Articling Students can expect the articling term to include the following:

• hands on experience and a higher degree of responsibility in all aspects of the litigation process than you could expect from many other firms
• the opportunity to work closely with several high profile litigators
• complete carriage of numerous Small Claims Court files, often including at least one SCC trial
• the opportunity to assist one of our lawyers with a trial in the Superior Court of Justice or an Arbitration at Financial Services Commission of Ontario
• an open door policy with respect to seeking guidance on file matters
• a designated articling principal to speak to about any issues or concerns
• a mid-term evaluation of work by the articling principal in an effort to offer constructive criticism and valuable insight
• an opportunity to become involved in a specific field of litigation such as medical malpractice by expressing your interest
• a positive work environment created by our vibrant and diverse team of lawyers
• a genuine opportunity for an associate position and in due course partnership

During your articles you will be involved in every stage of the litigation process and will:

• meet with clients and write opinion letters
• draft pleadings, Affidavits of Documents and pre-trial memorandum
• assist lawyers at examinations for discovery or review discovery transcripts and follow up for undertakings
• draft and argue motions in Court frequently
• assist lawyers at pre-trial, mediation, trial or arbitration and at appeals in order to observe different styles of advocacy and negotiation
• participate in trial preparation including briefing of expert and lay witness
• have full responsibility for Small Claims Court files from investigating, negotiating to conducting the trial
• schedule pre-trial and trial dates in Court and resolve trial management issues
• examine a judgment debtor in Aid of Execution
• perform legal research on a wide variety of procedural and substantive issues and see how the results are used to resolve claims.

We want to help you hit the ground running so that your articles are a positive experience for both you and the firm. We offer the following support:

• meet the lawyers and the current students before you arrive during a visit in January and at a party for the articling students in June
• a large corner office with windows and a dedicated legal assistant to be shared with the other articling student
• an articling principal will supervise you and provide feedback and guidance on your assignments in addition to that provided by other lawyers
• all of our lawyers are very approachable, many having articled at Dutton Brock. We have an open door policy for questions and operate on a first name basis;
• we encourage attendance at continuing legal education events such as the Ontario Bar Association seminar entitled "Excelling at Articles"
• a series of informal seminars will be presented by different lawyers to get you quickly acquainted with useful topics from the Assessment of Damages to Trial Preparation
• a full time IT specialist to address any technology issues
• access to leading texts, loose leaf services and recent seminar material as well as to Lexis/Nexis and the internet
• we hold regular Litigation Lunch Meetings (LLM) to keep us up to date about the latest litigation developments and how they apply to our practice
• we update our clients about the latest legal developments in a quarterly newsletter entitled E-COUNSEL and by News Flashes

We pay a salary that is competitive with other insurance defence firms of a similar size. In addition, we will pay your Licensing Process fees, whether or not you are hired back.

We provide a comprehensive health plan that provides medical, dental, disability and life insurance for you and your dependants. We enjoy each other's company. For example:

• students frequently join the lawyers for lunch to get to know us and the cases we are handling
• each spring, the lawyers and students participate in a firm weekend at such venues as Muskoka or Collingwood
• we like to show off our sense of humour at the annual firm seminar for our clients where opportunities to script write and act abound. It entails a fair bit of effort but the reviews from our clients have been fabulous!
• we have impromptu cocktail hours to celebrate wins or to reflect on a challenging day
• the associates have various social get togethers to which the students are invited
• students have an opportunity to attend some sporting events such as the Leafs, the Raptors, the Blue Jays and more recently Toronto FC when tickets are available
• students are welcome to participate in various client entertainment events including boat cruises, basketball and golf games or a road trip to see the Buffalo Bills
• there are opportunities to attend dinners hosted by organizations such as the Advocates' Society, Medico-Legal Society or the Ontario Bar Association where topics of interest are presented

You are welcome to contact our current students for information about their articling experience.

Jennifer Arduini
jarduini@duttonbrock.com
416 593-4411 Ext. 2338


Mandy Greenspoon
mgreenspoon@duttonbrock.com
416 593-4411 Ext. 2377

Dutton Brock has a tradition of growing from within. We look first to our articling students to assist in our growth. Dutton Brock LLP abides by the Law Society of Upper Canada's guidelines for firms in Toronto in the recruitment of articling students. These guidelines contain information such as the deadline for applications for the next articling term and can be found at www.lsuc.on.ca (open new window)

Your application should include:

• a cover letter indicating the position for which you are applying
• a resume
• copies of undergraduate and law school transcripts (be prepared to provide an official transcript at the interview, if requested)
• any reference letters (optional)
• a brief writing sample (optional)

Please address your application to:

Gillian Eckler or Stephen Mullings
438 University Ave. Suite 1700
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 2L9

geckler@duttonbrock.com
smullings@duttonbrock.com
(Applications by e-mail are acceptable)

We look for students with a strong academic background, a demonstrated interest in litigation (such as through extra curricular moots), legal clinic or pro bono work, related experience at a law firm or insurance company and involvement in activities which demonstrate confidence and leadership.

We look for individuals with an interesting background and an ability to balance work or studies with your personal life. The completion of a course in Insurance Law is considered an asset but is not compulsory. Students who have completed their second year of law school will be hired as summer students as needed. Determining whether we will hire a summer student usually happens in the month of March preceding the summer in question. NOTE: We will not be hiring Summer Students in 2012.

Summer students enjoy many of the same benefits as the Articling students. Please refer to the Articling Students Experience. When hiring articling students, consideration is given to our summer students first.