While the work will vary from court to court and from Justice to Justice, law clerks are generally given the opportunity to research and draft pre-hearing memoranda, edit judgments, draft post-hearing memoranda, and assist in writing papers and speeches. Many courts will also provide continuing education programs for the clerks of the court. Overall, the courts encourage and welcome an open and friendly working and learning environment.
The opportunities open to law clerks upon completing their clerkships vary – from working in law firms, to government, to graduate studies and more. These positions are directed towards students and alumni with strong research, writing and communications skills.
Clerkships, particularly at the higher levels, are highly regarded in the legal community and thus competition for positions can be intense. Applicants to the Supreme Court of Canada and Ontario Court of Appeal must be screened in advance by the Dean and only the top candidates will receive his recommendation.
Clerking in Ontario may be pursued in lieu of the articles necessary to be called to the Bar. Clerking in another province might not fulfill only some of the articling requirement necessary to be called to the Bar in that province. Students and alumni are encouraged to check with the licensing authorities of the provinces in which they are interested in clerking.
In the Fall of every year the Career and Professional Development Centre (CPDC) hosts a Clerkship Information Session. This is a great opportunity to hear from current court clerks about the clerking experience and gather application information. Concurrent with this session the CPDC will prepare a Clerkship Information Booklet summarizing information about courts across the country and providing application information, deadlines etc… When this information is available it will be circulated to students.
If you are interested in clerking after law school you are strongly encouraged to read the Clerkship booklet in The Source and to make an appointment with the Career and Professional Development, to further discuss how to attain this goal.
Internal Application Process for the Supreme Court of Canada and Ontario Court of Appeal
Competition for these positions is intense. In addition to demonstrated academic excellence, competitive candidates at the highest courts often have:
- prior work experience demonstrating they have assumed significant responsibilities;
- a record of contributing to their communities in meaningful ways;
- a language profile which includes command of both official languages;
- a deep commitment to learning; and
- a demonstrated willingness to exchange ideas and engage with the complexities of the law.
Applications for the Supreme Court of Canada and the Ontario Court of Appeal are vetted internally before recommendation. Candidates with a CGPA of 8.0 or higher, along with a strong application, are typically competitive. If your CGPA is below but you have a strong application, you may still seek an internal recommendation.
Eligibility
Supreme Court of Canada
- 2nd year J.D. students who will graduate in2026;
- 3rd year J.D. students in a four-year program who will graduate in 2026 (i.e. National Program, or Joint J.D. programs);
- 3rd year J.D. students who will graduate in2025; and
- Alumni.
Ontario Court of Appeal
- 2nd year J.D. students who will graduate in2026;
- 3rd year J.D. students in a four-year program who will graduate in 2026 (i.e. National Program, or Joint J.D. programs); and
- 3rd year J.D. students who will graduate in2025.
Timeline
The internal vetting procedure forms an important part of seeking the Dean’s recommendation to the courts and students and alumni must adhere to the timeline below.
Application Deadline: Friday, October 18, 2024 | 12:00 pm ET
Dean’s Selection Committee Interviews: Monday, November 18, 2024 and Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Internal Application Package
- Applications for the Supreme Court of Canada must include:
- A cover letter addressing all requirements;
- A resume;
- Transcripts of marks obtained in all post-secondary studies, including law school and any other post-graduate courses;
- Four (4) letters of reference. Candidates should note that if they receive the Dean’s recommendation, they will be required to resubmit four (4) letters of reference to the Court in January.
- A legal writing sample (5-10 pages in length). Must not be co-authored or a factum.
- Applications for the Ontario Court of Appeal must include:
- A cover letter;
- A resume;
- Two (2) letters of reference (at least one from a law professor);
- Copies of transcripts of law school marks and all other post-secondary studies;
- A legal writing sample of no more than 10 pages (see FAQ Page on the Court’s Website for further information).
Submit your complete application(s) via email [email protected] . Each application should be submitted as a single PDF in the appropriate folder.
Please reach out to the CPDC at [email protected] if you are interested in exploring clerkships at these courts or at other appellate level courts and trial courts in Canada.