The Articling Experience

Our firm specializes in union-side labour and employment law. As a result, our practice is a dynamic blend of labour and administrative law, human rights, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, pay equity, constitutional law, pension and employee benefit law and occupational health and safety. We are also committed to providing advice in policy areas such as collective bargaining legislation, collective agreement administration, and test cases.

As an articling student, you will assist lawyers before courts and administrative tribunals. Prior to reaching a hearing, you will work with lawyers in interviewing clients, drafting pleadings and legal memoranda, and researching legal arguments. You will also be asked to assist in the filing and service of court documents. In order to gain advocacy experience during your articling term, you may have the opportunity to take on Small Claims and other court appearances, as well as Employment Insurance Commission Board of Referees matters and similar tribunal hearings.

We rely on our students to bring an active, critical, and creative problem-solving approach to our clients’ issues. A large part of the work you are assigned is designed to provide you with a challenging and rewarding opportunity to train for the practice of law. As a result, we are looking for articling candidates with a strong academic background, skills in client relations, research, organization and advocacy, practical and life experience, and a philosophical commitment to the areas in which we practice.

All lawyers in the firm are actively involved in ensuring that our articling students receive a balanced and challenging articling experience. In addition to research and advocacy training, you will learn important practice management skills including docketing, file management, and conflicts.

All lawyers in the firm are available to discuss any matters arising out of your articling experience. Because you will work with all the lawyers in the firm, you will receive feedback and assistance from the lawyer with whom you are working on a project-by-project basis. This provides you with the opportunity to develop a strong professional relationship with all members of our firm. At the same time, you will have an Articling Principal who acts as your mentor and coordinates the requirements of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

As our firm maintains a practice that is national in scope, we are also in a position to provide mentorship to bilingual and French-speaking students. As one of our partners is a member of the Barreau du Québec, we can also provide articling opportunities to students interested in becoming members of the Barreau du Québec as well as the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Resources

Our library reflects our specialized areas of practice and provides for comprehensive access to legal research materials which you will require in the normal course of your articles. In addition, the County of Carleton Law Association (CCLA) library is one block from our office, and the University of Ottawa’s Brian Dickson Law Library is also nearby.

Unionized

Our articling students are represented by CUPE Local 1281, and the terms and conditions of employment for the student are determined by a collective agreement.

Application Information

If you are interested in applying to our firm, please submit your resume, undergraduate and law school transcripts, references, and at least two writing samples.

All inquiries about articling with Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck should be directed to David Yazbeck by email or by telephone at (613) 567-2901. We also encourage you to contact the firm if you wish to speak with our current students about their articling experience.