Why Caledon?
Law school provides students with an extensive array of course options to help them decide on the area of law they would like to practice. While the presence of these options can be helpful in narrowing down interests for some, for others it can make the decision-making process even more confusing when determining a career path. For us, the variety of courses such as administrative law, real estate law, contracts, and dispute resolution, only increased our inquisitiveness and eagerness to learn more about these different subject matters. As a result, our quest to find an articling placement that would allow us to not only enhance our legal skills, but diversify it, began.
While browsing articling postings, the Town of Caledon immediately caught our attention due to its diverse range of practice areas. The posting outlined that, as articling students we would gain experience in both barrister and solicitor work. This included litigation and court experience, procurement, contract drafting, by-law drafting, and more. For students like us who are early on in our careers, it was crucial to find a place that could accommodate our diverse interests. Coupled with our interest in public policy, public service and local governance, the municipality seemed like an ideal fit, offering us the chance to explore the legal field in a unique government setting while also providing the broad exposure we were seeking.
Our Experience at the Town
In our time articling here, we have met skilled municipal lawyers, paralegals, and law clerks who are experts in municipal law, specializing in some of the aforementioned areas. One of the most rewarding aspects of articling with the Town is the hands-on experience we have gained from day one. Throughout this experience, we were able to consolidate research memos, assist with drafting by-laws, research and review codes of conduct, and prepare documents for the Ontario Land Tribunal, Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, as well as various levels of court, to name a few.
Collectively, our research in these areas has expanded our knowledge in various pieces of legislation that impact municipalities including the Municipal Act, 2001, the Highway Traffic Act, the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, and the Planning Act. Additionally, we were able to experience the intensity and fast paced environment of the Ontario Court of Justice by appearing on behalf of the Town on Part I and Part III offences under the Provincial Offences Act, and on municipal by-law offences. This experience has allowed us to think on our feet, propose resolutions, conduct trials, interact with defendants and representatives, review disclosure, work with OPP officers, and speak in front of Justices of the Peace in a formal courtroom setting.
Beyond the “typical” legal exposure one might expect from the articling experience, the municipality also provides a unique and exciting opportunity to understand how council engages with community members to address their issues or concerns. Resident concerns or suggestions frequently present valuable opportunities for the legal department and other relevant teams to collaboratively address and resolve. The experience of working directly on these matters is both enriching and fulfilling.
At times, to respond to ongoing concerns, the Town will enact by-laws and policies that we, as articling students, were able to help draft. Working with the Town has given us firsthand experience in seeing how local laws are fashioned and applied, and it is rewarding to work on solutions that directly impact the community. Moreover, the legal department is also responsible for advising the mayor and other departments on potential legal implications of certain agreements, actions, or decisions.
The legal team at Caledon is extremely tight-knit, and staff are very supportive of one another. For instance, as articling students who have never drafted by-laws before, we had the opportunity to work closely with an assistant town solicitor on how we should go about formatting, drafting, and then implementing provisions into our draft by-laws. Moreover, during our courtroom experiences, the prosecutors, deputy solicitor, and our principal addressed any of our questions regarding the law, courtroom decorum, or interacting with defendants, promptly offering real-time feedback and support. This hands-on mentorship helped us to navigate complex situations with confidence and clarity. Finally, our principal has been extremely supportive, kind and understanding throughout this process, making this articling experience even more valuable. We have been encouraged to take on new challenges and responsibilities, with the reassurance that we are always supported by the team.
Concluding Thoughts
Many times, throughout law school we were told that our articling experience would be extremely stressful, and that at times the workplace environment could be challenging to integrate into. As articling students, we feel fortunate to have been supported, understood, and accommodated at this important stage in our careers. Consequently, we would highly recommend working at a municipality as an articling student for those who are considering this line of work.
Overall, our learning experience has been substantial and diverse. We eagerly look forward to more learning, mentorship, and legal experiences. For those students who may be uncertain about their preferred area of practice, municipalities are a great place to start, providing an invaluable set of skills. It gives students the opportunity to explore different areas in a practical setting, and to better hone where their real interests exist. For those who enjoy variety and like the idea of constantly working on different things, a job at a municipality may be the right place for you.
*Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this document are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the municipality.*
Any article or other information or content expressed or made available in this Section is that of the respective author(s) and not of the OBA.