LAW CAREERS OFFICE
UVic Law
Summer Employment Guide
2009-2010
LAW CAREERS OFFICE
Law Careers Office
Open 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday
Fraser Building Room 140
Faculty of Law, University of Victoria
PO Box 2400, STN CSC
Victoria, BC, V8W 3H7
Canada
Alison Cowan, B.A., LL.B., Law Careers Officer
Tel: (250) 472-4719, Email: lco@uvic.ca
Katie Macquarrie, Law Careers Assistant
Tel: (250) 721-8790, Email: careerof@uvic.ca
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Table of Contents
I.
Overview
Message from the Law Careers Office (LCO) ……………………………
Intro to Law School Summer Employment ……………………………..
What is Summering? Articling?
…..…………...………………….….
Finding Employment
...……………………………………
II. First Year Summer Employment Options
Large Firms
……………...……………………………………..…
Small Firms
……..……………………………………..…
Research & Other University Positions
…………………………..…
Summer Internships
……………….………………………………
Legal Aid & Clinics
……..…..……………………………………
Government Positions
……….………………………………………
Other Options
………………………………………………………..
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5
5
7
10
11
12
12
13
14
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III. Cover Letters & Resumes
How to Start
………………………………………... 17
Cover Letters
……………….………………………………….………. 17
Resume
…………………………………………………………….19
Sample Resumes & Cover Letters …………………………………………..22
IV. Interview Prep
Preparing for your Interview .……..………………………………….……
26
Sample Questions you may be Asked ……………………………………… 27
Sample Questions you may Ask …………………………………………….. 29
V. Employment Search Tips
Tips & Advice
……………………………………..... 30
VI. LCO Resources
……………………………………..... 31
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Message from the Law Careers Office
Welcome to the UVic Law Summer Employment Guide 2009-2010! The Law Careers
Office (LCO) is intended to provide you with support as you develop your professional
goals and plans throughout law school. It is our hopes that we will be able to work with
each of you during your time at UVic Law to ensure that you have the opportunity to
develop the skills and tools you need to create the job opportunities that will help you to
develop a rewarding career path.
The Guide includes sections on summer employment options, application timing and
processes, interviews and resources to help you in your career research. The Guide is
intended to provide you with a brief overview of the pathways for a range of legal
careers and ideas of employment options for your summers during law school.
The Guide is best used in conjunction with our website and regular contact with the
LCO. On the website we continue to post handouts on areas of particular interest to
students (social justice, internships, application deadlines, alternatives to private
practice and articling opportunities) and a job posting site and employer database to aid
you in your research.
By making an appointment with the LCO you can get some personalized advice about
your career research and applications as well as resume and cover letter review and/or
mock interviews.
We hope you find the Guide useful in both the short and long term and encourage you
to visit the LCO soon.
Alison Cowan, B.A., LL.B.
Law Careers Officer
Tel: (250) 472-4719
Email: lco@uvic.ca
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Section I: Overview
Introduction to Law School Summer Employment______________________
Welcome to the UVic Law Summer Employment Guide. As you begin to make plans for your
upcoming summer employment keep in mind that there are many different career paths that you
and your colleagues can and will take. Remember that everyone is going to leave law school
following their own unique career path. For some it may be working in a legal aid clinic. For
others it may include working as a corporate lawyer with a large national law firm, representing
a First Nation in treaty negotiations or pursuing graduate studies in law. Whatever path you do
decide to follow, it should be one that is right for you. The best way to find the path that is right
for you is to explore all of your options.
Some students come to law school with a particular legal career in mind, while others may be
unsure of exactly what kind of employment they want to pursue following graduation. For many
law students, your career goals will evolve and change during law school. It is never too early
to start thinking about your career plans following law school.
The opportunities available for students in summer legal employment tend to be limited, with the
bulk of law firms and organizations that recruit preferring to look for second year summer
students. This is because they are not hiring students for a summer “job” but often using the
summer employment process as a means of recruiting and evaluating students who would
ideally then turn into articling students the following year. For this reason, the employment
opportunities for second year law students tend to be broader and include summering positions
with a number of large law firms that come to UVic in the fall to recruit second year students at
our “On-Campus Interviews” (OCIs). For more information on summering with a big firm, please
see the The UVic Law OCI Guide (available from the LCO Office).
With that being said there are some law organizations that will consider applications from first
year students for summer employment and some cities in which first year recruitment is part of
the norm (i.e. Calgary and Toronto). First year students, as with all students that are searching
for employment, need to be very proactive about searching for a position. Please see the
information below and throughout the Guide and feel free to make an appointment with the LCO
at any point in your search to get feedback about your application process.
Section II: Definitions
What is Summering? What is Articling?_________________________________
Summering, sometimes called “summer articles,” involves working at a law firm during the
summer during law school. Summering positions are usually available only to second year
students with a few exceptions (especially in those cities where the norm is to look at first year
students – Calgary and Toronto).
Students that hope to summer with a large firm in a large Canadian city will apply for these
positions at the set deadline. For second year positions that deadline is almost a full year
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before the position takes place with applications due the first week of September at the start of
second year.
Many students apply for these positions and they are very competitive to get. A number of
students also choose to look for summering positions at small or mid-sized firms or at legal
organizations that do not formally recruit law students. While these positions can require more
effort on the student’s part to locate, they can offer very rewarding experiences for students
which often turn into articling positions.
Summering provides law students with an introduction to the practice of law and a taste of what
is involved in articling. Duties of a summer student are similar to those of an articling student
and usually involve assisting and working with lawyers on files, including:
legal research
meeting with and/or corresponding with clients
attending court with lawyers on trials, appeals, examinations, motions, pre-trial
conferences, preliminary hearings and other matters
working on incorporations of companies, drafting wills, assisting in estate administration
and other solicitor’s work
drafting pleadings, motion records and other proceedings and other litigation work
Articling – Working as an articling student with a law firm is quite similar to the work of summer
students with some additional privileges, such as attending court on certain matters. Students
who successfully complete the articling requirements set out by their provincial Law Society will
then be called to the bar in that province and eligible to practice as a lawyer.
Articling is the final stage of the formal training to qualify as a lawyer. The Articling process is
regulated by the Law Society in the province in which you plan to be called to the bar or practice
law. It is a Licensing Process of about ten months to a year in length and often includes
completing a bar admission course and writing the bar exams of that province and spending a
specified period of time (9 months in BC) working as an articling student under the mentorship
of a principal lawyer. For more information on the articling process, please read “UVic Law
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Articling Guide” and see the website for the Law Society in the Province in which you plan to
practice.
While not all students choose to summer and/or article, summering and articling can be an
excellent opportunity to develop strong legal skills and to determine what area of the law
interests you the most in a supportive environment. The level of support from the other lawyers
is usually much greater than it will be when you are called to the bar and practicing as a lawyer.
Section III: Finding Employment
When preparing to apply for summer jobs, during first year and second year, you first need to
determine the type of summer job opportunity that meets your goals in terms of gaining
skills, experience, and contacts for the legal career you envision. It is not necessary to have
your future mapped out in detail, but a good sense of your potential interests, your preferred
work environments, and the type of job tasks you think you’d like to be doing day in and day out,
will help you narrow down your options.
