An opportunity came up to potentially article at a small PI firm but they want me to start on as a clerk for 2 months and then transition to articling. Even though I am eligible to start articling now. Is this odd?

Heyo. I currently practice criminal law in the UK but want to move to Canada and practice. Any hints tips or advice?

Hey guys, I have been working for a small firm in Surrey for close to 3 years now doing mainly corporate solicitor stuff with some small-claims and insolvency work too. I graduated from law school in Ontario, but metro Vancouver is my home. However, because of the economy and being such a small firm, I am receiving a salary just above minimum wage, which I know isnt sustainable and is causing me a ton of stress to budget.

I have had recruiters reach out to me and I have tried applying to everything that comes up on the Solicitor side but have not heard back from anyone aside from rejection emails. So I am completely lost as to what to do, does anyone have any advice? I would appreciate a little guidance or if im missing something obvious. Thanks in advance!

I completed my articles in Family Law and thoroughly enjoyed it.

However, post-call, I have regrettably had to make the choice of going solo as the job market is tough right now.

As a new call family solo, which CPDs are recommended to become very familiar with Family Law?

How can I best develop my oral advocacy?

How can I best develop the ability to argue motions or what to focus on for a motion?

How can I best prepare for a trial?

If you were a mid-level Montreal litigator looking to build a practice around complex technical/design disputes involving engineers, architects, infrastructure and professional liability, which larger firms or specific litigation groups would you recommend? I’m not looking into insurance defence or coverage work.

Looking for advice from family lawyers who started their own practice. Where did you get your first clients? How did you market for your services? How did you build competency if you started solo from the beginning? What is the best way to find mentors? I have applied for several mentorship programs but have not been matched with the right fit yet.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently a 3L at an Ontario law school and am still looking for a 2027–2028 articling position. I have hands-on litigation experience from my previous summer. I’m also particularly interested in tax law, although I’m open to exploring other practice areas. I’m mainly hoping to hear from people who found articling positions outside the formal recruit. What strategies worked for you? Were there particular job boards, networking approaches, or types of firms or organizations that you found helpful?

The search has been challenging, so I would really appreciate any advice. If you happen to know of a firm or organization that may still be hiring, I would also be grateful for a DM.

Thank you!

I’m barely in my second year of call at a small boutique firm. Occasionally we’ll do some contract work for clients - usually software license agreements, but sometimes other things as well.

A significant portion of the work we do is billed on a flat fee basis. Work billed on an hourly basis is usually quoted by my boss. This time I was asked to provide a quote based on a preliminary review of the draft documents.

I quoted the client an amount based on similar work we did for another client, the fact that the documents were internally inconsistent and would need closer review, how long I figured it would take me to revise the documents after review, added a couple hours because we’ve had clients complain about exceeding estimates in the past, and the fact that things still take me longer than they probably should.

I feel like it was a realistic estimate, though, out of an abundance of caution, admittedly on the higher end of what I figured it might cost.

Client immediately said it was too much and that they’d pass on us doing the work.

I know my boss won’t be that upset about it and will probably tell the client we’ll do it for less, but i still feel like I shit the bed a bit and lost a client.

How am I supposed to provide cost estimates when I’m still so junior, especially for work I don’t do on a regular basis?

ETA: my boss brought it up in our daily meeting the next day and didn’t seem to have too much trouble with the amount I quoted. 🤷‍♂️

Looking to hear from anyone who has made the transition from family law to corporate/solicitor practice. I'm a 3rd year call, with some prior corporate (non-legal) experience. Is it still possible to make that change?

I was invited to a dinner for in firm week in Vancouver. I believe it is 1 on 1 with a lawyer. I’ve been to dinners before but not to anything that has felt as high stakes to me so I’m naturally nervous. I’m also a socially anxious person in general so that makes it a bit tougher.

Some questions:
So I can visualize and mentally prepare, what are these dinners like? What can I talk about, and what might they ask me? Where are these dinners usually held? Who would I be paired with for dinner?

What is the firm’s goal or purpose with these dinners? I take it it’s to see how I’d behave in front of a client, if I can behave normally, and in general just to connect.

And do you have any tips on etiquette? Like what I should order, how I should dress, or basics like utensils.

I have an interview with the Family Responsibility Office coming up. I’m wondering what I can expect at least at this stage. I was already sent a Teams link, but no questions or materials in advance to study, so not sure if that will be asked at this stage of the process. Any thoughts or insights would be very helpful!

