Academic and Careers Talk November 16, 2011 Attenborough Basement Lecture Theatre 3 Michael Tam (mt234@le.ac.uk)

Academic and Careers Talk

November 16, 2011Attenborough Basement Lecture Theatre 3

Michael Tam (mt234@le.ac.uk)

Overview

• We’re all in the same boat• Where to find resources• Speakers are here to talk about experience• This is specifically about working in Canada• For information for the UK (LULS)

Next few years of your life...

• University of Leicester• First Year• Summer of First Year - Opportunities• Second Year• Applications• Summer of Second Year – Jobs + Articles Search• NCA• Bar Admissions

Marks

• First Year Marks– June 28th last year for Finals– NCA assessments– 3rd Class marks = NCA rejection

• Second Year Marks– Employers– NCA, Graduate work– Standing

Options besides NCA

• Transfer to Canadian Law School• Academia – MA, LL.M, SJD, Ph.D

NCA

• www.flsc.ca• Certificate of Qualification• Apply BEFORE 2nd year finals• Requirements– Must graduate from law school– Assessment begins upon receipt of final transcripts– List at reception for NCA students– Academic Transcripts– CV

What does the NCA do?• Assessment• Exams:

– Principles of Canadian Administrative Law– Canadian Constitutional Law– Canadian Criminal Law and Procedure– Foundations of Canadian LawOther core subjects assigned– Contracts– Torts– Property– Corporate Law (Business Associations)– Evidence– Professional ResponsibilityPossible exams– Civil Procedure– Commercial Law– Family Law– Remedies– Taxation– Trusts

Meeting Assigned Requirements

• Completing NCA Exams• Completing assigned subjects at Canadian Law

School– NCA Student– UBC LLM CL

• Mixture of the two

Provincial Law Societies

• After you meet NCA requirements you apply for provincial law societies– AB, BC, MB, SK, Upper Canada, NL, PEI, NB, NS, YK,

NWT

• Articles• Professional Course• Pass Bar Exams• Called to the Bar

Articles and Clerkships

• Articles usually hire from pool of second year summer students

• Disadvantage/Advantage• Regulations and procedures set by the

societies• Definitions for first and second years• Applications/Deadlines

Deadlines

• Large Firm, Location, Canadian Students– Canadian Law Schools/On Campus Interviews (OCI)– Applications: September Early– Interviews: October Early– Offers: November Early

• Small/Boutique, non-major centres, other students, not participating in OCI– Less regulated– Applications from September until end of Jan for the

majority (APPLY NOW)– Offers go out anytime, mostly November and February

Think Beyond Law Firms• University• Government organizations• Non-government organizations• Public interest organization• Private corporations in house

counsel• Fellowships• Administrative bodies (e.g.,

Worksafe BC, Association of Professional Engineers)

• REAL program – Rural Education and Access to Lawyers Program

• Canadian Bar association – National Branch

• Community Legal Centres

• Canadian Bar Association – Provincial Branches

• City – legal department• Police• Penitentiaries• Energy Resource Conservation

Boards• Civil Liberties Research Centres• Youth Justice Societies• Pro Bono organizations• University Legal Services• Arbitration and Mediation

societies• Municipal government boards• Ombudsman

How to find Law Firms

• During the summer months from April to July they have recruitment activities posted on their websites– Open house, firm tours, activities for students,

mooting events, job fairs, seminars• Personal/Familial/Networking Connections• Provincial Law Society website• Canadian Law School Career Services– Articling Guides/Booklets

How to find Law Firms - 2• NALP: www.nalpcanada.com• Firm brochures• LEXPERT: www.lexpertstudent.ca• Lawyer Magazine: www.canadianlawyermag.com• Bar Association: www.cba.org• Lawyer Weekly: www.lawyersweekly.ca• Martindale-Hubbell: www.martindale.com• Canada Legal: www.Canadalegal.com• Canadian law List: www.canadianlawlist.com• Counsel Network Legal Recruitment:

www.headhunt.com

Courts• Supreme Court of Canada• Court of Appeal for Ontario• Federal Court of Canada • Tax Court of Canada • Alberta Courts • Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Divisional Court • British Columbia Courts • Ontario Securities Commission• Saskatchewan Court of Appeal • Saskatchewan Provincial Court• Nova Scotia Court of Appeal