If you are unsure of your career path, a summer job can be your chance to “try out” a job to
assess your interest in the area of law and the work environment. You are encouraged to
meet with one of the career advisors in the LCO to explore your own individual options
and ideas. Your career development will be an ongoing process as you learn more about law
and the opportunities available.
Self Assessment__________________________________________________________
You should start your job search process by doing some self assessment about the direction
you would like your career to take. Ask yourself: Where would I like to work following articles?
What field? What city? What do I value? What motivates me? What skills and experience do I
have? Which of these do I/did I enjoy most? What else do I enjoy doing? When am I most
successful? What kind of environment do I enjoy working in? What parameters do I have in
terms of money, hours, area(s) where I can work, etc? Try to be as realistic as possible as this
will help you narrow down your search.
Brainstorm________________________________________________________________
Determine what is available to you in the broadest possible sense. Consider opportunities that
match your parameters above and will enable you to reach your ultimate careers goals (or at
least lead you towards something else you might like). This step requires creativity and
resources (for a list, see below). Ultimately you want to create a broad list of places that you
think would be a good match for you in terms of location, work environment, pay, hours and
other parameters, as well as how much you will enjoy them and how well they will lead you to
other jobs you will enjoy.
From this broad range, begin to narrow in. First look at the top five areas that you have an
interest in (i.e. family law, banking, environmental law, etc.) Then begin to narrow in on the
firms/ organizations that might have jobs for you in the place(s) you would like to live. Be sure
to keep this list as broad as possible.
Research__________________________________________________________________
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After you have created a list of places where you might like to work, start building your
knowledge base about these organizations (this will help you make decisions regarding
opportunities later and also help you to be successful in an interview (and with your resume).
You can build your knowledge base by doing web-based research (again, see resources
below). You should also start a job search notebook that keeps track of all of the information
that you are pulling together. If you stay organized, you can keep track of what you are learning
for later interviews and cover letters and also for the future, in case you decide to change your
place of employment down the road after articles.
Job Search Strategies____________________________________________________
There are three main job search strategies – networking, responding to specific job postings,
and targeted mailing.
1. Networking
This is the most dreaded, but most important step in the job search process. About 70% of jobs
come about this way. Most people get jobs or hear about job opportunities through people they
know and most jobs are never posted for this reason (i.e. people tell their friends about people
they think might be good for the job). It is therefore important that during law school you
connect with the workforce in the area where you want to practice.
You can begin to build your contact base by develop a networking list. Write down the names of
all the people you know well (i.e. family and friends). This is your “A List”. You should make a
point of asking the people on your “A List” if they know anyone that practices in the area or field
that you are interested in. Keep a record of anything that your “A List” tells you and anyone they
connect you with. You should also create a “B List” of people that you know and feel
comfortable calling and asking questions. This list will be people that you’ll only have one or
two opportunities to talk to, so you will want to think ahead of time about the best way to contact
these people and what you will want to say to them. Think about what each person on your list
might have in terms of knowledge and make each list as broad a list as possible.
From the information you gather from your A and B Lists you can create a “C List” of people that
you don’t actually know (friends of friends, for example) that work in the field you are interested
in or may have information relevant to your job search. You can contact these people as well,
but you should plan your approach to these people very carefully. You want to make sure to
make a good impression with them.
If you are nervous about networking, remember that it is really just about having a conversation.
It can help calm your nerves by planning out what you want to say to people before you call
them. For example, you can say something like, “Here’s what I’m looking for, do you have
some ideas or advice for me?” Those uncomfortable with networking should consider practicing
with friends and might want to read the book “Networking for Lawyers” (ABA – which can be
checked out from the Law Careers Office).
You may also want to think about informational interviewing as a way of networking and
REALLY finding out if you actually want a particular job. Take some time to plan the
informational interview as these are very difficult for lots of people. There are resources in the
Law Careers Office to assist you.
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2. Responding to Job Ads
The second of the three job search strategies is responding to job ads. This is usually what
people do the most however only about 20% of jobs come from this strategy. Make sure
therefore that you’re not spending most of your time focused on waiting for and responding to
job ads. Make sure you’re also thinking about networking.
To find job ads, explore different sites online (including those listed below), figure out what ones
are going to be most useful to you and find around four different sites that you are going to
check regularly.
If you see a potential employer posting an ad and you have a contact at that organization, make
sure you make contact with that person ahead of time (aka. Going through the side door.)
If you do decide to apply to posted job positions, make sure you use a targeted resume and
targeted cover letter for each posting. Tell the employer why you are relevant to their
organization and why they should bring you in for an interview. There are handouts in the LCO
to help you with your resume and cover letters. In addition, you can make an appointment with
the LCO for resume/cover letter review.
In your notebook, keep track of which employer got which resume and which cover letter so that
you can review it before an interview.
3. Targeted Mailing
This can sometimes be a helpful strategy, but is shouldn’t be your number one or your only
strategy, as it is usually the least effective strategy for finding jobs. Start by identifying
employers of interest and look to see if there is an ad posted there. In addition, think about your
networking list to see if anybody on your list knows anybody there that you can contact. If you
have neither a job ad to reply to nor a contact at the firm, then sending direct mail is fine.
When sending targeted mail to a law firm you should try to scout out who the managing partner
in the area that you’re interested in practicing is. You do not want to write to the Human
Resources department if possible, so avoid doing so unless specifically directed to.
You should make note of all of the contact you have with different employers in your notebook.
This can help you to keep track of who you need to follow up with next and it can also help you
to feel like you’re moving forward.
Section IV: First Year Summer Employment Options
As stated above, many law firms do not recruit students until they are in second year. This
leaves a number of law students wondering what to do with themselves during their first year
summer. Most law students will find an unrelated position during their first summer and try to do
some volunteering with a legal organization to gain experience. Many students return to a job
they have had previously and wait for second year when more positions open up for 2nd year
summer jobs with law firms.
For those firms that do look at applications from first year students (i.e. Toronto and Calgary)
the deadlines for these positions will vary depending on the firm and their location. Please start
checking the firm websites in the city you wish to work for as early as you are able to be sure
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that you do not miss their deadlines. In addition, if you plan to apply for summer positions you
should continue to check your UVic email account over the summer break for important emails
from the Law Careers Office.
Please Note: law firms do not expect you to have worked in law during your first year summer.
If you can develop some transferable skills based on your experiences (past and present) you
are in good shape. If you do not have any transferrable skills yet, it will be worth your time and
energy to gain relevant experience at this point. Please make an appointment with the LCO to
discuss your plans and how you can find the transferable skills in what you have done to create
a competitive application of second year summer positions.
Private Practice______________________________________________________________
The majority of lawyers in BC establish careers in private practice settings of some sort – in
large, full-service firms, in mid-size law firms or smaller practices, or venturing into sole practice
once they feel they have enough experience under their belts. Law firms provide many
opportunities for employment and good training in both the practice of law and the business of
running a law firm.
