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STUDENTS

The Black Sutherland Experience

Black Sutherland will provide you with the hands on experience that forms the foundation of a successful legal career. During your articles you will be treated as a colleague and not a student and encouraged in every aspect of your professional development.

We believe you learn by doing. As an articling student, you will be expected to perform research assignments, and to draft a wide range of legal documents, including pleadings, facta, motion records and mediation memoranda.  You will also have the opportunity to assist on trials, and to appear in court to argue both contested and uncontested motions.  Under the supervision of a lawyer, you will see your own Small Claims Court files through from beginning to end.  You will also accompany senior lawyers to meet new clients and assist in the closing of business transactions.

The work will be challenging, but enjoyable. By the end of your articling term you will be ready to enter the legal profession with confidence and a wealth of legal knowledge.

The Articling Program

Our articling program is relatively flexible.  You will be assigned a specific mentor, and also will be encouraged to meet regularly with various lawyers to discuss file work, legal issues, and your professional development. Guidance will come both from our associates and our most senior partners with years of experience to pass along.

There is no formal rotation. Though there is an emphasis on litigation, our articling program is flexible and we encourage students to develop other interests. There are a number of highly knowledgeable lawyers at our firm who specialize in a variety of different areas of the law. You will have the opportunity to gain experience in commercial transactions, family law, and real estate law. We also encourage our students to attend continuing legal education training, events and seminars.

The Work-Life Balance

You will be encouraged to develop a sustainable balance between your career and the other areas of your life. There will be challenging projects and late nights, but you will not be asked to sacrifice your personal well-being.

Black Sutherland hosts a variety of social functions for our lawyers and staff, which include various retreats, a summer picnic, a Christmas party, and cocktail receptions. In the warmer months, it is not uncommon for our lawyers to spend a late Friday afternoon together on a patio.

The Benefits

Articling students at Black Sutherland receive a salary commensurate with that of other medium sized Toronto law firms. We also pay the tuition for the Bar Admission Course. Students receive a generous benefits package that includes health, life and dental coverage, as well as two weeks of paid vacation.

Our Current Student

You are welcome to contact our current student, Christine Matthews, for more information on the articling experience at Black Sutherland. You are also welcome to contact any of our lawyers.

The Application Process

Black Sutherland hires one or two students each year for its articling program.

We follow the guidelines set out by the Law Society of Upper Canada in recruiting articling students. Interviews are conducted during the summer months and offers are made pursuant to the Law Society’s regulations.

If you are interested in joining us, please submit an application to:

Ms. Pamela Briggs
Office Manager
Black, Sutherland LLP
Suite 3425, P.O. Box 34
130 Adelaide Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 3P5

Applications are also accepted by email to articling@blacksutherland.com.  Please submit your cover letter, as well as your application in a single PDF or Word document.