Our Student Program

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Each year, Burke-Robertson hires two (2) articling students, who begin working with the firm shortly after completion of their third year of law school and the required sessions of the Bar Admission Course. We have completed the selection process for 2007/2008. Thanks to everyone who applied and took part in the interviews.

The articling experience at Burke-Robertson is intended to provide students with a broad exposure to divergent areas of the practice of law. Each articling student spends five months gaining valuable knowledge in the areas of Family Law, Real Estate, Corporate/Commercial Law, and Wills and Estates. Five months are also spent in a Litigation Rotation, in which the student is exposed to various types of litigation including Insurance, Labour, Criminal, and Administrative Law.

The articling process at Burke-Robertson is intended to provide students with the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to thrive as a legal practitioner. During their articling year, students are offered the opportunity to play an integral role in providing legal services to our clients. Articling students will become involved in every aspect of a typical file, including meetings with clients, legal drafting, and attendance before various levels of court and tribunals. While the majority of the work that a student performs will be as part of a team headed by senior counsel, students are given ample opportunity to manage their own files under the supervision of lawyers at the firm, particularly where the monetary value of a claim falls within the limits of the Small Claims Court.

In addition to the practical experience available to an articling student, the firm conducts periodic seminars to enhance the practical knowledge gained by the students during their articles. Articling students are also encouraged to participate in educational events conducted by our County of Carleton Law Association.

In an effort to ensure that the lines of communication between students and lawyers remain open at all times, the firm has an open-door policy, and pairs the students up with mentors, who can provide insight regarding all aspects of the practice of law.

The articling year is not meant to be a war of attrition. Students should not lose sight of the importance of balancing work responsibilities with personal leisure time. In an effort to promote a balanced lifestyle, articling students are encouraged to attend the firm's annual ski trip, a three day all-expense paid event. In addition, the firm sponsors and participates in numerous events throughout the year, including a United Way barbeque, a golf tournament in aid of literacy, and softball and sledge hockey tournaments in support of the local Head Injury Association. Such events not only provide a respite from the rigours of the practice of law, but also allow members of the firm to contribute to the enhancement of our community.

It is the firm's expectation that after completing the articling year, a Burke-Robertson articling student will have obtained the skills necessary to take on the challenges of acting as legal counsel upon being called to the Bar. The firm has a vested interest in meeting that mandate, as we typically look to our articling students as a primary source of new lawyers to carry on the firm's legacy. In fact, the majority of the lawyers at Burke-Robertson also articled at the firm.

Burke-Robertson will not be hiring summer students in 2007 or 2008.

For more information, please contact Matthew Gervan: 

Ph:   613.566.2080    Fx: 613.235.4430
Asst: M. MacEachern - 613.236.9665 ext. 283
MGervan@burkerobertson.com