Articling Program
Learn as much as you can about practising law that you can
At Taylor McCaffrey LLP, our goal is to ensure that our articling students receive a broad range of experiences to set the foundation for a solid legal practice. Completing a well-rounded set of articles is essential to a successful articling year, independent of a personal desire to specialize at a later date. Within each rotation, students will have opportunities to work in the firm’s specialized departments, which include, Business, Advocacy, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Labour and Employment, Real Estate and Property Development, Taxation, Technology and Intellectual Property and Wills, Estates and Trust. In addition, we offer from time to time a dedicated, intensive Family Law Articling Position. .
It has been our experience that a key to a successful articling year is regular feedback and support from supervising lawyers. We assign each articling student a principal, as well as a junior mentor, with whom they will meet regularly throughout the year. The principal and mentor will work with the student to ensure that the articling year is a rewarding experience. In addition to regular formal reviews and periodic informal reviews during the articling year, we also meet with our students at the end of each articling year to get their feedback on the articling program in general and any suggestions for improving it.
We strive wherever possible to provide our articling students with an opportunity to work on files from inception through to conclusion in various areas of law
Our students are encouraged to gain exposure to as many aspects of the practice as possible and to demonstrate a high degree of personal motivation and self-discipline. The success of the articling year will largely depend on the amount and variety of work he or she accepts. We encourage students to take on as much work as they are able, given the time constraints imposed upon them, but also to make the best use of their time by continually establishing priorities and monitoring workflow. Again, our principals and mentors will meet regularly with their students to assist them in dealing with these issues.
Our articling students spend the first few weeks of their articles in extensive training and orientation aimed at providing each student with a level of comfort and awareness of our administrative systems and research facilities.
In addition, members of the firm, including senior and junior lawyers, paralegals and support staff, meet with our new students to provide valuable instruction and insight into many aspects of the practice of law at Taylor McCaffrey LLP.
Seminar topics range from how to manage a litigation file or close a commercial purchase transaction to time management and research instruction. Additionally, students have the opportunity early in their articling year to learn the ins and outs of the Courts, the Property Registry, and the Companies Office by assisting our clerk.
Each student will receive an orientation handbook which was developed by lawyers of our firm. It is updated yearly based on the feedback we receive from our students.
Completing the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (“CPLED”) assignments, attending lectures, seminars and exams is a priority. Many members of the firm have been lecturers fin the past and participate in the current CPLED program Taylor McCaffrey LLP ensures that we provide our students with sufficient time to complete necessary tasks and assignments.
Salary
Taylor McCaffrey LLP expects the salary offered to be comparable with other Winnipeg firms of a similar size. Taylor McCaffrey LLP will also pay your Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education fees.
Benefits
After three months with Taylor McCaffrey LLP, students are entitled to participate in a comprehensive group insurance plan, which includes the following benefits:
- Hospital insurance
- Extended health and dental care
- Long-term disability
- Accidental death and dismemberment
- Group life insurance
Vacations
Subject to the requirements of the Law Society in respect of the articling year, students are entitled to two weeks paid vacation during their articles.
Seminars and Conferences
Continuing education is highly encouraged so Taylor McCaffrey LLP will pay the registration costs for you to attend certain seminars, conferences and other functions conducted by the Manitoba Bar Association and Law Society of Manitoba during your articling year. Additionally, our commercial, family and litigation departments regularly hold informal meetings to discuss practice issues and any recent changes in the law.
Call Fees
If we employ you beyond your articling year, we will pay for your call to the Bar. If you remain with the firm after your articling year, we will pay your practicing fees and insurance.