Our Students
Edmonton
With just over 30 lawyers and business advisors,
our Edmonton office offers the best of both worlds. As a smaller office, it provides you with the entrepreneurial and creative experience of a boutique while still giving you access to the work and resources of a major national firm.
Summer and Articling Program
Start Dates
Work Assignment/Rotation System
Mentoring
Professional Development
Feedback
Social Events
Benefits
How to Apply
Start Dates
Our
summer program
runs from early May to the end of August. While start dates are flexible, in 2010 our summer students started on May 3.
Our
articling student
start dates are flexible. Generally, students start in mid-June or early July.
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Work Assignment/Rotation System
We believe that the summer is a time for you to experience as much or as little of a practice area as you desire. As a
summer student
, you are free to work deeply in an area of your choosing or accept work from multiple areas.
During
articles
, we employ a rotation system. In our Edmonton office, you will spend six months in our advocacy department (focusing on general litigation matters, tax litigation, medical malpractice, administrative/tribunal work, bankruptcy and insolvency and labour and employment), and six months in our business department (focusing on mergers and acquisitions, securities, banking, structured finance, real estate, environmental law, emissions trading, competition law, technology and IP).
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Mentoring System
Each
summer student
is assigned a mentor who is an associate. The role of the mentor is to act as your host, introduce you to the firm and to assist with your workflow and work assignments.
Each
articling student
is assigned one principal (a partner) and one mentor (an associate) whose job is to help you integrate into the firm and assist with your workflow and file management. In order to provide you with as much insight into the firm as possible, your principal and mentor will practice in different areas (one in business law and one in advocacy).
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Professional Development
Through our own
Bennett Jones University
, we offer a series of in-house seminars and programs to supplement your articles and ongoing professional development. This begins with an in-depth orientation and continues with regular programs designed to build your practice management skills and provide you with introductions to specific practice areas. We also encourage our students to attend BJU sessions designed for associates.
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Feedback
We recognize that feedback is essential to your development. Our students receive regular informal feedback from assigning lawyers, principals and mentors and also receive formal written reviews during the summer and during each articling rotation.
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Social Events
Our students are encouraged to take part in social events at the firm. Our events focus on our commitment to the community and building lasting relationships amongst the students. Past events have included BBQs, associate and practice group dinners, office retreats and family ski weekend in the Rocky Mountains.
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Benefits
During articles, we pay all course fees and salary during the licensing process.
During articles, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including extended health care, vision, dental, employee assistance plan, short and long-term disability and a fitness subsidy.
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How to Apply
We hire both first and second year law students. For 2011 we anticipate hiring 2 to 4 summer students. The deadline for your application for summer 2011 is October 15, 2010.
We anticipate hiring 2 to 4 articling students for 2011/12. The deadline for your application for articling 2011/12 is May 14, 2010.
Our students have prepared
What We Wish We Had Known
, a guide to the application and interview process. We invite you to review the guide as it may answer many of your questions.
Applications should include:
Cover letter (including match number if available)
Resumé
Undergraduate transcript (photocopy of original transcript)
Law school transcript (photocopy of original transcript)
List of upper year courses
Reference letters (optional)
We encourage summer and articling applicants to
submit all application materials online
.
If applying by mail or in person, please send your materials to:
Ted Yoo
3200 TELUS House, South Tower
10020 - 100th Street
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T5J 0N3
We will acknowledge receipt of your application by email. After reviewing all applications we will further advise whether we are able to grant an interview.
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