Articling Rotation System
There is a formal rotation system for articling students in the Calgary office. This ensures that students obtain broad exposure to the principal areas of our practice under the individual guidance and supervision of experienced lawyers in each of these areas.
Each student’s rotation is tailored to suit their preferences. At the same time, we want our students to receive exposure to the core areas of our practice. We believe that our rotation program best allows us to develop and assess our students and gives them individual attention.
In the Calgary office, students do one rotation in each of litigation and corporate/commercial.
Mentoring
At each stage of a student’s rotation, they are under the supervision of a designated lawyer who practises in that area.
The supervising lawyer ensures that the student receives a variety of work and helps train the student. As a result, our students are integrated into the day-to-day practice.
The supervising lawyers give students regular ongoing assessments of their performance on an informal basis. Three times during their articling year, students will be formally evaluated. This is done by the supervising lawyers after they have consulted with other lawyers in the office. These evaluations provide useful and constructive information for the students and afford students a formal opportunity to express their views on the Firm, the opportunities given to them, and the direction they would like to see for the balance of their articling year.
Professional Development
We have a series of approximately 35 in-house seminars to supplement our rotation program. The seminars cover topics ranging from the development of basic practice skills to introductions to specific practice areas.
Our lawyers and students are encouraged to participate in conferences and seminars, as speakers and as attendees. Conferences sponsored by professional bodies and industry are supplemented with our own Firm, student and office-wide seminars.
Social Events
Throughout the articling year, students have the chance to participate in a range of social events, and in particular our Stampede event. The social events are a great way to get to know the lawyers and other students at the Firm. These include office holiday parties for employees and their children. We also have several lawyer/student events including dinners, a ski weekend, a golf day, and smaller practice group get-togethers.
Compensation and Benefits
The compensation and benefits package for our articling students is competitive within the market. Our students are covered by Alberta Health Care (family coverage), extended medical coverage, a dental plan, an employee assistance program and a group accident plan. We also subsidize membership in a health club of the student’s choice.
Articling students hired by the Firm also receive a C$5,000 bonus paid at the commencement of articles.
Because of our continued and steady growth, we are generally able to offer associate positions to a high percentage of our articling students. Our hireback ratios have always been very high.