Large Law Firms
As mentioned above, large law firms in a few Canadian cities recruit first year students for
summering positions. These cities include Calgary and Edmonton (which both recruit first year
students during the first semester of first year!) and Toronto and Ottawa, which both recruit first
year students during January of first year. Large Vancouver law firms typically do not hire first
year law students, but hire most of their summer students as second years through the OnCampus Interview process. For more information on applying for a second year summer
positions, please see the information below under “Second Year Employment Options.”
Below is a summary of the larger Canadian cities and their timeline for considering applications
from first year students:
Calgary & Edmonton - September applications; A few Calgary firms will interview First Year
Students during their fall recruitment process. However, they are not able interview first year
students through the OCI process (no Canadian law schools facilitate first year recruitment) and
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the firms interested in interviewing first year students will do so on their own. This is a nationwide law school policy with respect to OCIs. Calgary firms tend to have more 1st year summer
opportunities than other regions, although still few compared to 2nd year summer and articling
positions. If you are interested in working in Alberta make an appointment to meet with
the LCO and keep checking your email for information.
Ottawa Intellectual Property Law Firms (IP) firms tend to hire 1st year students who have a
hard science background ((BSc, BEng, Masters, PhD); October applications.
US Law Firms – applications cannot be made due before December 1
o Check www.nalp.org (JD Job Seekers/Principles and Standards) for details
Vancouver - You should start your Vancouver small firm search in January of your first year.
We suggest that you approach small firms in your preferred geographical area or boutique firms
in your area of interest (Intellectual Property, Wills and Estates, etc.).
There are also two exceptions in the large Vancouver law firm list:
-
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP sponsors a research position for a student to work with
a faculty member. This position is advertised in January; and
Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP sponsors a Fellowship whereby students spend two
months working at the firm and two months conducting research with a faculty
member. This is advertised in January.
Please attend the corresponding information sessions to learn more about these two fellowship
opportunities.
Toronto – January applications; about 20-30 positions available depending on the year.
Recruitment follows the LSUC guidelines and happens in January/February.
Ottawa – February applications (except intellectual property law firms which recruit in October).
All other cities – First year postings typically begin in January. Very few other law firms will
post positions for 1st year summer students. Students hoping to work in a law-related position
during their first summer should therefore be very proactive about approaching law firms in
spring of first year to learn about the firms and then make an application. Again, see the
information listed above under “Employment Search” for some tips on making your application.
Small & Mid-Sized Firms_______________________________________________________
Other small and mid-sized firms in all regions may hire first year students, but likely won’t
advertise these opportunities. Students should use the employer database on the LCO website
to research firms and contact them directly to see if they are hiring. They could hire at anytime
throughout the year, but generally will make decisions in the spring.
For firms that do not formally recruit 1st years (i.e. in Vancouver, Victoria and other BC
Communities) you are still welcome and encouraged to apply for positions, however you will
need to be proactive about your search. Again, see the information listed above under
“Employment Search” for some tips on making your application and make an appointment with
the LCO to discuss your approach. You may also wish to look for a position with a small or midsized firm in another region, such as Kelowna, Kamloops or Prince George. Just remember,
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these firms prefer that you have a strong desire to work in their particular region now and for the
future as an articled student and an associate.
Research Jobs & Other Positions at the Law School____________________
In March each year, the Faculty of Law posts positions for summer research assistants to help
members of the faculty with their academic research projects over the summer on a full time
basis. Research work is good experience for any legal job, but may be particularly attractive to
students interested in graduate studies in law, clerkships or an academic career path.
Students are also hired to update casebooks and to assist with work in different departments or
centres at the Faculty. These jobs are posted on the LCO website and sent out via the LCO
weekly email usually in March and April (with the occasional posting in February or May). While
these positions are sometimes advertised through the LCO, it is a good idea to take the initiative
to speak to a professor personally and express an interest in their particular field of expertise.
Please Note - For students who are interested in academic research work but who are not
successful in obtaining a IL summer research assistant position, there will be other part time
research positions available during the school year on a part-time basis.
Summer Internships______________________________________________________
Internships are particularly great opportunities for students interested in careers in public
interest law. They offer opportunities to connect with advocacy organizations, work domestically
or abroad and demonstrate a commitment to public interest causes. Beyond public interest
employers, all kinds of articling employers, including law firms, view summer fellowships and
internships as great experience and evidence of relevant legal and other transferable
employment skills.
Internship opportunities are competitive. Students must prepare a proposal and in many cases
must be proactive to establish their own connections with potential host organizations. Be sure
to give yourself enough lead time to contact an organization, discuss possible projects and draft
a proposal (See the UVic Law Summer Internship Handout).
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There are a number of advertised domestic and international internships available, many of
which have a legal focus. The organizations offering these internships are varied and operate
all over the world, so it is difficult to come up with a comprehensive list of the internships
available. However, in an effort to make the process easier for you to find related internships
the LCO has created an “Internships Spreadsheet” and handout on how to apply for internships
– please see the LCO website &/or visit the LCO to pick up a copy.
Please note that most internships are not funded. Students who wish to apply for funding for an
unpaid internship may do through the law school, through the university main financial office
and through other organizations. Again, please see the LCO handout on internships for more
information.
As the deadlines for many of these internships and the relevant funding come up throughout the
year, students that are interested in an internship for their 1st year summer are encouraged to
start planning and researching opportunities as early as possible.
Opportunities Include:
- International Human Rights internships
- Internships through a number of international & domestic organizations
- Canadian Lawyers Abroad Internships
Please make an appointment with the LCO if you would like to discuss what opportunities are
available and for assistance with the application process.
Legal Aid Clinics & Advocacy Organizations____________________________
Paid positions in legal aid pro bono law clinics are rare and therefore competitive. That being
said they are a very rewarding experience and can provide a great background for future work
in the social justice field. There are more positions available for student summer work than
there are for articling positions and staff lawyer positions following articles simply due to the
budgetary realities of these organizations.
In terms of summer work, there are a few positions that will be posted during the year (usually in
Jan/Feb/Mar) with organizations that have funding for a paid student position. Please keep your
eye on the LCO weekly email and website for these positions and/or make an appointment with
the LCO to discuss your interests and the positions that may fit with them.
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Despite the lack of funded positions, there is always a need for volunteer work at legal aid and
pro bono clinics, so students that are interested in social justice work should keep in mind that
even if they are unable to obtain paid staff lawyer positions at legal aid or pro bono clinics
following graduation from law school, they can still contribute to the work of these organizations
by doing voluntary legal work and/or taking on pro bono or legal aid clients for legal matters that
are related to the work that these organizations do.
The best thing you can do now if you are hoping to develop a practice in this field is to network
with the organizations that do this type of work and get to know them, their organization’s work,
how they got into their positions and what other work there is to be done (by a volunteer or on
your own) to make a difference in your area of interest.
Government Positions____________________________________________________
Legal careers in “government” covers a huge range of practice areas and government legal
services at all three levels – municipal, provincial and federal. Lawyers in government work in
all areas of practice, including criminal, civil, family, labour, immigration, business, intellectual
property and more. There are also some opportunities for lawyers at agencies, boards and
commissions.
Provincial – The primary employer of lawyers in the BC government (and other provincial
governments) is the Ministry of Attorney General. Many other departments also have lawyers
that do “in-house” policy work.
