Our Program

The Ottawa office usually engages two summer students and two articling students each year. Due to the size of our office and the nature of our practice, students do not follow a formal rotational program and are expected to be exposed to all our areas of practice. There is a close working relationship between the students and all of the lawyers. Briefly, our students could expect to be involved in the following:

Communications, Advocacy, Administrative Law and Policy

Our students are typically involved in matters related to proceedings before the CRTC, Copyright Board and other specialized tribunals before which we appear, and the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal in judicial review and appeal proceedings. Students participate in meetings with clients, conduct research, get hands-on experience drafting regulatory submissions and court documents, attend tribunal and court hearings and are very likely to have the opportunity to see files develop from the beginning through to completion.

Business Law

Students have the opportunity to work on a variety of business matters, including incorporating companies, drafting resolutions, commercial agreements and agreements of purchase and sale, reviewing leases, helping with securities regulatory issues and contributing to all manner of transactions including financings and amalgamations. Students are expected to participate as full team members and often enjoy direct client interaction. Clients vary in size and in nature – from for-profit small private companies and large public corporations, to not-for-profit and charitable entities. The close nature of the group often results in numerous learning opportunities for the students, both formally by way of structured seminars and informally through frequent contact with lawyers.

Our goal in working with articling students is to provide a constructive and friendly environment in which students learn the practice of law and become directly engaged in work for clients.

We also encourage participation in continuing legal education initiatives. Students in the Ottawa office are welcome and encouraged to participate in training programs conducted out of the larger Toronto office.

While the Ottawa office has a globally recognized reputation of excellence in communications law, it is by no means necessary for students to have any prior exposure to communications law. Students should have an enquiring mind and an interest in written advocacy, public policy and administrative and business law.

We offer a competitive salary and benefits in keeping with other Ottawa firms.