toronto office
The Toronto office offers two student programs: the summer student program and the articling student program.
Summer Student Program
Our summer program begins in May and runs for a 4 month period.
Articling Student Program
Our articling program begins in August and runs for a 10 month period pursuant to the requirements of the Law Society of Upper Canada. We see our articling program as a natural extension of our summer program. The number of summer students we hire therefore correlates with the number of articling students we would like to have, as well as with our projected future associate requirements. We anticipate that most, if not all, of our summer students will return to article with us. External candidates are welcome to inquire with us in advance of the application deadline about available articling positions.
Secondment Opportunities
Our Toronto summer students may apply for suitable split-summer opportunities with government or public interest organizations. Our Toronto articling students may also apply for certain secondment opportunities. Recent examples include secondments with the Royal Bank of Canada's Legal Department, and with the Ontario Securities Commission's Enforcement and Corporate Finance Branches and Mergers and Acquisitions team.
Rotations
Summer Students
Before you join us as a summer student, we ask if you are interested in spending your summer in the Corporate or Litigation area. We have always managed to accommodate your preference. We believe that focus in one general area provides our summer students with meaningful exposure to practice and to the progress of files over the course of four months. We recognize, however, that your interests may evolve during the summer, so we make sure that you have access to the broad range of sub-specialties within your chosen department. Students also take part in a complete training program covering all of our practice areas.
Articling Students
For organizational purposes, we have a rotation system in Toronto. Each rotation offers a number of smaller specialty practice areas. During your 10 months of articling, you will experience each rotation. We believe exposure to all of our practice areas will assist you later on in your career. In fact, due to the wide exposure they receive, our students often find that their interests change or develop over the course of the articling term. Regardless, you will find the flexibility to pursue work that interests you.
Mentoring
At McMillan, we believe that quality mentoring is crucial to future success as a lawyer. Students cannot achieve professional excellence unless they are provided with support, guidance and meaningful opportunities for learning and practice development.
We provide this in a number of ways. Each student is paired with a mentor specifically devoted to the student's development. Your mentor will help you integrate into the firm, provide practical advice and regular feedback, and help you maintain a workload that is appropriate and manageable. Mentors are also available to advise you on any problems or questions that you may have regarding your professional development and assist you with any issues that arise.
General Timing
With respect to the summer program, we focus on recruiting students in their second year of law school for positions the following summer. We do not currently hire first year summer students. With respect to the articling program, we see it as a natural extension of our summer program. The number of summer students we hire therefore correlates with the number of articling students we would like to have, as well as with our projected future associate requirements. We anticipate that most, if not all, of our summer students will return to article with us. Students are welcome to inquire whether we will be participating in an external articling recruitment. If we will be hiring externally, we will interview candidates in accordance with the timing requirements set by the Law Society of Upper Canada.
Our Hiring Practices and Processes
We recruit in accordance with the Law Society of Upper Canada procedures. Please note that the Law Society Procedures Governing the Recruitment of 2012 Summer Students prohibit firms from engaging in any "recruitment activity" between the application deadline set by the Law Society and the first day of November interview week. "Recruitment Activity" is defined to mean "open houses, firm tours, and similar activities held for students, as well as any activity originated by a firm and directed toward specific individuals or targeted groups for the purpose of encouraging employment with that firm."
What Do We Look For?
We look for students who are perceptive, diligent, motivated to succeed and whose level of academic achievement demonstrates the potential to provide the highest quality legal service. We also look for well-rounded, creative, and mature individuals who can make a positive contribution to our work environment and the profession in general. While academic achievement is important, we place a great deal of emphasis on interviews because they permit us to assess interpersonal skills which are critical to success in our client service-focused firm. For a more personal view of the types of students we have hired in the past, we encourage you to read the profiles of our students. They write their own biographies so readers can get an accurate picture of who they are. Please also feel free to contact any of our students directly to learn more about why they chose McMillan.
Application Deadline
Students interested in summer positions should submit applications by the deadline set by the Law Society of Upper Canada. In some cases, your school's Career Development Office will collect application packages and courier them to firms in advance of the application deadline. We advise students to confirm their school's internal practice and deadlines during the summer.
Application Packages
An application package should consist of a cover letter, resume, copies of official law school and post-secondary transcripts, and 2nd and 3rd year course lists. Letters of reference are not required. We will acknowledge receipt of your application in writing.
Please send your application to:
McMillan LLP
181 Bay Street, Suite 4400
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5J 2T3
Attention: Gina Rogakos, Manager, Professional Growth and Management
E-mail: studentprogram@mcmillan.ca
Fax: 416.865.7048
Please note that we will not be recruiting externally for 2012/2013 articling students.
Firm Communications
We endeavour to promptly reply to inquiries about our firm and our student programs during the application and interview period (up to and including November interview week). We also appreciate receiving communications of a more general nature (such as thank-you messages); however, due to the volume of messages we receive during this period, we may not be able to acknowledge receipt or respond, as we give priority to answering specific questions raised by students. In all of our communications, we are mindful of the Law Society rule noted above.
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