The Ministry of Attorney General in BC often runs a summer recruitment program. In 2009
there were summering positions available in numerous locations throughout BC. Recruitment
typically takes place in early February and notices will be put out through the LCO. During this
recruitment period, representatives from MAG BC also come to the law school to explain their
programs and answer questions regarding the application process.
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Federal – The Department of Justice (DOJ) is the primary employer of lawyers in the Canadian
government and has many offices across Canada including in Vancouver, Ottawa, and the
Northern Region.
The DOJ at various offices recruit law students for summer positions. Usually they accept
applications from second year students only. The Vancouver Office recruits their summer
students through the same process as the big law firms in Vancouver – the On-Campus
Interviews (OCIs).
Other Options_____________________________________________________________
Keep your eyes and ears open for other types of opportunities too. In-house legal departments,
in entities such as banks, corporations or unions sometimes have openings for students and the
LCO will post those job notices on www.law.uvic.ca/lco.
Law students also pursue jobs that may not be directly law-related in fields such as politics,
social services, consulting and finance, for example. Again, think about your career interests
and find opportunities to meet people in fields that intrigue you to ask them about typical career
paths in that area and summer job opportunities that would provide good training and skills
development.
Some websites that you could look to for summer work include:
 Federal Student Work Employment Program at http://jobs.gc.ca/fsweppfete/student/index_e.htm;
 UVIC’s general summer employment site: http://careerservices.uvic.ca/
Please Note: Again, remember that the majority of first year law students do not work in related
positions during their first year summer and either end up returning to a past summer job or
finding unrelated work first summer and focus on finding a legal position during their second
summer. This is not a problem for finding legal work later and employers do not expect that you
will have legal experience after your first summer.
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Volunteer Work___________________________________________________________
In order to gain relevant experience during your first year of studies, you might consider
volunteering for Pro Bono Students of Canada, the LSS Legal Information clinic or other clubs
or research positions with an independent timetable.
Volunteering and internships are great ways to gain some first-hand experience in an
organization or to ascertain whether or not you might enjoy a certain type of work. In addition,
by donating your time and energy through volunteer work or an internship, you will expand your
list of contacts and gain more life and work-related experience.
Student Club Membership________________________________________________
Another suggestion for gaining relevant experience during first year is through participation in a
student club. UVic Law has a number of clubs run for and by students, including:

Law Students Society, International Human Rights Law Association, Environmental Law
Club, Law Leisure Club, Dean’s Advisory Committee on Ethnicity and Culture, Law for
All, South Asian Law Students Association, Indigenous Law Students Association,
Indigenous Law Club, Student Animal Legal Defence Fund, Aboriginal Cultural
Awareness Camp, Outlaws, ProBono Students Canada, Legal Information Clinic,
Christian Law Students’ Association, Poverty Law Club, Black Law Students
Association, University of Victoria Association of Women and the Law, Sports and
Entertainment Law Club, Appeal, Criminal Law Club and Intellectual Property Club
For a list of current clubs, please refer to the LSS website (http://web.uvic.ca/~lssweb/). Getting
involved in one or more of these clubs is a great way to demonstrate a commitment to that area
of law and to network with professionals and potentially gain some law related experience in
these fields.
Section V: Cover Letters & Resumes
Some students may come to law school with years of work experience and a professional
resume that might just require some fine-tuning. Others may be starting from scratch. Whatever
stage you are at, a cover letter and resume are vital parts of your application package for any
legal employment, whether you are applying to a large Bay street law firm, for a judicial
clerkship or for a summer position with a public interest legal organization. Your resume should
succinctly capture your experience, skills and notable achievements. The following guide is a
tool to assist you in creating your application package. Once you drafted your cover letter and
resume you can make an appointment with the Law Careers Officer to get some feedback
(email careerof@uvic.ca to make an appointment).
You will find some sample resume and cover letter provided at the end of this guide. Caution –
do not simply copy these resumes. If you do - you are not putting enough effort into the process.
A good cover letter and resume are tailored to your own unique skills, achievements and
accomplishments.
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How to Start_______________________________________________________________
An extremely important first stage in putting together an application for any type of legal
employment is to consider what the employer is looking for and what you have to offer. This
requires 2 steps:
1) Know the organization you are applying to;
2) Know yourself
Ultimately, your resume and cover letter should be tailored to the specific job that you are
applying for. For example, if you are applying for a clerkship you may want to highlight your
legal research and writing capabilities. Or, if you are applying to a non-profit environmental
organization you may want to emphasize your involvement in the Environmental Law Centre. If
this is your first time preparing a resume, before you start you may want to jot down a rough
outline of all of the skills and experience you have acquired, then you can decide what you want
the employer to know about.
What to Include in an Application to a Legal Employer
The list of what to include in an application package may vary from employer to employer.
Generally an application to a legal employer includes:
Required
1) 1-page cover letter;
2) 2-page resume;
3) Photocopies* of official undergraduate, graduate and law school transcripts
*clerkships may ask for official transcripts, and you should always take an official
transcript with you to an interview with a legal employer
Optional
4) Reference Letters (optional, but usually preferred)
5) Writing Samples (do not include unless requested)
To double-check what each employer would like to see in an application package you can
review the firm’s promotional materials (brochures, websites) or the employer’s survey in the
Quicklaw National Articling Database (NAD).
Cover Letters_____________________________________________________________
The cover letter is just as important as the resume. Many legal employers look to the cover
letter as a sample of your writing ability. A great cover letter can get you in the door, and a bad
cover letter with mistakes can get you relegated to the “no” pile.
Cover letters can be painstaking to write, but there is a simple format you can follow if you are
having trouble getting started.
Formula for a Simple Cover Letter
1) Introduction
2) Why you chose to apply to this firm/organization
3) What you have to offer (one or two skills/attributes)
17
4) Conclusion
Introduction
The first paragraph of your letter should be a simple opening sentence that states the position
you are applying for and who you are. Do NOT start your letter with, “My name is …”. If you are
a co-op student you may want to indicate your anticipated date of graduation especially if you
seem “out-of-sync” from other law students and if the employer is not as familiar with UVic’s
Law Co-op program. You may also want to address why you are applying to a particular
geographic location in your introductory paragraph.
What Do You Have to Offer
Ideally the second paragraph of your cover letter should connect your past work experience and
skills to what the employer is looking for. Focus on one two skills/attributes and tell the employer
what you have to offer without repeating the content of your resume. If possible highlight
relevant experience and skills that connect to the goals of the organization. For example, if you
are applying to a litigation boutique firm you can draw attention to your mooting experience. If
you find it hard to do this, then draw out any transferable skills you feel you have acquired from
past work, volunteer or extra-curricular activities.
Why Are You Applying
The third paragraph of your letter should address why you are applying to that particular
organization and how it fits with your career goals. This is where you should do some research
on the employer. Make sure you are accurate about your research. Do not say you are
interested in family law when the firm does not even practice it. Your reason for applying to the
organization may be very specific – it is an intellectual property boutique firm and that is your
area of interest. Or your reason could be broad – you are interested in the firm’s rotation system
and exposure to a number of different practice areas. This is the paragraph that you should
customize for each specific application based on the research you have done on the employer.
