At Lerners, we are constantly evolving our environment to encourage professional and personal development.
Since 1929, we have been training lawyers in summer and articling positions. They learn the ins and outs of legal practice that focus their talent and energy on being the best lawyers they can be.
We hope to earn a place on your shortlist, and we look forward to talking with you about the opportunity to work with our team.
Successful students demonstrate an interest and aptitude for advocacy. We’re looking for exceptional attention to detail and a consistent ability to remain organized and manage your time so you can enjoy a life outside of work.
Why Lerners?
Students who work in our London office have the opportunity to practise high-calibre law, but also enjoy the lifestyle advantages that come with a smaller city: affordable housing, minimal commuting time and a greater opportunity to develop congenial relationships with other law professionals.
Types of Law Practised
Summer and articling students in our London office receive broad exposure to an exciting range of areas: Business and Corporate, Dispute Resolution and Advocacy, Class Actions, Criminal Defence (Provincial Offences Act matters), Estate Planning, Administration and Litigation, Family Law, Health Law, Specialty Risk and Insurance, Municipal Law, Personal Injury and Professional Liability.
Money Matters
Our London summer students receive a competitive salary that is in the upper end of the pay scale for London firms.
Our London articling students receive a competitive salary in the upper end of the pay scale for London firms. In addition to receiving their salary during articles, students will also be paid for 15 days while they are studying for and writing their licensing examinations.
Student Work
Our summer program is designed so that projects and assignments are distributed to ensure that you are exposed to a variety of tasks, practice areas, and litigation and solicitor work to help you decide what type of legal work might be of interest to you.
Our articling program is organized according to four rotations. The rotations have been structured to allow students to work with different lawyers and get exposure to many practice areas. This will help you in your career no matter what shape it takes. Our rotation system will help you understand “the big picture.”
LITIGATION ROTATION
During this rotation, students handle research, drafting, trial preparation and other assignments related to litigation files, including criminal defence files. This rotation lasts for approximately 27 weeks, which may not be consecutive.
SOLICITORS’ ROTATION
During this rotation, students will assist lawyers in the Wills and Estates, Real Estate/Land Development and Business Law practice groups with non-litigious matters. These could range from drafting corporate documents and wills to researching the legislation governing condominiums. This rotation lasts approximately eight to nine weeks.
ADVOCACY ROTATION
During this rotation, students get the opportunity to handle court appearances such as criminal court and simple motions in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The student has time to accompany lawyers to observe trials, motions, appeals, hearings and discoveries. This rotation lasts eight to nine weeks.
FAMILY ROTATION
During this rotation, students learn the ropes of family law practice and build their knowledge of the rules and procedures particular to family law. Students also get the chance to develop their skills in communicating with clients. This rotation lasts approximately eight to nine weeks.
While research is a significant part of the articling experience, you will have plenty of real-world contact with clients in interviews, telephone calls and meetings. You will draft documents such as commercial agreements, wills and powers of attorney, pleadings and opinion letters. You will assist with examinations for discovery and preparation for trials and appeals. You will acquire valuable advocacy experience by appearing in court on contested and uncontested motions. You will develop your skills in identifying issues and learn how to find the best ways to help clients solve their legal problems.
Fulfilling Work and a Fulfilling Life
To help our students take a break from work, we organise social outings for them from time to time. Activities have included wine-tasting dinners, attending baseball and hockey games, and bowling and theatre outings. Students also participate in firm-wide social and holiday
events.
We encourage our students to help out as volunteers with local charities and community groups. They have volunteered in a school lunch program, collected donations for fundraising auctions, bowled, swam, ran and walked for pledges; and served on boards and committees of not-for-profit groups. They are not just trained to be lawyers, they are training to be outstanding contributors and leaders in the community, and we support them in achieving that.
Each student is matched with a junior mentor who is an associate lawyer and a senior mentor who is a partner. For articling students, their senior mentor will also serve as their articling principal.
Mentors periodically meet with their students for lunch or just a chat and are available when students are looking for advice or a friendly “sounding board.” They offer general support from litigation basics and practice management questions to career development. Each articling student’s senior mentor also participates in their evaluations during articles.
Students work directly with partners at all levels of seniority and associate lawyers. Students learn about the law and practice management by working with lawyers with years of experience in their field.
“Articling at Lerners was an incredibly eye opening and rewarding experience. During my articles, I was able to immerse myself in various areas of law while being mentored by passionate and dedicated advocates. The training and mentorship I received helped me find my footing in the legal world. Lerners truly embodies an open door policy which allowed me to ask questions, have insightful conversations and find meaningful ways to contribute. Above all else, what makes the Lerners’ experience so fulfilling, is working alongside a group individuals who are steadfast in their pursuit of getting clients the best result.”
Waseem Shahatto – Lerners Associate
2021 London Summer Student, 2022-2023 London Articling Student
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Extensive initial training on the firm's IT systems, processes and procedures, and on tips and techniques for completing student assignments.
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We offer in-house seminars on a wide range of topics, designed specifically for our students, as well as opportunities to attend in-house CPD seminars offered to our lawyers, and occasional external seminars.
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The firm offers extensive print and electronic resources as well as Library and Research Services to assist with research.
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Students receive informal feedback on an ongoing basis, and also have two evaluation meetings.
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Articling students receive comprehensive medical and dental coverage. 100% coverage Generic drugs, 80% coverage Brand Name drugs. $200 vision care during articles.
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Articling students are eligible for LifeWorks which provides employee assistance, confidential counselling services and access to resources on its extensive website.
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Articling students are eligible for an annual allowance to assist with certain work-related expenses, such as fitness expenses.
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Students are entitled to one paid sick day per month of employment.
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The firm pays the Call to the Bar fee and the cost of court attire for articling students hired as associates with the firm upon the conclusion of articles.
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We cover our articling students' fees for the Law Society licensing process application, articling program, and licensing materials and examinations.
Diversity and Inclusion at Lerners
Lerners is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in our workplace and beyond our four walls. See what Lerners is doing to contribute to diversity and inclusion in the workplace, the community and the legal profession.
Committed to an accessible Ontario
In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the Integrated Accessibility Standards, Ontario Regulation 191/11, accommodations are available, upon request, to support potential applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment, assessment and selection process. Should you require accommodation in order to fully participate in the process please contact us by emailing accessibility@lerners.ca, or by phone at 519-672-4131 regarding accessibility in our London Office, or 416-867-3076 regarding accessibility in our Toronto Office.
Dedicated Support for Growth
Our Student Resources Team
Tiffany Lau leads and manages the firm’s student program, beginning with the recruitment process and through all aspects of the students’ firm experience, including onboarding, training, mentorship, performance evaluations and career development.
Andrea Catlin has been a valued Lerners team member for over 20 years. In directing assignments to legal students, she considers their workload and the type of experience each student has or needs and assigns projects accordingly. Andrea’s approach ensures that by the end of their term, each student has worked with a variety of lawyers on different tasks and in most of the major areas of law we practise.
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Tiffany Lau
Manager, Student and Associate Programs
225 King Street West, Suite 1600
Toronto, ON M5V 3M2 -
Andrea Catlin
Specialist, Professional Resources
88 Dufferin Avenue
London, ON N6A 1K4
How to Apply
Summer Student Program
Lerners works closely with other London law firms to set out a common recruitment process for second-year summer students.
Our 2024 London summer student positions have been filled.
Articling Program
Our 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 London articling student positions have been filled.
Lerners adheres to the Law Society’s Articling Recruitment Procedures.
