Calgary Summer and Articling Programs
The Blakes student programs in Calgary are designed to ensure that students receive a rewarding and educational experience that equips them for successful careers. Through exposure to various practice groups across different areas of litigation and business law, students gain well-rounded and diverse experience. We provide students with hands-on opportunities to develop their skills in an inclusive and collegial environment defined by legal excellence and exceptional people.
Students at our Calgary office receive invaluable practical experience by working closely with the top lawyers in Canada. Our extensive professional development and mentorship programs provide them with the support and training they need to deliver the excellent work that our clients expect. At Blakes, we are committed to fostering an environment where every individual can be their authentic self and make meaningful contributions to a team.
Train With the Best Lawyers in Canada
Our well-rounded student programs are a springboard to a fulfilling career in law. Here's what you can expect.
Working With Our Lawyers
The summer experience at Blakes is flexible and dynamic. It allows students to target their areas of interest while working with various lawyers and experiencing how our different practice groups collaborate to support our clients. The goal of our summer program is for law students to meet and work with as many of our lawyers as possible. Students are encouraged to try a bit of everything during their summer so that they can make an informed decision when selecting practice groups to focus on during their articles.
The articling program builds on the summer experience and is designed to provide students with well-rounded training and exposure to our core practice areas. Students obtain broad exposure to these areas under the individual guidance and supervision of experienced lawyers. In addition to the formal rotation system, students also have secondment opportunities.
The Calgary practice groups include:
Mentoring
Blakes has a long tradition of providing a strong foundation for legal careers through top-notch mentoring. Our mentorship program is at the core of what we do. Our lawyers benefited from the mentorship they received from more senior members of the Firm, and paying it forward to the next generation of students is a natural part of our culture.
Summer students are assigned two formal mentors — one in a dispute-resolution practice group and one in a transactional practice group. Mentors provide students with work projects throughout the summer and help support them during their time at the Firm.
Each articling student is assigned a principal and a mentor. The principal practises in one of the groups in which the student has a rotation and supervises them for their entire articling term. The mentor also practises in a group in which the student has a rotation.
Principals and mentors ensure that our students engage in a variety of work. They are also go-to contacts for questions about legal practice.
Professional Development
Our investments in continued learning at Blakes reflect our belief that training our people and providing ongoing education are key to our success. Students benefit from a comprehensive orientation and professional development program. This program exposes students to different practice groups and helps them develop their legal and professional skills.
The Calgary office hosts a variety of internal seminars covering both practical and substantive legal topics. Blakes also offers national programming on topics including wellness, diversity and inclusion, and legal technology.
In addition to internal professional development seminars, Blakes encourages our students and lawyers to attend external seminars. For example, we send participants annually to programs such as the Osgoode Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop and the University of Toronto Rotman Business Leadership for Women Lawyers program.
Pro Bono Work
Blakes takes a leadership role in supporting pro bono initiatives in Canada. The Firm was among the first national law firms in Canada to adopt a formal pro bono policy that recognizes the value of work done on pro bono matters.
Associates can receive billable credit for up to 150 hours of pro bono work per year. Our legal professionals, including students, are encouraged to seek opportunities to undertake pro bono work and give back to the community.
For more information on our pro bono clients, click here.
Evaluation & Feedback
The goal of the evaluation and feedback process is to help students develop their skills and competencies. The formal evaluation process takes place at the end of the summer for our summer students and at the end of each rotation for our articling group. Each student has a performance review meeting to discuss the feedback they’ve received with members of the Student Committee. In addition to providing useful and constructive information, these meetings give students a forum to discuss their experiences, make recommendations and identify any additional training or work opportunities they would like to receive.
Social Events
Students are encouraged to participate in a wide range of social events throughout their term. Our social events are important opportunities for all our students to get to know each other, our staff and lawyers.
Student events may include casual dinners with their principals and mentors, small practice group get-togethers, holiday gatherings, our Stampede Party, Winter Retreat, the Stampede Rodeo and client events.
Compensation
Blakes compensates all our students competitively within the market. Articling students receive a tuition bonus after completing law school.
Awards & Recognition
Blakes is honoured to be recognized as a top law firm by many organizations. For more information about the Firm’s awards and achievements, visit our website.
