Clerkships

From an “employability” perspective, clerking is a positive step regardless of the legal career you intend to pursue.  While it is true that any student with an interest in academic work should definitely consider applying for a clerkship, students who intend to practice can also benefit from the experience.

Obtaining a clerkship

Most Law Clerks are recent law school graduates who performed at or near the top of their class.

Successful candidates for all clerkships are usually selected based on a distinguished academic record, academic recommendations, strong research and writing skills and interviews with judges.

Most Canadian courts accept applications for judicial clerkships from graduating law students or experienced lawyers who have already been called to the Bar in Canada or abroad. Most provincial superior and appellate courts hire at least one clerk for each judge. Typically students in their last two years of law school are eligible to apply for these positions, but increasingly, experienced practicing lawyers are also considered for these positions. The term typically lasts a year.

Federal Court of Appeal presentation

FCA-FC Presentation English 2021-2022 (pdf)

Benefits

Generally fulfills the articling requirement for provincial law societies (check the Law Society in the province you plan to Clerk in just to make sure).

Many law clerks have gone on to become leaders of the profession.

 

Locations

Court Approx. # of Clerks per year Application Deadline
Supreme Court of Canada 27 January 19th, 2024 23:59 PM EST
Federal Court of Appeal 16 January 16th, 2024 5:00 PM EST
Federal Court of Canada 44 January 16th, 2024 5:00 PM EST
Tax Court of Canada 18 January 5th, 2024 23:59 PM EST
Court of Appeal for Ontario 21 January 22nd, 2024 23:59 PM EST
Ontario Superior Court of Justice 27 January 19th, 2024 5:00 PM EST
British Columbia Court of Appeal 12 January 8th – 24th, 2024
British Columbia Supreme Court 22 January 8th – 24th, 2024
Nova Scotia Court of Appeal 1-3 TBA

For both the Supreme Court of Canada and the Quebec Court of Appeal, being able to work in both English and French is strongly preferred.

Clerkships for academic credit

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Faculty of Law

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University of Manitoba
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