each lasting 2 weeks. The time spent at the Bar Admission Course will not be counted in the 48 weeks articling period.
Minimum 48 weeks
Newfoundland and Labrador
lsnl.ca/
The Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador lsnl.ca/requirements/
Articles of Clerkship for a period totaling at least one year or such other period prescribed by the Education Committee. Followed by attendance and successful completion of the Bar Admission Course and the examinations as prescribed by the Education Committee. 196-198 Water Street St. Johns, NL A1C 1A9 709-722-4740 | general@lawsociety-barreau.nb.ca
The Northwest Territories
lawsociety.nt.ca/lawyers/ students-articling/
The Law Society of the Northwest Territories lawsociety.nt.ca/
Law Society of the NWT 4th Floor, Diamond Plaza – 5204 50th Avenue P.O. Box 1298, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2N9 867-873-3828 lawsociety.nt.ca (and click on membership, then applications)
Nova Scotia
nsbs.org/society-news/ change-is-coming-to-thebar-admission-program/
Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society nsbs.org/
Nova Scotia has moved to a CPLED course. Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society Cogswell Tower, 800–2000 Barrington Street Halifax NS B3J 3K1 902 422-1491 | info@nsbs.org
Nunavut
nunavut-cba.org/home/
The Law Society of Nunavut lawsociety.nu.ca/
Canadian Bar Association - Nunavut Branch PO Box 149, Iqaluit, NU, X0A 0H0 867 979-2330 | nunavut@cba.org
Prince Edward Island
lawsocietypei.ca/ bar-courses/
The Law Society of Prince Edward Island lawsocietypei.ca/
There are no set deadlines for articling in Prince Edward Island. Please contact individual firms for details. PO Box 128, 49 Water Street Charlottetown, PE C1A 7K2 902-566-1666 | lawsociety@lspei.pe.ca
Yukon
lawsocietyyukon.com/ forms/ admission_requirements. pdf/
The Law Society of Yukon lawsocietyyukon. com/
There are no guidelines for articling in Yukon. For information about articling in the Yukon, please contact the Law Society of Yukon: The Law Society of Yukon Suite 202 – 302 Steele Street Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C5 867-668-4231 | info@lawsocietyyukon.com
Career Guide for Canadian Law | 9
Province
Articling Deadlines It is important to remember that each province and territory has different requirements for being called to the Bar. In addition, the education component administered by the relevant law society and practical component are different in each region. For your convenience a summary is provided below. ONTARIO The Law Society of Ontario regulates student recruitment more strictly than any other law society in Canada. Please refer to the full recruitment guidelines provided by the Law Society of Ontario for further information at
MANITOBA Please refer to the Manitoba Articling Student Recruitment Guidelines for further information.
lso.ca/becoming-licensed/lawyer-licensing-process
ATLANTIC PROVINCES There are no set guidelines for the recruitment process in the Atlantic region. Applications are generally due in early January for articling start dates in the summer of the following year.
• • • •
City of Hamilton County of Middlesex Ottawa Toronto
BRITISH COLUMBIA Please refer to the Vancouver Bar Association (VBA) recruiting Guidelines for further information at www.lawsociety.bc.ca/becoming-a-lawyer-in-bc/admission-program/ articling-centre/details-of-articling/. ALBERTA For further information, please refer to the recruitment rules and Code of Professional Conduct set by the Law Society of Alberta. • Calgary and Edmonton lawsociety.ab.ca/lawyers-and-students/services-for-students/
lawsociety.mb.ca/become-a-lawyer/articling-program-prep-overview/
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES There are generally no guidelines for articling in the Northwest Territories. YUKON TERRITORY There are generally no guidelines for articling in the Yukon Territory. NUNAVUT TERRITORY Please contact Law Society of Nunavut at lawsoc@nunanet.com.
