2027-2028 Articling Law Student

CityofOttawa • Ottawa, ON

25d • Onsite

About The Position

Legal Services provides clients with high quality legal services, both preventative and remedial, in a professional and timely manner.
The organizational design of the legal services function includes twenty-seven Lawyers, an Office Manager, two Articling Law Students, Team Leads, Labour Relations staff, Prosecutors, Claims Investigators and various support staff including Law Clerks, Insurance Services Officer, Information Management Officer, Legal Conveyancer and Legal Assistants.
We provide legal services to a broad range of clients, encompassing all Departments and Branches of the City, the City Council, and various local boards (including the Ottawa Police Services Board and the Ottawa Public Library Board).
The City of Ottawa’s Legal Services Articling Program is open to students who have completed their law degree studies and are preparing for admission to the Bar.  The program provides Articling Law Students with an opportunity to work within a broad range of practice areas and instructs students in the professional responsibilities of being a lawyer. Articling Law Students usually have complete carriage of litigation files within the Small Claims Court jurisdiction.  Students have responsibility for other files as assigned and can expect to participate in the preparation for, and attendance at, various tribunals, such as labour relation arbitrations, the Ontario Municipal Board, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, etc.  Students are also involved in conducting research, preparing opinions, attending Committees and drafting legislative proposals, and are also required to regularly attend sessions at the Provincial Offences Act (POA) Court.
Our practice areas and services include:

Governance/legislative
Administrative Law
Contract and Procurement Law
Employment and Labour Law
Environmental Law
Litigation and Prosecutions
Police Law
Planning and Development Law
Real Estate and Conveyancing

The City’s Articling placements support the candidate’s fulfillment of the experiential training competencies required by the Law Society of Ontario.
We are committed to the Continuing Professional Development of all Legal Services staff.  Therefore, we encourage our Articling Law Students to attend programs, activities or seminars offered by the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association, the County of Carleton Law Association (CCLA) and/or other continuing legal education providers. Articling Law Students will benefit from regular reviews that take place between the Students and their Principals to ensure a successful and rewarding articling term.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degree (or have a Certification of Qualification from the NCA)
• Have a demonstrated background or interest in municipal government
• Have strong research, writing and communication skills
• Be reliable, well-organized and able to work independently
• Be proficient with MS Office and Westlaw

Nice To Haves

• Bilingualism is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Complete carriage of litigation files within the Small Claims Court jurisdiction
• Responsibility for other files as assigned
• Participate in the preparation for, and attendance at, various tribunals, such as labour relation arbitrations, the Ontario Municipal Board, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, etc.
• Conducting research
• Preparing opinions
• Attending Committees
• Drafting legislative proposals
• Regularly attend sessions at the Provincial Offences Act (POA) Court

Benefits

• At commencement of articling term, Articling Law Students are entitled to dental and extended health benefits, as well as life insurance.
• Articling Law Students are entitled to three weeks of paid vacation.
• The Department provides $2,200 towards the Bar Admission Course fee.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees