HOW DOES THE ARTICLING PROGRAM WORK?

Each year, we welcome approximately fifteen articling and summer students to our firm. They are provided with complete training and support during their articles, acquiring invaluable professional experience over the course of the program. They also have the potential to join the firm upon completion.

While articling with us, you will work closely with lawyers specialized in various areas of the law, who are motivated to provide you with the best possible guidance to optimize your learning experience at every stage of the program.

Summer job, and during the year
Recruiting
Courses begin
During your time with us
Library and data processing

Summer job, and during the year

Typically, Lavery offers summer or part-time jobs to students engaged in undergraduate programs in law who have been offered articling positions with the firm. During your summer or part-time job, you will be working with lawyers in various areas of practice, and supported and evaluated by the same lawyers who will be supervising your articles. The summer or part-time position gives you the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the firm’s procedures and research tools, and get to know the firm's lawyers and employees, prior to starting your articles.

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Recruiting

Each year, a permanent team of about fifteen lawyers organizes a tour of university campuses, coinciding with activities on campus such as career days, cocktail parties or various other events, during which they hold interviews with candidates.

Applicants who most closely match the profile we seek for articling students are interviewed. In addition to considering the student's academic results, which must be exemplary, the firm favours candidates who are dynamic, creative and imaginative, and who show a potential for business development and an awareness of customer service. Respect, integrity, dedication and a commitment to excellence are shared values of the firm that we look for in aspiring articling students.

At Lavery, we understand that it is quite a challenge to prepare for the period of interviews while you are still studying at university. Therefore, we hold only one interview with each candidate. During this interview, we take the necessary time to get to know the candidates and give them the opportunity to tell us about their professional strengths, personal attributes and motivation. At Lavery, the recruitment of articling students is serious business and a source of the firm's continued growth and longevity.

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Courses begin

As soon as you arrive, you will be fully trained on the following subjects:

• Organization of the office
• Practical training
• Research, computing system and drafting
• Professional ethics
• Instruction on SOQUIJ, Quicklaw, Lexis-Nexis and our in-house search system, legislation, regulations and specialized databases
• Relations with the courts, opponents and clients
• Conflicts of interest, attorney-client privilege, internal and external relationships
• Any other relevant subject matter

Once you are hired, you will be invited to numerous social activities arranged especially for you. In particular, a meet and greet is held to welcome the students starting their articles at our Montreal offices, and hockey, basketball, softball and soccer tournaments are also organized.

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During your time with us

During your articling, you will be working with lawyers in each of our three broad practice groups on their respective teams. This experience will expose you to many different areas of practice and enable you to become familiar with a variety of tasks, including:

• Research mandates
• Drafting of reports, opinions and proceedings
• Court appearances and trial preparation
• Meetings with clients
• Examinations for discovery
• Due diligence reviews
• Drafting of contracts and related documents
• Working in and organization of files

In addition to being evaluated on a regular basis, you will meet with the lawyers responsible for the students and your articling supervisor to discuss your areas of interest and professional orientation.

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Library and data processing

You will have full use of our vast library, and our qualified library personnel will be on hand for guidance and to provide you with complete research, documentation and training services. The pleasant environment, impressive document collection, Intranet database, not to mention the support of our photocopy attendants, will help you to complete your assigned mandates effectively. In addition, the computer support team will provide you with the necessary technical support and training.

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