Show them how you would “fit” with their particular firm/organization. Indicate your interests,
without coming across as demanding or difficult.
Conclusion
Provide a short concluding paragraph thanking the reader and asking for an interview. You may
want to indicate any enclosures you have included in your application. If you are going to be in
the area during the interview period you may want to include this and any relevant contact
information. You do not have to repeat your phone number if it is the one included in your
letterhead.
Cover Letter “Do’s” & “Don’ts”__________________________________________
1.
DO remember to address the cover letter to the appropriate person. DON’T address
it to “To Whom It May Concern”. Take the time to find out the contact for the job you
are applying to. You can find this in the Employer Database on the LCO website,
QL’s NAD survey, and the employer’s websites and promotional brochures.
2.
DO personalize your letter to the specific employer. You may have a template that
you use for all of your applications, but try to find something to change for each letter
and tailor it to that specific employer. If you do use a similar letter for numerous
applications, make sure you proofread your letters and DON’T mix up firm names
and contact through sloppy mail merging.
18
3.
DO keep your letter short and simple. Remember the employer may be reading
hundreds of applications. You do not want to overwhelm the employer with things
they can glean from your resume. You want your cover letter to make a great first
impression, but not bore the reader. Try to bring forward important “themes” in your
resume.
4.
DO include your reasons for applying to that particular geographical area. This is
especially important if your resume does not indicate any work experience or ties to
that area.
5.
DO proofread both your cover letter and resume. Get a friend to read it over too – the
more eyes the better.
6.
DO remember to sign your letter.
Resumes__________________________________________________________________
Resumes formats can differ greatly depending on the field of employment. Generally, legal
employers tend to be a conservative bunch and prefer a neat and logically organized in a
reverse chronological format. Ideally, your resume should only be 2-pages in length, especially
if you are applying to larger law firms that will be reviewing hundreds of applications. A 3-page
resume may be acceptable for a clerkship or internship where more detail about some of your
experience may be warranted. US law firms prefer a one-page format. There is no need to use
expensive coloured paper, as it does not photocopy very well. Legal employers will likely be
photocopying your application a few times to provide to an articling committee or interview
panel.
Format and Organization
The appearance of your resume is more important than you think. A poorly organized resume
reflects how much time and thought you have put into it. A sloppy resume can send a signal to
an employer that you have not bothered to put the time into your application, and it may not be
an accurate reflection of who you really are. Also, a resume that is visually pleasing to the eye
with plenty of white space is much easier for an employer to read than one where they have to
search around for the information.
Suggested Headings
Generally your resume should be organized in reverse chronological order starting first with
Education and then Work Experience. The remaining categories will differ for each student and
should be organized in a way that suits your own personal strengths. However you choose to
organize your resume and list your experience, you should keep it consistent throughout.
Name & Contact Information
Start with your name, address, phone number and e-mail address in a heading at the top of
your page. You may want to create a “letterhead” with this information that you can also use for
your cover letter. Make sure the information is accurate. You can include both a school and
home/permanent address if it is important for where you are applying. For example, if you are
applying to law firms in Calgary and you are originally from Calgary, you could include a home
address that you will be staying at during the interview period. Be sure to include an email
19
address. Many law firms will communicate with applicants by email. Make sure your email
address is an appropriate one and one that you will check regularly for correspondence from
potential employers.
Education
The education section should list your degrees, dates obtained, and name and location of the
conferring institution. List your education in reverse chronological order with law school first.
You should indicate your anticipated date of graduation from law school. This is particularly
important with UVic law students who are in the co-op program. You should indicate if you are in
the co-op program and the month and year of your anticipated graduation i.e.) August 2004.
Awards/Achievements
If you have any academic awards you can list them in reverse chronological order. Offer a brief
explanation for any awards that may not be apparent from the title. You can also list this
information under Education to save space if you wish.
Work Experience
List your work experience in reverse chronological order. If you have a lengthy job history you
may only want to go back to your most recent and relevant job experience. Make sure you
include a job title, a place of employment (including city and province), and dates of employment
for each job. Provide a short description that gives the reader a picture of the transferable skills
you gained from your experience. Do include summer jobs you held throughout your
undergraduate studies or part-time employment. Legal employers are interested in the diversity
of experience you have and what you did prior to law school. Point-form format is easier to read
than paragraph, and you can use bullets to separate each description. Try not to provide overly
lengthy descriptions – remember you want to provide the reader with a quick “snapshot” of the
job and what skills you gained from the experience. Try not to list skills that are obvious from the
job title. For example if your job title was “Customer Service Supervisor” you do not need to say
in a job description “served customers”, but instead you might want to highlight significant
responsibility you had i.e.) “supervised staff of 20 and assisted in managerial aspects of store”.
It is best to start each bullet point with a simple, past or present tense verb.
Skills/Languages/Additional Training
These are optional headings, and generally not necessary with applications to legal
employers. Legal employers will expect that you have basic computer skills and you have
received training in Quicklaw, Lexis-Nexis etc. If you are fluent in any languages you SHOULD
include this. In this section you can include any additional training or courses that you have
taken i.e.) dispute resolution course outside of law school.
Extra-Curricular Activities/Volunteer Involvement
The title of this heading can vary. Some students have lots of community involvement with
organizations outside of school, while others may be involved in student government or other
university clubs and activities. It is important not to “pad” your resume. If you put an activity on
your resume you should be prepared to talk about your involvement in that activity and how you
contributed. You may want to provide a short description for significant volunteer or extracurricular activities, especially for activities where you have had significant involvement.
Interests
Do include your interests and hobbies. Legal employers do like to know “who you are”. You may
find that if you have a unique interest or hobby on your resume the employer will ask you more
questions about it an interview than your Master’s thesis in English Literature. Who knows, the
20
person interviewing you may have ran a marathon too and it will be a starting point of the
conversation. If you do include interests on your resume be prepared to talk about them in an
interview – if reading is listed as one of your interests think about what you would say about that
interest if asked in an interview. Be specific. For example instead of writing “Travelling”, include
the list of places you’ve been, or your favorite travel destination.
References
Listing references is optional unless the employer specifically requests them. Most legal
employers do not contact references and would prefer you to attach one or two reference letters
instead.
If you do include names of references make sure you ask the reference before including them
and provide them with a current copy of your resume. Provide their name, title, and place of
employment. The phrase “References Available on Request” is not necessarily that helpful and
should be left off. You can check the job posting, the Quicklaw NAD survey, and the employer’s
website to see if they specifically request them. Law firms are NOT looking for academic
references. Go to former employers, not professors – unless you have done research for them.
Remember your transcripts will be included with your application package, so a professor
writing a letter stating you were in his/her class and received a “B+” does not add anything to
your application package. When applying for graduate studies or clerkships, academic
references ARE required.
