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2L summer positions outside of the recruit


JungleMean

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JungleMean
  • Law Student

Are there defence firms that are known for hiring after the 2L recruit? I’ve heard that defence firms often post jobs later in the cycle, but wondering if there are any in particular I should be looking out for (vs cold emailing)

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SNAILS
  • Articling Student

My 2L job was not through the recruit. This often tends to be the case outside of major cities. Most criminal lawyers are sole practitioners and don't necessarily take the time to advertise even when they are potentially in the market for a student.  

Bigger and more well known firms by their very nature are more likely to take part in the formal recruit, so it is pointless for me to start naming them (since they'd be in the formal recruit if they wanted a 2L student). 

My advice would be this:

Develop an idea of what you are looking for:

  • Is this firm you want to work for in a particular geographic location (i.e. inside the GTA? Outside? A particular part of a city?)
  • Do they practice criminal law exclusively or are they more full service?
  • How import is pay to you? (Offering to volunteer at a firm is not unheard of, and it may open some doors to summer experience you otherwise would not get. $18-$25/hr is about the most you can expect, I think, in any case, outside the recruit).

Spend some time searching for what firms are even out there:

  • If your criteria for a summer job is very broad (i.e. any firm in any location that does criminal) then you'll have a harder time developing a short list.
  • However, if you start putting together a list on more narrow criteria, you'll have a better idea wat's even out there (ex: firms with over 10 lawyers who all do exclusively criminal and have an office in Hamilton) or (ex. lawyers in London area who emphasise DUIs/Impaired driving).

Look for advertising outside the formal recruit:

  • Look to see if their website has a "careers" or "jobs" page
  • Look for advertisements on websites like Indeed.ca
  • Even if a firm is looking for a law clerk, legal assistant, paralegal or junior lawyer (which you are not), you still have a chance that they might also want a good 2L student interested in criminal law

Good luck!

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