From the first day of law school many of us walk in with the same goal in mind: secure an articling position. We study into the night to get good grades, join student clubs and moot competitions, all in the hopes of standing out during interviews. But once you finally land your articling position, a new question arises, how do you actually prepare for the transition from law student to articling student? In this article I share my experience navigating the shift and offer practical advice for both students and supervising lawyers to help make the articling term a successful and meaningful one.
Advice for students
Show up prepared
There are many similarities between life as a law student and articling student. The most apparent is that as a student you work on tasks assigned and reach out for help from your supervising lawyer or professor as needed. If you show up to a meeting and say that you were confused about the task without showing attempts made to resolve the problem, this shows the lawyer you are unprepared. Instead, I recommend showing the lawyer the initial steps you took to resolve the issue and how exactly they can help you.
Take initiative
The best piece of advice I have for students is to take initiative. In school we are given a course outline with a list of assignments and due dates. When working, you may directly be assigned a task but sometimes work comes from your own initiative. During my articling term I developed an interest in employment law. I did not take any employment law courses during school so I sought opportunities to learn. I noticed that changes to the Employment Standards Act came into effect in January 2026, so I informed my manager of this and prepared a memorandum for our human resources department on the changes. Taking initiative outside your assigned tasks shows your manager that you are eager to learn and passionate about your job.
Get involved in the organization
During law school I was very involved in extracurricular activities. Notably, I was the Co-President of the Muslim Law Students Association. Getting involved in a student organization was one of the best decisions I made in law school. Similarly during my articling term, I got involved by joining the Diversity Equity and Inclusion committee and planning social events for interns at my office. I would recommend joining committees outside of work because you can meet individuals who you would not otherwise meet during work. This may also lead to opportunities which can help your legal career. For example, one of the interns at my work invited me to be a speaker at her university’s law school panel where I shared my experience attending the University of Ottawa.
Advice for supervising lawyers
Set clear expectations for your student from the beginning
My advice for supervising lawyers is to ensure that your articling student understands what you expect from them and schedule a time to regularly meet with your student. For example, during my summer internship my supervising lawyer told me that before asking her for help, I need to try to resolve the problem on my own for 30 minutes. If after 30 minutes I am unable to resolve the problem independently, then I reach out for help. This helped me as a student because I knew when to reach out for help and when to work independently. At the beginning of the term I would recommend establishing what you expect from the student as a baseline but also how they can go above and beyond. For example, if the policy of the organization is to come into the office twice a week but it could help them get hired back if they come in 4-5 times a week, let them know.
Expose students to the business aspects of law
While it is important for students to be well versed in legal research and writing, they should also be given exposure to the business side of law. Students may one day decide to run their own practice or serve on a board, so exposure at an early stage is important. For example, I volunteered at the National GC Network Conference in fall 2025 which the lawyers at my office were involved in. I had an incredible time at the conference meeting other articling students and in-house lawyers. Most recently I attended the Canadian Autoshow where I viewed the newest Mercedes-Benz vehicles and learned more about the products we offer. Bringing students along to conferences, socials, or business meetings helps them understand the role of the lawyer outside their day to day tasks. Some of my most memorable experiences during my articling term happened outside my desk.
The transition from law student to articling student is not always easy but is an incredible learning experience filled with challenges and new learning. My final piece of advice to students is to develop a growth mindset and use every opportunity as a way to learn. Your articling term is your chance to gain new skills, learn about a new area of law and most importantly create new memories. I am more than halfway through my articling term and this has been an incredible experience. I am incredibly grateful to all the lawyers at Mercedes-Benz for making my placement so enjoyable.
About the author
Hanaa Ameer-Uddin is an Articling Student at Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Canada Corporation and the Articling Student Ambassador for the OBA’s Student Section Executive. She graduated from the University of Ottawa’s English Common Law program in June 2025. In her free time she enjoys staying active and trying new coffee shops in Toronto.
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