What NOT To Include in a Resume
 No typographical, spelling or grammatical errors
 Small font – try to use a 12 point font
 Time gaps that may leave questions for the reader
 A title of “Resume or Curriculum Vitae” at the top of your page
 An objective line is not necessary in a legal resume
 Age, Marital Status, Citizenship
 Do not list your law school courses under education; the employer can get this
information from your transcript
 LSAT Score
 The use of the pronoun “I”
 Acronyms that are hard to figure out (i.e. if applying to an internship with the UN in The
Hague, they may not know what UVic refers to)
21
Erin C. Walker
123 Stormy Lane  Victoria, BC  V8N 2T7  (250) 298-8989  ewalker@uvic.ca
January 15, 2010
Mr. Greg McDade, QC
Ratcliff & Company
500-221 West Esplanade
Vancouver, BC V7M 3J3
Dear Mr. McDade:
RE:
2010 Summer Position
Please accept my application for a 2010 Summer Position with Ratcliff & Company. I am a first
year student at the University of Victoria, Faculty of Law. As I am originally from Vancouver, I
am looking forward to returning to establish my career in Vancouver following my graduation
from law school in 2012.
My work and life experiences have given me a unique and valuable set of skills that I am
confident would make me an asset to your firm. In 2009, I graduated from the University of
British Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology. In my final year, I wrote a thesis
entitled Indigenous Rights in Northwestern BC. This project developed my research skills and
my ability to critically analyze information. As an English Instructor with the Japan Exchange
and Teaching Program (JET) this past year, I became adept at synthesizing and communicating
complex information. Working in a professional environment also made me comfortable with
responsibility and taught me the importance of meeting deadlines and managing my workload
efficiently. My work this year with the UVic Legal Information Clinic has given me greater
understanding of clients’ needs and allowed me to apply my professional skills in a legal
context.
I am particularly interested in an articling position with Ratcliff & Company because of your
firm’s reputation as one of the leading aboriginal law firms in the Vancouver area. I aspire to
work as a litigator with a specialty representing First Nations communities and believe your firm
would offer the best platform and training to achieve my goal.
Please find enclosed a copy of my resume and copies of my undergraduate, law school
transcripts and reference letters. Thank you for considering my application. I would welcome the
opportunity to interview with your firm.
Sincerely,
Erin Walker
Enclosures
22
Davy Neary
201 - 3441 Cook St  Victoria, BC  V8N 4M5  (250) 595-2585  davy@uvic.ca
January 15, 2010
Ms. Margaret Seko
Bereskin & Parr LLP
40 King Street West, 40th floor
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5H 3Y2
Dear Ms. Seko:
RE:
2010 Summer Position
Please accept my application for a 2010 Summer Position with Bereskin & Parr LLP. I am a
second year student at the University of Victoria, Faculty of Law. I am hoping to practice
intellectual property law in Toronto following my graduation from law school.
I believe that my academic background and prior work experience in the field of Civil
Engineering would be an asset to your firm. As a Civil Engineer, I was involved in major
projects that involved massive public consultation campaigns and required the participation of
design teams incorporating experts representing each of the various stakeholders impacted. In
addition, I have acted as the project manager for various construction projects over a million
dollars in value and supervised several construction crews and office staff. At UVic law school, I
sit on the executive committee for the Intellectual Property Law Club, a student group that
organizes lunch time lectures and discussions regarding patent, trade mark, and copyright law.
On top of my volunteer involvement, I maintain excellent grades and currently rank in the top
10% of my class.
I am particularly interested in an articling position with Bereskin & Parr LLP because of your
firm’s reputation as one of the leading intellectual property law firms in Canada. Your firm’s
strengths in this practice area, as well as my discussions with John Smith and yourself when I
visited your firm in Toronto last month have convinced me that a summer position with Bereskin
& Parr LLP would be a very rewarding experience.
Please find enclosed a copy of my resume and copies of my undergraduate and law school
transcripts. Thank you for considering my application. I would welcome the opportunity to
interview with your firm.
Sincerely,
Davy Neary
Enclosures
23
Phoebe Ng
234 Gorge Ave  Victoria, BC  V8T 2L6  (250) 884-1414  phoeben@uvic.ca
EDUCATION__________________________________________________________
2007 Present
Bachelor of Laws – University of Victoria, Faculty of Law
Anticipated date of graduation May 2010
 Completed Environmental Law Centre Clinic (Fall 2009) - undertook specific
research projects for clients under the supervision of the instructors (course
for academic credit)
2004 2007
Bachelor of Arts – University of Western Ontario, London, ON
Graduated with distinction in 2007
 Major: Psychology; Minor: Environmental Science
 Completed a major paper titled “Law & Child Developmental Psychology in
Canada”
AWARDS_______________________________________________________________
Law Foundation Scholarship (2007) – University of Victoria, Faculty of Law
 Entrance scholarship awarded for academic excellence
President’s Scholarship (2004) – University of Western Ontario, Faculty of Arts
 Awarded for academic excellence and volunteer involvement
Dean’s Honour List (2004, 2005, 2006) – University of Western Ontario
 Awarded to students who ranked in the top 10% of their class
WORK EXPERIENCE___________________________________________________
Summer 2009 Summer Student
Llyod Braun & Associates – Vancouver, BC
 Provided legal research and opinions to lawyers including research in the
areas of family, civil litigation, aboriginal and administrative law
 Attended court with senior lawyers to observe and assist as necessary
Summers
2007, 2008
Server
The Keg Restaurant – Vancouver, BC
 Fast paced and high pressure serving environment
 Participated in extensive customer service and selling skills training
 Received several customer commendations for excellent service
Sep 2006 May 2007
Teaching Assistant (Professor A. Dearing)
Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Western Ontario – London, ON
 Assisted in marking and evaluating assignments
 Worked up to 20 hours per week while taking a full course load
24
Phoebe Ng – page 2
Summers
2004 - 2006
Staff Manager & Sales Associate
Hikers Haven – London, ON
 Supervised staff of 30
 Motivated staff by developing creative sales contests
VOLUNTEER & EXTRACURRICULAR EXPERIENCE________________________________
Sep 2007 Present
Volunteer Advocate
Together Against Poverty Society (TAPS) – Victoria, BC
 Assist clients with disability applications; prepare submissions and represent
clients before the BC Benefits Tribunal
2007 –
Present
Student Researcher
Student Legal Information Clinic, UVic Faculty of Law
 Student run clinic offering free legal research services to low income clients in
the Victoria area
2007 –
Present
Member & Student Researcher
Environmental Law Club, UVic Faculty of Law
 Student run club that operates to promote environmental issues from a legal
perspective
 Engage in a leadership role, coordinating and working with the Club’s parent
organization: The Environmental Law Centre on legal research projects
2007 –
2008
Team Member
Intramural Ultimate, UVic Faculty of Law
Sep 2004 Apr 2006
Volunteer
Neighbourhood Legal Services – London, ON
 Responsible for intake interviews and researching landlord-tenant inquiries
INTERESTS__________________________________________________________________
Sports:
Soccer, Ultimate, Yoga
Scuba Diving:
PADI Certified Rescue Diver
Explored the Great Barrier Reef, Adaman Sea and the Caribbean Sea
Travel:
Recently visited Australia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam; Previous selffunded trips include a 30 day backpacking trip around Greece
Art:
Watercolour Painting & Drawing
25
Section VI: Interview Prep
Preparing for your Interview
If you have been offered an interview with a law firm, this is good news: it means they really like
your resume. The bad news is you must now get ready for the interview!
