Navigating hirebacks

[newbie99]

Currently articulating at full service firm (in a major city that’s not Toronto) applied for hirebacks as a back up plan but want to ideally get hired by a full service firm on Bay Street/Toronto because this city is home. I’m aware that firms hire from their own cohort before even thinking of looking elsewhere. I’m just unsure how to go about it. Should I be just sending in my cv and practice areas I’m interested in? Is a cover letter necessary? How do I go about it? If someone has any experience I’d greatly appreciate it. 

[SNAILS]

I'm not on Baystreet, so this will only be partially relevant. 

1. Gather your options by responding to job ads and leads through your network (resumes are not sent at this stage). Hopefully you know some people at firms that are part of your network (other law students, lawyers, etc)
2. Try to firm up some offers without committing to the point of having to give up your other options (this may involve resumes / cover letters / references)
3. Eventually, accept an offer.

The above is easier said than done, of course. In your case, it might mean, very simply, getting your present firm commit to hiring you back, and then waiting to see if you get a Baystreet offer (essentially holding your present firm as your "fallback" option).

If you are approaching a firm "cold" (i.e. not in response to a job ad or recruit), I suggest that you do not send a resume/cover letter. I suggest instead that you keep your inquiry very short and directed at the person senior enough to give you an answer, but not so senior so as to be too busy to pay attention (you can CC more than one address to your email). You are essentially doing a quick inquiry to see if the firm is open at all to considering hiring another junior.

I would imagine this is harder the bigger the firm is that you are asking (whereas small firms may have had internal discussions about hiring that are not advertised or formalized).

[WiseGhost]

My understanding is that this process will become significantly easier once you have some experience as an associate, and that it would be very bad to have it come out that you are looking elsewhere while applying for hireback.

[SNAILS]

On 3/14/2025 at 8:16 AM, WiseGhost said:

My understanding is that this process will become significantly easier once you have some experience as an associate, and that it would be very bad to have it come out that you are looking elsewhere while applying for hireback.

I agree that if they have offered you a hire back, that it would be bad for them to catch you looking elsewhere. Likewise, if it is far to early before the end of your articles, you need to be careful not to look disloyal.

If you have asked for a hire back, and if you are getting close to the end of your articling term, I don't see why the firm would be offended that you are looking elsewhere. (Essentially, "I want you to hire me, but I need a backup plan...). Firms do not expect their articling students to be unemployed waiting for their answer.