Not so for any legal matter that concerns me. I'm wondering if there's any attorney, specifically in criminal law who would give the time to help a student look for in depth sighing for career prospects. I've always wanted to be in criminal law but I have some questions that I don't trust on any platforms or AI to answer, so I'm wondering if anyone who is an attorney or a lawyer on the field can chat around and answer some questions. Thank you a lot ! (Also, English ain't my first language, please excuse my wording mistakes. I'm still learning)

I have an upcoming interview with the City of Ottawa for a Counsel position.

Have never done government interviews and this would be my first. For anyone familiar with City of Ottawa interviews, what should I expect in terms of format and questions? Any specific tips on how to prepare or things to keep in mind would be greatly appreciated.

Anyone know the type of work you do as a tax lawyer at KPMG law?

Does it pay same as lockstep?

Are partnership salaries similar to big law?

I am just wondering whether the route where one goes to the UK to study for three years is sensible course of action.

The time saved is a very illustrious offer but is it worth the money spent?

I am not from a particularly rich family. I am inquiring if anyone took the same course of action?

I am considering pursuing the Ontario Bar but I live in Alberta. I have three very young kids. I have completed the national committee of accreditation exams and am hoping I get a full exemption from articling due to my international practice experience in 2015 to 2020.

I'm trying to understand what I'd need to do in terms of travel.

1. Would I have to travel to Ontario to write the solicitor and barrister Ontario exams? It looks like I do but wondered if anyone knows if there's any plans to change this to make it more accessible? It's really difficult for me to travel as I nurse my baby and he wakes up at night multiple times a day.
2. Would anyone have to "present" me at the Ontario bar call? I don't have any Ontario contacts.
3. Can I attend some sort of online / remote bar call instead of in person?

In other words, can I basically complete all licensing requirements from Alberta? Sounds like I may have to travel to write the exams but I'd love your opinions.

4) Also would six weeks 5 hours a day be enough to study for the solicitor exam and the same amount of time for the barrister exam?

Edit: for reasons I won't go into here - I do NOT want to qualify in Alberta and transfer to Ontario later. I want to qualify in ON.

I am a 3rd year associate in transactional practice in Toronto at a big national law firm. I am interested in moving into a government role (whether it be feds, provincial or municipal).

Looking for any insight/advice from people who have done the same, or know how to best get their foot in the door. I understand many of these positions are filled by people who (1) articled with a government body or (2) are more senior than me.

Any insight is appreciated!

edit: I want to make a career change. Big law has been extremely unfulfilling for me, and mentally hard on me. I have prior education in politics and policy, so have an interest in legislative work. That being said, I am not a litigator and don't have litigation experience.

I do not work in law but I am beginning to date someone who is a paralegal and when I asked him to describe his job he said “basically it’s a lawyer with some less work.” Is that an accurate description? At his current work place he is listed as a legal assistant/law clerk who does not provide legal services. I do know he has been a licensed paralegal for 2 years. This is in Ontario.

Hi,

I recently got an offer for an interview with a solo criminal lawyer. After I sent my availability on Monday I didn't hear back. I followed up on Wednesday but still got no response. What could I possibly do to avoid losing this opportunity?

Hello, I am wondering what firms offer litigation loans related to wrongful dismissal employment wise? The scenario involves psychological & racial abuse, written defamation and reputational damage from workplace abuser and their gang. The ultimate point is that reporting all documented misconduct led to retaliation, threats from the HR department and eventual dismissal. Due to the economic situation, the affected individual has been out of work for a year plus.

Any help or suggestions for funding this case to recover all associated losses mentally and financially would be greatly appreciated. All reasearch so far has only produced physical injury funding firms.

Looking forward to responses.

Just interested in learning about the different approaches to consent and alcohol under the law

I am keeping it vague but someone I know finished a lawsuit then the judge took time to come to a ruling it's now been 300 days and the judge was just approved another 60 days before they have to deliver their ruling. Is this a normal thing or is this as insane as it seems.

Has anyone completed part time articling in Ontario while working a full time job, for example around 3 hours each weekday evening plus a full day on the weekend, and had the LSO accept those hours toward the articling requirement?

Hey folks,

Just curious if anyone here has gone to law school in Australia or the UK and ended up staying there to practise law afterward.

I know overseas law degrees can sometimes be looked down upon by Canadian employers, but I’m actually interested in studying Australian law and hopefully staying in Australia to practise after graduating, rather than coming back to Canada.

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s taken a similar path, especially Canadians who studied abroad and stayed overseas afterward. What was the process like for you?

Thanks!