As you only get one chance to make a first impression, it is important to spend some time
preparing for each interview. One of the best ways to do so is by practicing with someone
before you have an interview. This allows you to have a chance to answer questions out loud
and also, hopefully, get some feedback regarding your strengths and weaknesses in person.
Be sure to try out your suit and shoes ahead of time (conservative colours are best) and get
your hair cut a couple of weeks in advance. Avoid colognes or perfumes and think about
carrying toiletries to freshen up between interviews.
You should prepare outlines of each firm that you will be interviewing with. To do so, think
about the firm profile, information about the interviewers you’ll be meeting with (you can ask
who you’ll be interviewing with ahead of time), questions they might ask (see below) and
questions you might like to ask of them (again see below).
You should plan answers for the “tough” questions that you may be asked during the interview.
For example, if you had a number of bad grades one semester, you may be asked why that
semester’s marks are lower. It is best to answer the question concisely, explaining the reason
without going into too lengthy of an explanation.
Another “tough” question you may be asked is to explain what you did during a period of
unemployment. You should prepare an answer regarding what you did that shows that you
have a good work ethic, good attitude and that you have other interests. This could include time
spent doing pro bono work or research, travel, or anything you did to fill the time that
demonstrates these qualities.
If you do not have a connection with the city in which you are interviewing, you can expect that
the interviewer to ask why you want to work there. They may be concerned that this is just a
short term job, so any connection to the city is therefore valuable, whether it be friends, family,
interests or the environment. If you do not have a connection to the city, you should consider
doing some online research about the community so that you can answer questions about why
it is a good place for you to work and live.
Know your resume thoroughly as they will ask you questions about it.
Make sure the firm has a local phone number in case arrangements need to be changed. Give
yourself extra time to get to the firm and arrive early and call ahead if you are delayed. Do not
arrive with food, drink, or gum.
The Interview
The ability to relate to the interviewer is critical. In the interview, try to strive for a professional
but conversational approach. Start by making and maintaining an appropriate level of eye
26
contact. You may also wish to practice your handshake before the interview and a few ways of
potentially connecting with the interviewer. For example, if you can find out ahead of time who
you’re going to be interviewing with, you could do a bit of research to see if there is any
connection you can bring up as a conversation starter (same law school, same area of practice
interest, etc.). If you do not know of a connection, just practice being open and genuine – open
body language, head nod, no arms crossed, and eye contact.
Most interviewers are impressed by answers that are direct, thoughtful and honest. Keep
answers short. Let the interviewer ask questions and talk as well. When it is your turn to ask
questions, you should attempt to keep your questions relevant to the interview and what you
have already learned (see some samples below). Again, law firms generally want to see that
you are confident, relaxed and genuine.
After the Interview
After the interview, it is always a good idea to send thank you notes. While it is not required, it
is courteous and also allows you to make one last contact with the employer. If the person you
interviewed with is a little bit older, a hand written card is nice touch. If you interviewed with
someone younger, an email is fine.
If you were interviewed by more than one person, send a note separately to each of the
interviewers and customize it to each person. You can end by saying something like, “if you
have any questions about the details in my resume or if you have any other questions please
feel free to contact me.”
As with your resume and cover letter, make sure you double and triple check everything for
typos before sending it!!
What Are Law Firms Looking for?
As you prepare for an interview, keep in mind the specific qualities the firm is looking for. Firms
are generally looking for solid academics, work experience (not necessarily in the law),
demonstrated achievements, leadership qualities, varied activities and interests, and ability to
juggle assignments and deal well with clients.
Grades provide firms with the first screening mechanism, but are not the only thing considered.
Firms are seeking well-rounded individuals who have varied interests and involvement.
When you meet with firm members for your interview keep in mind the fact that they are looking
for someone who has potential to be around clients. This means you should be professional
and courteous while conveying confidence.
Sample Questions You May Be Asked in a Law Firm Interview
When reading through the following sample questions, think about how you would answer each
question. Even better is to practice answering these questions out loud in front of someone else
or in front of a mirror. Your answers will become more natural with practice.
Choices
 Why did you apply to this particular firm/agency?
27




What do you know about our firm/agency?
What factors are likely to determine your choice of a firm?
Why did you choose to go to law school?
Why would you like to live in the community where our firm/agency is located?
Goals
 Have you established any long-range goals and objectives?
 How are you preparing yourself to achieve these goals?
 What goals, other than those related to your work as a lawyer, have you established for
yourself for the next ten years?
Articling/Summering
 What are your goals for your summer experience/articling year?
 What are your greatest concerns about your summer/articling year?
 What criteria will you use to measure your own performance over the articling year?
 Why did you decide not to summer? (if you haven’t summered)
Practice
 Do you have an interest in a particular area of law at this stage?
 Describe your work habits? Do you like working alone or in groups? Why?
 How do you plan to establish a client base?
 How do you set priorities for your time?
 How would you attempt to sort out priorities when faced with competing and
incompatible demands from lawyers within the firm?
 In what ways can you make a contribution to our firm/agency?
 What are the qualifications, which will make you a successful lawyer?
Law school
 What law school subject have you enjoyed the most/least?
 Do you think your grades reflect your academic achievement?
 What have you learned from participation in moot court/clinical program/law school
committees?
 What has been your most rewarding law school experience?
 How has law school prepared you to work here?
Personal
 What do you do with your leisure or vacation time?
 What are your interests outside work?
 In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?
 What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
 What are your most noteworthy personal accomplishments?
 What factors are most important to you in determining job satisfaction?
 How do you motivate yourself?
 How do you deal with stress, tension and boredom?
Work experience
 What was your favourite/worst job?
 What factors are most important to you in a job?
 Tell me about the skills you acquired in a particular job/task/course?
28

Tell me about a recent work experience you found particularly challenging. What
obstacles did you overcome? What results did you achieve?
Miscellaneous
 What is the last non-legal book you read?
 How would you describe yourself to a stranger?
 What public policy interests do you have and why?
 Why should we hire you?
(Questions take from the CBA Handbook “Articling: How to Begin Your Search” on reserve in
the Priestly Law Library and McMillan Binch’s “Student Interview Handbook)
Now it is Your Turn to Ask Questions
It is always a good idea to have a couple of questions prepared, even though new questions
may arise as you progress through the interview. Remember your questions should be
appropriate to the situation. A question asked at a Career Event may be different than one
asked at the end of a second interview.
Generally you should not ask about salary or benefits at your initial interview with a firm. You
can so some research on this type of information on firm websites, Quicklaw’s National Articling
Database, or by speaking with current articling students and alumni.
The sample questions below are just that, samples. Students should create their own questions.
Write them down and have them with you in the interview.
Carrying a professional looking portfolio/clip board with a copy of your resume, reference
letters/list, official transcripts, information about the firm, and your questions is a good idea.
Pull out your portfolio and a pen before the interview starts, in case you need to jot something
down. Having your questions for the firms written out is especially helpful when your brain is
exhausted at the end of an interview and you cannot remember your questions.
Sample Questions You May Want to Ask the Law Firm
Firm










How would you describe the firm atmosphere?
Could you describe a typical day/week of work?
What distinguishes this firm from your competitors?
