1L Summer Job Toronto - Structured + Non-Structured

[simsimma]

I would love it if you could share some insight on how to get started looking into positions for 1L summer in Toronto. I find that I am more interested in positions outside of the structured recruit, and I was hoping to get some tips on that process or suggestions of firms you liked working with. I have heard and read a lot about how the first semester grades are what's most important for this process, so I have been taking a step back so I can focus on doing well, but now I feel like I am behind and haven't looked into firms as I should have been.

Thank you!

[GoatDuck]

Why do you want a 1L job at a firm that is not participating in the structured recruit? 

[Turtles]

3 hours ago, GoatDuck said:

Why do you want a 1L job at a firm that is not participating in the structured recruit? 

Allergic to money, I'm guessing.

[B_Stone]

16 hours ago, simsimma said:

I would love it if you could share some insight on how to get started looking into positions for 1L summer in Toronto. I find that I am more interested in positions outside of the structured recruit, and I was hoping to get some tips on that process or suggestions of firms you liked working with. I have heard and read a lot about how the first semester grades are what's most important for this process, so I have been taking a step back so I can focus on doing well, but now I feel like I am behind and haven't looked into firms as I should have been.

Thank you!

What area of law are you looking to practice?

[SNAILS]

Most jobs are actually in the structured recruit. This is especially true when you consider that many firms do not practice in Toronto/Ottawa at all.

Reasons I can think of to look beyond the structured recruit are:

1. You would have preferred but did not get a job through the structured recruit
2. You prefer a job with a firm outside the GTA/Ottawa
3. You have specialized interests regarding practice area (i.e. small criminal practice which is underrepresented in structured recruits)

The above is true in my opinion even for 2L and articling. However, the 1L structured recruit is VERY limited. If you want to summer somewhere, start cold emailing in the new year/Spring.

[simsimma]

On 11/9/2024 at 10:28 PM, GoatDuck said:

Why do you want a 1L job at a firm that is not participating in the structured recruit? 

On 11/10/2024 at 1:32 AM, Turtles said:

Allergic to money, I'm guessing.

Haha, what I meant was that because of the limited spaces in the structured recruit, as in the few firms in Toronto offering 1L positions, I wanted to put my focus on other areas, at least for the first year. I would focus on the big firms for OCIs next year, but this year I am prioritizing gaining experience in the field (if that clarifies anything)

[StoneMason]

On 1/8/2025 at 6:22 PM, simsimma said:

Haha, what I meant was that because of the limited spaces in the structured recruit, as in the few firms in Toronto offering 1L positions, I wanted to put my focus on other areas, at least for the first year. I would focus on the big firms for OCIs next year, but this year I am prioritizing gaining experience in the field (if that clarifies anything)

That makes sense. The most practical approach is to look at what upper-year students in your program have done in previous summers. In my experience, they’re often willing to offer guidance and even introduce you to firms they’ve interned at.

You could also compile a list of small law firms and reach out via email. A concise message expressing your interest in their firm should suffice—just be direct and ask if they’re hiring summer students. Alternatively, you could start by asking someone out for a coffee and bring it up then, but being direct upfront usually saves a ton of time.

 

[simsimma]

On 1/17/2025 at 10:15 AM, StoneMason said:

That makes sense. The most practical approach is to look at what upper-year students in your program have done in previous summers. In my experience, they’re often willing to offer guidance and even introduce you to firms they’ve interned at.

You could also compile a list of small law firms and reach out via email. A concise message expressing your interest in their firm should suffice—just be direct and ask if they’re hiring summer students. Alternatively, you could start by asking someone out for a coffee and bring it up then, but being direct upfront usually saves a ton of time.

 

Thank you!! I will definitely reach out and look into this. 

[SNAILS]

Send tons of very short, cold emails.

Find the names of small firms on the internet. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of firms in Toronto, and the ones nobody has ever approached might be the ones most likely to consider you (sheerly because there is no competition). Perhaps consider what type of law you prefer. Working case management court for a small criminal firm is a vastly different experience from working remotely drafting documents in civil law, which in turn is vastly different from researching case law on LexisNexis for an Immigration firm.

in my opinion, summering with a firm has less to do with making money or even intending to work for that firm long term, and more to do with finding your legal area of interest (and finding what you are NOT enjoying) and also building your resume both for listing the experience and for a reference later.

[DennyCrane]

On 2/1/2025 at 2:13 AM, SNAILS said:

Send tons of very short, cold emails.

Find the names of small firms on the internet. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of firms in Toronto, and the ones nobody has ever approached might be the ones most likely to consider you (sheerly because there is no competition). Perhaps consider what type of law you prefer. Working case management court for a small criminal firm is a vastly different experience from working remotely drafting documents in civil law, which in turn is vastly different from researching case law on LexisNexis for an Immigration firm.

in my opinion, summering with a firm has less to do with making money or even intending to work for that firm long term, and more to do with finding your legal area of interest (and finding what you are NOT enjoying) and also building your resume both for listing the experience and for a reference later.

I had plans of reaching out to small firms for networking purposes (and see if jobs maybe come up later naturally), would you say it might be better to ask for jobs outright?

[SNAILS]

@DennyCrane There is a fine line between networking and asking for a job outright. If you are an absolute stranger to them, and you are cold emailing them, ask for a job outright.

If you see them at the courthouse, or they are a guest speaker at your school, or you are introduced to them through a mutual contact, you can be much more subtle about your request. Asking the lawyer about their practice, or talking about what you want to do after law school, or asking if they know of anyone who may be hiring in your area, all states clearly enough that you are open to any discussions about jobs.

[MyWifesBoyfriend]

Always super jazzed for the @SNAILS weekend posts.