Summer Student Law Program

Summer Student & Articling Opportunities

Summer Students

At McInnes Cooper, our philosophy is that law students are smart and eager, and should be given opportunities to get practical, hands-on work, in an environment in which they are supported and where difference is not only recognized, but embraced.

McInnes Cooper hires first and second year law students. All students gain first hand exposure to the life of a practicing lawyer in busy law firm. Students are assigned to a specific lawyer for each month of the summer and depending on their areas of interest, have exposure to business, litigation, and labour and employment law. The experience is hands on. Students attend court and hearings, participate in client meetings, prepare pleadings and briefs – they do not just do legal research. This allows each student to get a sense of what practicing law on a daily basis looks like. Our students comment that they were pleasantly surprised by the variety of projects they were involved in as well as the level of responsibility they get under the supervision of the firm’s lawyers. Students receive regular mentorship and feedback so that the summer is a fun and rewarding learning experience.

“McInnes Cooper is committed to creating an inclusive workplace environment that values, respects and supports the different perspectives, cultures and experiences of our clients and our people. We believe that providing a workplace rich in diversity inspires all members of our team to realize their full potential and enhances our ability to deliver innovative and strategic solutions to our clients.”

Students who have taken part in our summer program have found the experience to be stimulating and helpful in their choice of subjects for the following school year. Most have continued with McInnes Cooper for their articles and have joined the firm as associates and have continued on to become partners of the firm.

Collective Social Responsibility and Diversity

McInnes Cooper prides itself on its CSR and diversity programs. These programs are not mere “side projects”. Rather, collective responsibility and diversity and inclusion are part of the core fabric of all of the firm’s operations. Students have the opportunity to take part in CSR and diversity initiatives.

Student Recruitment

Hiring at McInnes Cooper is not a popularity contest. We hire the students who we think have the greatest potential to become successful lawyers at the firm. We are interested in your analytical skills, client service orientation, your ability to manage your time, and your leadership potential. We want to continue to build a legal team that is diverse. We recognize and value differences in personalities, perspectives and styles, as well as differences rooted in culture, gender, age, sexual orientation etc. McInnes Cooper is a firm that wants people to be themselves, and our diversity and inclusion program is aimed at continuing to build a diverse and inclusive culture.

What We Are Looking For

Applicants to McInnes Cooper are encouraged to demonstrate in their cover letter how they have the following skills, or the potential to develop them:

Technical Skills – the ability to handle complex, intellectually challenging problems.

Management Skills – the ability to be organized, work efficiently and manage multiple priorities.

Client Skills – the ability to build successful relationships, and to go above and beyond to deliver exceptional service.

Leadership Skills – the ability to take initiative and ownership.

McInnes Cooper hires both first and second year law students. The particular positions in each office vary from year to year. First year students are typically offered an articling position following their first summer, which includes an optional second year summer position. Second year students are offered articling positions upon hiring.

Contact

If you have questions about the student programs, please contact Melissa Evans, Manager, Legal Professional Development and Recruitment.

Articling

McInnes Cooper’s objective is to provide articled clerks and students-at-law with comprehensive, high quality training in the practice of law. We add the experience of seasoned barristers and solicitors to the legal knowledge our clerks bring with them to the firm.

Salary & Benefits

Students are paid at rates that are competitive with those at other major Atlantic Region law firms. We know that today’s technology means that lawyers, and more importantly clients, need to work at high speeds, so we are especially dedicated to providing our students with the most useful and innovative tools available. We provide our students with firm laptops that allow them to be mobile. Students are offered paid parking or a transit pass during their summer term with us.

Career Opportunities

How to Apply

If you would like more information about our student or articling experience at McInnes Cooper, our current articled clerks are a valuable source of information, as they have recently been through the process. We invite you to contact one of our clerks who can share their personal experiences and answer any questions you may have.

Charlottetown – Erin Devine

Fredericton – Tianna Gerber and Myriam Whalen

Halifax – Rebecca Khan, Emily McCormick, Paige McInnis, Matthew Orrell, Natasha Puka, Jeremy Ryant, Elizabeth Salami and Carolyn Suley

Moncton – Sarah Peel

Saint John – Brianna Barry

St. John’s – Tyler Knox and Andrea Neil

In addition, Melissa Evans, Manager, Legal Professional Development and Recruitment, leads our recruitment program and can answer any questions you may have.

2020 Recruitment

Please check back for updates in Fall, 2019.

Application Deadlines and Interview Dates

We conduct interviews at three times as follows:

November – Toronto

Application Deadline – October 18, 2019

Interview Dates – November 14 & 15, 2019

Students who are studying in Toronto, or who can travel to Toronto would typically be interviewed in November.

December – Regional Offices or Skype

Application Deadline – October 18, 2019

Interview Dates – Flexible

Students who are studying outside of Atlantic Canada but will be in the area over the December holidays would typically be interviewed in December. Interviews will take place at any of our six offices (Halifax, NS; Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John, NB; St. John’s, NL and Charlottetown, PE) or via Skype.

January – OCIs and Regional Offices

Application Deadline – TBD

Interview Dates:

TBD – DAL students applying to NB or NS offices (1st interviews)

TBD – UNB OCIs (all offices)

TBD – DAL OCIs (Charlottetown and St. John’s offices)

TBD – Universite de Moncton OCIs (all offices)

TBD – 2nd interviews (NS applicants from all schools)

*2nd interviews for NB offices will be arranged by the individual offices. Our Charlottetown and St. John’s offices do not typically conduct second interviews.

The timing of interviews will have no impact on recruitment decisions.

Other Key Dates

July 30, 2019 – 1st year Welcome reception in Charlottetown, PE office (1st year law students – all law schools)

August 8, 2019 – 1st year Welcome Reception in St. John’s, NL office (1st year law students – all law schools)

September 12, 2019 – welcome to law school reception @ the Beaverbrook Art Gallery (1st year law students @ UNB)

September 18, 2019 – welcome to law school reception (1st year law students @ DAL)

October 5, 2019 – volunteer event for 1st year students @ UNB

TBD – volunteer event for 1st year student @ DAL

TBD – DAL career fair

TBD – UNB Career Fair and Networking Social

TBD – DAL applicant reception

TBD – UNB applicant reception

TBD – 2nd interview dinner (NS applicants)

TBD – offer day for position in Halifax

*Offers for positions outside of Halifax may be made at any time after interviews are complete.

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