How is the firm structured or governed?
Who are the firms’ leaders? Why are they the leaders?
Why do you choose to practice here?
How many current partners articled with the firm?
What is the process and method of communication used within the firm?
How are decisions made within the firm?
What types of social events does the firm have? Are students usually invited?
Articling/Summering
 How will my principal be chosen?
29






How is work assigned to the associates? Students?
Describe a few typical projects completed by articling students.
How are articling students evaluated? Do you conduct performance reviews?
What processes are in place to integrate new employees into the firm?
What are the current target billable hours? How are they set? *
How do the actuals compare to the target? *
Beyond Articles
 What are the current target billable hours? How are they set? *
 How do the actuals compare to the target? *
 What factors would influence the compensation of the associates? *
 Is there a cap on salary? *
* Not appropriate for an initial interview
Section VI: Employment Search Tips
As you plan out your summer job search, here are some pointers:
 Follow your interests and explore job options that spark your curiosity. Start your
research on firms early. Compile a list of firms that you wish to apply to.
 Make the time to research your career options. You can make more informed choices
about your summer job and your possible career paths by taking some time to research
employers online, talk to upper year students, and attend LCO programs. Find and
create opportunities to talk to articling students and lawyers about their career decisions.
Remember there are many different paths to a fulfilling legal career.
 Think about what’s been most rewarding for you so far in law. Have you enjoyed
particular courses? Did you find the research tasks stimulating? Did you have fun in the
voluntary moot? What did you like about your volunteer or extracurricular activities?
What clues do your experiences provide about what you might need or want in a job?
 If you’re not attracted to private practice, be sure to learn about the range of
options beyond private practice.
 If you’re interested in private practice options in specific legal fields or you are
curious about hanging out your shingle as sole practitioner, do some research.
Searching the UVic Law Employer Database www.law.uvic.ca/lco/employer_search.php,
by practice area or location to turn up some employers that you can then research
online. And consider joining the Canadian Bar Association ($20 membership for law
students!) to attend events and gather information on specific areas of law – the CBA
has over 30 sections including groups on Aboriginal law, citizenship and immigration,
criminal justice, entertainment and media law, feminist legal analysis, sole and small
practice, and many more.
 Do check out the list of OCI employers. Many students are surprised to find that
beyond the full-service corporate firms, some government employers and boutique firms
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participate in the On-Campus-Interview recruitment. You can apply to a lot of OCI
employers, to a very select few, or to none at all, but make an informed choice.
 Be Prepared & Research. Only you can plan your own unique job path. Do your
research to find out about all of the options that might be right for you. Self-assessment
is a key part of any career planning – start by using some of the career resources
provided by the LCO. Responsibility for developing your career goals and finding
employment is ultimately yours.
 Get Involved and meet people with similar interests (AKA Networking). Get
involved in some law school activities – it may be a way to explore some of your
interests in law. Come out to career sessions. You will have an opportunity to meet
lawyers and find out what the practice of law is like. Join the CBA and participate in the
mentor program and join sections such as the Young Lawyers Section. This is especially
important if you want to article in a smaller community such as Victoria. Attend CBA
section meetings and use their on-line directory of BC lawyer and law firms.
 Be Proactive and Persistent. Finding an articling job really can be a lot of work at
times and you may need to be patient. The process can be competitive and at other times
arbitrary. It may be the first time that you face rejection. But, remember there may only
be “one” job interview that goes perfectly and if you are offered the job all past rejections
will not matter at that point.
 Talk to the LCO. Don’t hesitate to come see the LCO when you have questions or you
just need some reassurance in preparing for a job interview. The door is always open to
you. If it is a busy time of year, you may need to schedule an appointment. Remember
to let the LCO know if you accept a position somewhere.
 Keep doing your Active Networking. Once you’ve done your initial networking, job ad
responses and targeted mailing make sure you follow up with the people you were in
contact with to update them regarding where you’re at in terms of your studies and what
you’re looking for.
Section VI: Law Careers Office (LCO) Resources
Law Careers Office Appointments - If you are looking for employment or would like help
getting started with your search, please contact the LCO. As mentioned above, we can help
you by working with you on your applications and job search strategies. To book an
appointment, contact Katie Macquarrie, Law Careers Assistant at careerof@uvic.ca or 250-7218790.
Law Careers Website – http://law.uvic.ca/lco (current password available from the LCO) – This
website is an easy way for UVic law students to get started researching potential employers, job
postings and other information including:
 LCO Handouts – (under Student Information and LCO Handouts), recruitment
guidelines, cover letter and resume preparation, interview tips, etc.
 Job Postings Database – Summer 2009 postings based on information from firms and
the Quicklaw National Articling Database survey
 Employer Database – links to over 900 legal employers across Canada
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Bar Associations – (under Student Information) links to hiring guidelines and provincial
bar associations
Government – (under Student Information) links to government employment websites
On-line Directories – (under Student Information & Career Research) i.e. Canadian Law
List, Martindale Hubbell Lawyer Locator
NALP Canadian Directory of Legal Employers - This online database contains detailed and
updated information about law employers that hire students, including second year summer
students. The database also lists the application materials each employer requires. See
www.nalpcanada.com.
 Firms must sign up to have a profile on the website including contact information, firm
details, student job postings as well as associate job postings.
 It is easiest to search through the QuickLaw surveys (Code: NAD) by entering a
particular city that you are interested in and looking through all of the surveys
 Also look at surveys from past years – especially if you are applying in a smaller city like
Victoria
Career Resource Room (Room 140)
 Handouts
o
Resume and Cover Letter Preparation Guide
o
Tips for Preparing Job Applications
o
Preparing for Your Law Firm Interview
o
Summering in BC – Tips and Suggestions
o
Summer recruitment guidelines for all regions
o
Practicing Law in the United States
o
Articles and Beyond – Planning Your Successful Career in Law
o
Suggestions for Volunteer Work for Law Students in Victoria
o
Thank You and Follow Up Letters
o
Mentor List – UVic Grads Offering Help and Advice
 Firm brochures
 Law School Articling Handbooks (UBC, U of T, U of A, U of C, Osgoode, etc.)
 Public Interest Handbooks (McGill, U of T, U of A, etc.)
 Book - Guerrilla Tactics for Getting the Legal Job of Your Dreams – Kimm Alyane
Walton, JD
 Book - Law Firm Recruitment in Canada: Job Search Advice for Law Students and
Associates – Wendy Griesdorf (former Dir. of Career Services, Osgoode)
 Public Interest Handbooks (McGill, U of T, U of A, etc.)
Directories & Yellow Pages
 Canadian Law List – Search Legal Employers and Lawyers: An online database of
legal employers provided by Canada Law Book at www.canadianlawlist.com. Hardcopy
in the LCO with current listing of all the lawyers and law firms in Canada organized by
province & city. Available for signout.
 2010 Canadian Bar Association, BC Directory – alphabetical listing of lawyers & law
firms currently practicing in BC
 Yellow Pages – particularly useful if looking to work in a smaller centres
And of course don’t forget employer websites, career fairs, information sessions and
conversations with upper year students!! These can all be invaluable sources of information
and contacts for future employment!
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