Are you a 3L and still have not lined up your articling position? You are not alone. Finding an articling position takes creativity, perseverance, and planning ahead. Many in-house organizations and small firms often don’t know a year in advance whether they need an articling student, so they may not participate in the formal recruitment. Job postings by career development offices may not always list all of the available positions. This article shares tips and personal anecdotes from Hanaa Ameer-Uddin, articling student at Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Canada.
Don’t keep your job search a secret
The first tip I have is to let everyone know that you are looking for an articling position. Tell your friends, family, and classmates. Tell people outside the legal profession, because likely everyone knows a lawyer. The person referring you can also speak to your accomplishments, enthusiasm, and skills. In 1L, when I was seeking an internship, I reached out to my undergraduate health law professor. I kept in contact with her after the class finished, sending her career updates every year. I asked if she was looking for a summer student, and she said she would be happy to have me at her firm. She also provided me with a reference letter, which greatly assisted me in my articling search, as many interviewers were familiar with her practice.
Thanking the interviewer landed me another interview
If you complete an interview and are not the successful candidate, you should thank the interviewer for their time and ask for feedback. This can save you time by helping you improve for future interviews. Sometimes, if the interviewer liked you but could only hire one student, they may refer you to a colleague looking to hire an articling student. That is exactly what happened to me. After interviewing at a law firm and not receiving an offer, the lawyer recommended me to one of his colleagues. That referral led to another interview. Reaching out to the interviewer can either save you time down the line so you don’t make the same mistakes, or may be how you secure your articling position.
At minimum, stay at the curve
While it may seem obvious that you should always strive to achieve good grades, this is especially critical when you do not have an articling position lined up. Having a GPA below the class average will likely hurt your chances of finding an articling position. The employer may ask why your grades are below the average, or you may not hear back from them at all. It is especially important to get good grades in the classes that the firm or organization specializes in. I would also recommend reviewing the material from these courses a few days ahead of your interview, as employers may test your substantive knowledge.
Broaden your articling search to areas of law you may not have considered
While many students are keen to secure a job in a specific area of law, you should broaden your search and apply to organizations you may not have considered. This is because you risk not finding an articling position in time. I initially came to law school with an interest in health law and took courses in this area. However, if I narrowed my focus to only health law jobs, it would be difficult to secure a position because there are not that many jobs in this area. If you have only worked or taken courses in one area of law, try to take courses in different areas or join a club specializing in the new area to demonstrate your interest to employers. Prior to starting 3L, I had not taken any courses or worked in immigration law. However, I was very curious about this area, so I took Immigration and Refugee Law and Advanced Refugee Law. I did very well in these courses and was offered an articling position at an immigration law firm.
A final word:
My final piece of advice is to be patient. While this can be a stressful process in addition to finishing your third year of law school, remind yourself that you will find a position in the end. I entered 3L without an articling position secured, but received three offers by the time I graduated. When in doubt, speak with mentors in the legal field. Many lawyers were once in your position and are keen to help the next generation.
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