Summer student deadlines and questions

[Alexiss]

Hi ! Thank you for reading this post, as it really is hard for me to get any sort of information.

Long story short, I am from Québec and I am a civil law student entering their last year. In Québec, student recruitment for both articling and summer position are usually the same, and you just work as a student for the firm you eventually will article for.

During university, I met my partner and I now have plans to move (and practice) in Ontario. I have the option to do a JD in only one year, at both Queen's and uOttawa. I am, right now, the equivalent of a 2nd year student, considering I will be able to do my JD only in 1 year instead of 3. Even if admission is almost guaranteed, I am not in a JD program at the moment.

After doom scrolling on linkedin, I saw that the summer 2025 student recruitment for Toronto was... well right now. So please, help me by answering these few questions :

- Out of uOttawa and Queens, is there a university that's got a better articling student placement in mid to big size law firm, either in Ottawa or Toronto ?

- How important is it to get a summer job in a Biglaw / Midlaw firm to get an articling position in the same type of firm ?

- Would my application be discarded right away without consideration since I would apply without technically even being in a JD right now?

- What are the deadline for articling position in Ottawa and Toronto, as well as the deadline for summer student positions ?

Another issue I have is that I think my application, just looking at grades, is medium : I am a B student. However, I have a lot of relevant experience, including 2 clinic, a 3rd place at a pleading competition, relevant law research experience under a prof, and I am currently a Law student working at a midsize firm in a secondary market (think a multi-service firm in a city of about 200 000 people). However, all of those experiences are Civil-law related, and have nothing to do with Common law or a JD. My grades keep going up, and I would probably be in the A- average by december.

Lastly, what would be the best path forward if I want to be in a full-service Midsize or biglaw firm in Ontario ? I am young, and not in too much debt, so I wouldn't mind applying in my last year of studying, and having to wait extra time before my articling by doing a masters of some sort. I was also thinking a good way ''in'' could be to do a federal clerkship.

I appreciate any input and answers to those questions !

[goodisgood]

- Out of uOttawa and Queens, is there a university that's got a better articling student placement in mid to big size law firm, either in Ottawa or Toronto ?

https://ultravires.ca/2023/10/toronto-2024-2025-articling-recruit-results/

https://ultravires.ca/2022/10/2023-24-toronto-articling-recruitment-results/

Seems virtually identical. Similar results for summer students. 

- Would my application be discarded right away without consideration since I would apply without technically even being in a JD right now?
Ask your career center and see if you can speak to any of the student recruitment people at the firms. The law school may have a general answer and the firms may each have different practices. 

[SNAILS]

You didn't say if you are bilingual. If you are, you might be able to get an advantage over unilingual law students on some sweet government and non-government opportunities, as well as interprovincial work with Quebec.

Edited June 5, 2024 by SNAILS