College of Law
Career Office
Room 280
Recruitment and Strategy
Recruitment
http://www.usask.ca/law/career_services/recruitment/index.php
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The rules of recruitment set out the standards for firms and students to follow and will guide your
professionalism during the process. It is important that you have a thorough understanding and comfort
with the process. Certain employers actively recruit law students (larger firms in larger centers) however
countless opportunities exist with employers that do not actively recruit students (non traditional or
smaller firms in smaller centers). It is important to understand the recruitment process for the employer
that you are interested.
The Recruit tab found on our website has information on the rules surrounding law student recruitment in
each province. We attempt to update recruitment information as we get it. In Saskatchewan, the College
develops the Recruitment Guidelines. These will be posted on our website shortly. Generally in
Saskatchewan, Manitoba and some cites in Ontario the recruitment occurs in May. Typically Alberta follows
shortly after in June and Vancouver and Toronto deadlines are later in the summer.
Some legal employers will actively recruit students and some do not. Be aware of the recruitment method of
the type of employer that interests you. Sometimes students perceive silence as meaning there is no
opportunity. However, think of it in the reverse, some legal employers will expect you to contact them if you
are interested. There is ample opportunity in many untapped markets especially in small firms and small
centers. Some legal employers will recruit at the end of second year (mainly larger firms) and follow the
recruitment rules and some will recruit or hire at various times after the formal recruitment period and all the
way until the end of third year. Familiarize yourself with the recruitment methods of the employers that you
are interested in and check out the information under the recruitment tab on the Career Office Website.
It is important to note that in the past approximately ½ of our third year class commence third year with
articles and our statistics have shown that the remaining ½ are usually successful in securing articles by the
end of third year.
Summer Employment
Some firms use summer recruitment as a means to hire articling students. If you are interested in
working at a larger firm in a large centre you may want to consider applying through the summer
recruitment process. This process begins to occur in August of your second year.
Strategy
Due to the different recruitment rules in each province you may be in a position to choose the
province(s)/cities you are applying to. Summer recruitment starts early in the fall of first year and
continues through to spring of second year. Typically Saskatchewan is one of the first provinces to
recruit for articling positions followed by Alberta and some cities in Ontario with Toronto and
Vancouver Recruitment occurring last. See the Recruitment tab for information. It is also useful to
recognize that there are many opportunities with legal employers (typically small and medium firms or
firms outside of the major centres) that do not actively recruit students or participate in the recruitment
in the spring. Some will choose to place posting after the formal recruitment period is over or
opportunities may arise through your contact with these employers.
You are most likely to be successful if you focus on the legal employers that you are interested in.
Balance - It is important to keep your options open and however you do not want to extend yourself too
thin that you do not make a concentrated effort to reach your desired goals. Apply to employers that
interest you, research and prepare your cover letter to get the attention of the firm and show you are
interested in them. If there is time, contact the firm and determine if you can do a firm visit or speak to
firm representatives such as present articling students to learn more about the firm. Prepare for the
interview. Learn as much as you can about the firm and ensure you express your interest and knowledge
in a professional manner.
Have a back up plan in the event that you are not successful in one recruitment period or jurisdiction and
have an idea of what you will do. You may decide to apply to firms that hire after the recruitment
period. You may decide to apply to the same firms again one year in the future. Another alternative is to
submit applications in a few jurisdictions. With this alternative it is important to recognize the different
recruitment periods and if you accept an offer it is a commitment that you must be prepared to follow
though with even if it was not your first choice. The steps you take will reflect on your professionalism
throughout your career.
Questions:
The Career Office works closely with student representatives and in particular the LSA 2nd year reps
Loree Gillert and Milad Alishahi; the ALSA rep York Campbell; and the CBA student rep Alisha Figley
to provide a service that is most meaningful and useful to you. We wish success with you search for
employment and please contact one of us if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Terri L. Karpish B.A., LL.B.
Career Officer
306-966-1924
terri.karpish@usask.ca
Jennifer Knorr
Career Coordinator
306-966-5566
jennifer.knorr@usask.ca
Career Advisors
Various
Contact the Career Office
Note: Terri is an alumna and practiced law for 13 years before commencing employment with the College in 2005 to create
the Career Office. In 2010 Jennifer came to the Career Office from Research Services where she developed extensive
experience in working with the University and its clientele. We have various Career Advisors that assist the Career Office on
a casual basis during peak times. They assist mainly with student appointments and are comprised of our recent alumni and
grad students.