Articling and Judicial Clerkships
Judicial clerkships are an alternative to completing your articling period in a firm. A clerkship can count for either all or part of your
articles – you must check this information with the provincial Bar Society for specific details. Both articling positions and judicial clerkships are extremely competitive and it is important to maintain solid academics and build your skills whilst at university. Please see websites for reference regarding deadlines as follows:
Court
Website
Application deadline
Alberta Court of Appeal / Provincial Court of Alberta
albertacourts.ca/court-of-appeal/ articling-program#info
2021 - 2022 articling deadline is 2 December, 2019
Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench
albertacourts.ca/qb/about/ articling-program
2021 - 2022 articling deadline is 2 December, 2019
The Courts of British Columbia
courts.gov.bc.ca/judicial_law_clerk_ program_faq.aspx
2021 - 2022 deadline is 19 January, 2020
Federal Court of Canada
https://www.fct-cf.gc.ca/en/pages/ about-the-court/careers/law-clerkprogram
2021 - 2022 deadline is 13 January, 2020
Saskatchewan Court of Appeal
sasklawcourts.ca/index.php/home/ court-of-appeal/clerkship-positions
2022 - 2023 clerkship deadline is 31 October, 2020
Supreme Court of Canada
scc-csc.ca/empl/lc-aj-eng.aspx
2021 - 2022 application deadline is 20 January, 2020
Tax Court of Canada
https://www.tcc-cci.gc.ca/tcc-cci_ Eng/About/Law_Clerk/2021-2022_ Clerkship_Poster_%20English_ Accessible.pdf
2021 - 2022 application deadline is 10 January, 2020
Career Guide for Canadian Law | 11
At the completion of your Law degree, students can join firms or clerk for courts as part of becoming accredited. Articling with a firm serves as training (the length of an articling period various within provinces) and at the completion of the period allows the student to become admitted.
Q&A with Alumni
MATTHEW RENDELY Toronto, Ontario Thinking back, is there anything you wished you’d done more of during your degree or taken advantage of whilst at Bond that you think could have been beneficial in paving your career path? As I was focused on becoming a litigator, competing in the Wilson Moot was by far the most beneficial opportunity that I took advantage of while studying at Bond. To this day, I rely on the structure of my team’s factum and I recite the structure of the introduction of my oral submissions whenever I appear in court. What has been the most surprising thing you’ve learnt in law since entering and working in the industry? Everyone is a specialist these days. Top tips to a soon-to-be fresh law graduate embarking on their journey home to Canada? 1. Don’t overlook the value of your degree in Australia. 2. If returning home, be targeted in your approach to finding a job in a particular practice area. 3. Foster a large network of contacts within that targeted practice area. 4. Persistently mine those contacts. You will have to outwork all other law grads. 5. Demonstrate an interest in your targeted practice area with concrete experience whether that be achieved through a formal or informal avenue.
MOIRA MCAVOY Calgary, Alberta Thinking back, is there anything you wished you’d done more of during your degree or taken advantage of whilst at Bond that you think could have been beneficial in paving your career path? I wish I had spoken to alumni working in Canada and made connections at firms in Calgary / wider Canada. What has been the most surprising thing you’ve learnt in law since entering and working in the industry? How long the process was to start work (e.g. NCA waiting time, time for exams to be graded and wait period for Law Society – 30 days in Alberta). Top tips to a soon-to-be fresh law graduate embarking on their journey home to Canada? 1. Start prepping your NCA’s promptly – it is an entire semester’s worth of work.
3. Have a well prepared answer for why you went to Bond.
Career Guide for Canadian Law | 13
2. Reach out to firms and take a chance by letting them know you are interested (don’t be afraid to shadow).
TANILLE TURNER Juris Doctor | Alumna Canada
“Returning to Canada after completing the Juris Doctor program can be daunting. I have found success through networking and specifically, making use of informational interviews provided at Bond University. Beyond researching where you want to work, take the time to identify people you would want to work with and / or people whose career paths inspire you. Reach out to those people and invite them out for a coffee and a few quick questions. Ask them intelligent questions specific to their history and your goals. The meeting may not end with a job offer, but you will at least come away from it with advice on how to move forward and hopefully a referral for the next contact you should speak to.”
Reflections from an Alumnus ADVICE FOR PLANNING All Canadian Bondies know that at some point they will be heading back home. Some of them will seek large firms, some in-house counsel positions and some will steer clear of law altogether. For those who want to join the ranks of the ‘fit and proper’ lawyers, they must secure and complete articles. Here is a guide to help make the process a little bit easier. DO YOUR RESEARCH Aside from researching where you want to work and what type of work you want to do, it is absolutely crucial to have the relevant Law Society’s dates in mind. Most law firms hire in accordance with the relevant Law Society guidelines. Please see the relevant Law Society’s website for interview week dates. Not all firms accept articling students. The NALP website and ViRecruit Portal will show you which firms are participating, closer to recruitment. NOTE: if the interview week conflicts with Bond’s exam period and you were planning on travelling home, you may apply to the Law Society to interview the week earlier. ORGANISE YOUR APPLICATION Preparing your application takes time; do not underestimate the work involved. Each application must include a resume, cover letter, copies of your official undergraduate and law school transcripts, a reference letter, and likely a list of anticipated upper-year courses.
