Articling Student

Job Information

Overall Purpose

The Law Society of Upper Canada mandates that every law student must participate in a 10-month term* of Articles, under the supervision of a Principal (mentor), in order to become a lawyer licensed to practice law in Ontario.  The Articling term is akin to an internship.  At the Ottawa Police Service, the Articling Student works under the supervision of General Counsel, Legal Services who acts as the student’s Principal.  It is the responsibility of the Articling Student to support the work of the Principal and other Associate lawyer, who in turn act in the role of solicitor to the Service, the Chief, and other members on behalf of the Service.  

Major Responsibilities

• Conducting legal research.
• Reporting and giving opinions on case law.
• Drafting and giving opinions on legislation.
• Drafting and giving opinions on any other law related matters or legal issues.
• Drafting and preparing legal memos.
• Drafting and editing any documentation such as Memoranda of Understanding, submissions to public hearings, submissions to courts and tribunals, and media statements.
• Assisting in the preparation of evidence for litigation matters.
• Assisting in the litigation of such matters as Coroner’s Inquests.
• Engaging in the Risk Management and Quality Assurance process.
• Supporting the work of the PACE Committee.
• Keeping the PACE Committee informed and up to date on case law.
• Undertaking any other projects as delegated by the Principal or other Associate lawyer.
• General administrative work as necessary to support any major projects.

Major Responsibilities (continued)

Major Responsibilities (continued)

Statement of Required Qualifications

EDUCATION

• The Articling Student must have a university Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• The Articling Student must be designated and enrolled as a Licensing Process Candidate by the Law Society of Upper Canada.
• The Articling Student must comply with all other requirements specified by the Law Society, including completion of the Skills and Professional Responsibility Course, and completion or plan to write the Barrister and Solicitor Licensing Examinations.

EXPERIENCE

• Calculation of 10-Month term:  The Law Society requires that each Articling Student completes a 10 month term.  For example, where the term begins on July 9, it will end the following May 9.  The Law Society will recognize up to 10 business days for vacation.  Any additional business days taken must be added to the end of the Articling term.  Also, the Law Society requires the employer to provide 7 days of uninterrupted study time for each of the Barrister Licensing Exam and the Solicitor Licensing Exam (14 days total).  As an example, if the Articling Student takes 11 vacation days and 9 study days, then 10 business days must be added to the end of the term.  

LANGUAGE

• English – fluency in oral, reading, and writing.

Certifications and Licences

N/A

In service Training

The following mandatory training and education is provided to all employees of the OPS:

• Occupational Health & Safety.
• Respectful Workplace. 
• Violence in the Workplace.
• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI).

Job Knowledge

• Working knowledge of the Organization’s Mission, Vision and Values.

OPS Competencies

Hours of Work

Effort and Working Conditions

• Work is performed in a standard office environment with minimal adverse working conditions.

Desired Qualifications

• Criminal law, policy, and procedure.
• Administrative law.
• Constitutional law and Charter of Rights.
• Public Law and Public Governance.
• Employment and Labour law.
• Privacy law.
• Legal Ethics and Professional Standards.
• Civil Procedure.
• Torts including Trespass and Negligence.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution.
• Police Services Act (Ontario).
• Criminal Code (Canada).
• Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Ontario).
• Coroner’s Act (Ontario).
• Familiarity with legal search engines such as Quicklaw and CanLII.
• Familiarity with researching and interpreting case law.
• Familiarity with researching and interpreting legislation.
• Familiarity with researching and interpreting regulations.
• Familiarity with researching Bills before Parliament and Legislature.
• Familiarity with legal memo writing.
• Familiarity with drafting basic legal and Civil Procedure documents such as Affidavits and Notices of Motion.
• Oral, reading, and writing fluency in French or other languages.
• Prior knowledge or experience with policing or police culture.