Cover Letter (one page): Firms rely on your cover letter to get a sense of your writing ability. Write clearly and be informed. For example, do not tell a litigation firm that you are interested in their corporate practice. Your cover letter should be interesting but also provide any necessary details It is also a good idea to dedicate a paragraph to that particular firm. Personalise your letter by highlighting what interests you about their firm. Resume (two pages): Firms will receive hundreds or thousands of resumes during this period. It is important your resume is concise, organised and presented in a logical sequence. If possible, think about your end goal at the beginning of your law school career. It’s a good idea to get involved. Seek out work experience and opportunities that will make you marketable for the position you want. For example, prospective litigators could join mooting teams, and prospective criminal lawyers could intern at a criminal law firm. SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION Most firms encourage students to apply online (via ViRecruit). Before sending your application, check the firm’s website for their preferred method of delivery. Jamie Bregman Bond Alumna
Resources BAR ASSOCIATIONS ACROSS CANADA
USEFUL WEBSITES — EMPLOYER SEARCHES
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• NALP Canada – Canadian Directory of Legal Employers: nalpcanada.com • British Columbia: cbabc.org/publications-and-resources/job-board • Canadian Law List: canadianlawlist.com • Lexpert, Student and Recruitment Guide: rainmakergroup.ca/opportunities/
Alberta Bar Association: cba-alberta.org/home Calgary Bar Association: calgarybarassociation.com Canadian Bar Association: cba.org/cba British Columbia Bar Association: cba.org/BC/home/main New Brunswick Bar Association: nb-cba.org/home Newfoundland Bar Association: nl-cba.org/home Northwest Territories Bar Association: cbant.org Nova Scotia Bar Association: cbans.ca/home Nunavut Bar Association: nunavut-cba.org/home Ontario Bar Association: oba.org/home Ottawa County Bar Association: ottawacountybar.org/ Prince Edward Island Bar Association: pe-cba.org/home Saskatchewan Bar Association: cbasask.org/home Vancouver Bar Association: vancouverbar.ca Yukon Territory Bar Association: yt-cba.org/home
VIRECRUIT Firms may recruit using the ViPortal website and as such, students should register a profile if required. It is important to review the video prior to use. Please visit vilawportal.com.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS • Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association: actla.com/AB • Canadian Association of Statuary Human Rights Agencies: cashra.ca • Canadian Corporate Counsel Association: ccca-accje.org/home • Canadian Defence Lawyers: cdlawyers.org • Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Club: bpwcanada.com • Canadian Industrial Relations Association: cira-acri.ca • Criminal Lawyers Association: criminallawyers.ca • Ontario Trial Lawyers Association: otla.com • Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia: tlabc.org/index. cfm?pg=main • The Advocates’ Society: advocates.ca/
Frequently Asked Questions 1. What do employers look for when recruiting a law graduate? Employers look across a range of areas when considering applicants. The more competitive a role, the more important each area becomes. In general, employers are looking for students with consistency in grades, related and unrelated employment experience and extracurricular activities.
4. What is the National Accreditation Process (NCA)? The National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) is a standing committee of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. The mandate of the NCA is to assess the qualification of individuals with legal education and professional experience obtained outside Canada.
2. Will Canadian employers understand the Bond grading scale? While the University is actively engaging with and educating Canadian employers about Bond Law, it is important that you provide employers with information that explains the Bond grading system. You can obtain a copy of this letter from a Law Advisor. It is recommended that you include this document with each application you submit.
5. What will I need to submit with my application to the NCA? For complete, up to date details on what you are required to submit in your application to the NCA please visit flsc.ca/en/nca.
Small firms have more flexibility when recruiting articling students and can do so outside the dates set by each Province or Territory. These positions are often not advertised and are sought through a proactive job search strategy.
Career Guide for Canadian Law | 15
3. How do law firms in Canada recruit articling students? Mid-top tier firms are governed by the relevant Law Societies. These Societies set and manage recruitment dates and timelines for both articling and summer hiring. These dates change annually and can be found on the relevant Law Society website.
6. What is the licensing process in Canada? The licensing process will vary between each Province and Territory. The requirements are outlined on the relevant Law Society website. In general, you will be required to complete an articling period (which may vary in length), as well as additional exams or study.
Career Development Centre Building 9, Level 1 Bond University Gold Coast Queensland 4229 Australia bond.edu.au
CRICOS Provider Code 00017B
MB9132
The information published in this document is correct at the time of printing (September 2020). However, all programs are subject to review by the Academic Senate of the University and the University reserves the right to change its program offerings and subjects without notice. The information published in this document is intended as a guide and persons considering an offer of enrolment should contact the relevant Faculty or Institute to see if any changes have been made before deciding to accept their offer.