If you are an Allard School of Law student interested in other markets or in other types of legal employers (e.g., small firms, public interest, JD advantage), please book an appointment on ACE and review our resources in ACE’s Resource Library.
2025-2026 Articling Positions - Structured Recruitment
Note that the recruitment dates for each city are being updated on a rolling basis as the information becomes available to us.
(3L/Graduate) Calgary & Edmonton
- viDesktop portal opens to students for applications: Mon, May 13, 2024
- Application Deadline: Tue, May 21, 2024 at 11:59pm MT
- Interview Call Day: No formal call day
- Interviews: Interviews begin on June 3, 2024
- Job Offer Call Day: Jun 11, 2024 at 8am MT, or later (open for 24 hours)
- Students applying for articles in Calgary/Edmonton should review the Law Society of Alberta's student recruitment guidelines as well as the following CSO handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: Interviewing Guide; Interview Call Day & Interview Week - Structured Recruits; Job Offers; and Calgary & Edmonton 2025/2026 Articling Positions
(3L/Graduate) Manitoba
- Employer postings open to students: Fri, Mar 22, 2024 at 12pm CT
- Application Deadline: Tue, May 14, 2024 at 12pm CT
- Interview Call Day: Fri, May 24, 2024 from 10am-4pm CT
- Interviews: Mon, Jun 3, 2024 at 8am CT – Tue, Jun 11, 2024 at 5pm CT
- Job Offer Call Day: Wed, Jun 12, 2024 at 2pm CT (open until Thu, Jun 13, 2024 at 10am CT).
- Students applying for articles in Manitoba should review the Manitoba 2025-2026 Articling Recruitment Guidelines as well as the following CSO handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: Interviewing Guide; Interview Call Day & Interview Week - Structured Recruits; and Job Offers.
(3L/Graduate) Other Ontario Markets
- viDesktop portal opens to students for applications: Mon, April 22, 2024
- Earliest Application Deadline: Wed, May 15, 2024 at 5pm ET
- Job Offer Call Day: Thu May 30, 2024 at 5pm (offers must be open until at least Fri May 31, 2024 at 5pm ET. Offers made after this date must be open for a reasonable time period)
- Students applying for articles in Ontario markets outside of Ottawa and Toronto should review the Law Society of Ontario's student recruitment guidelines as well as the following CSO handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: Interviewing Guide; Interview Call Day: Frequently Asked Questions; Job Offers; and applicable region/city-specific recruitment handouts.
(3L/Graduate) Ottawa
- viDesktop portal opens to students for applications: Mon, May 13, 2024
- Application Deadline: Tue, May 28, 2024 at 5pm ET
- Interview Call Day: No formal call day; best efforts by Wed, Jun 5, 2024
- Interviews: Mon, June 10, 2024 to Wed, June 19, 2024
- Job Offer Call Day: Thu, Jun 20, 2024 at 8am ET
- Students applying for articles in Ottawa should review the Law Society of Ontario's student recruitment guidelines as well as the following CSO handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: Interviewing Guide; Interview Call Day: Frequently Asked Questions; Job Offers; Ottawa 2024/25 Articling Positions; and Ottawa 2024-2025 Articling Recruitment Chart.
(3L/Graduate) Saskatchewan
- viDesktop portal opens to students for applications: Mon, Mar 18, 2024
- Application Deadline: Thurs, May 9, 2024 at 10am CT
- Interview Call Day: None
- Interviews: Tue, May 21, 2024 – Fri, May 24, 2024, with any second interviews on Mon, May 27, 2024
- Job Offer Call Day: Tue, May 28, 2024 10am CT (open for 24 hours)
- Students applying for articles in Saskatchewan should review the following handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: Interviewing Guide; Interview Call Day & Interview Week - Structured Recruits; Job Offers; and Saskatchewan 2025/26 Articling Positions
(3L/Graduate) Toronto
- viDesktop portal opens to students for applications: May 21, 2024
- Application Deadline: Fri, Jun 28, 2024 at 5pm ET
- Blackout Period: Fri, Jun 28, 2024 at 5pm ET - Mon, Aug 12, 2024, at 8am ET
(exception: scheduling of in-firm interviews) - Interview Call Day: Fri, Jul 19, 2024, at 8am ET
- Interviews: Mon, Aug 12, 2024 at 8am ET - Wed, Aug 14, 2024, at 3pm ET
- Cooling Off Period: Wed, Aug 14, 2024 at 3pm to Wed, Aug 14, 2024 at 5pm
- Job Offer Call Day: Wed, Aug 14, 2024, at 5pm (open until at least Thu, Aug 15, 2024 at 5pm. Offers made after this date and time must be open for a reasonable period of time.)
- Students applying for articles in Toronto should review the Law Society of Ontario's student recruitment guidelines as well as the following CSO handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: Interviewing Guide; Interview Call Day: Frequently Asked Questions; Job Offers; and Toronto 2025/26 Articling Positions
(3L/Graduate) Vancouver
- viDesktop portal opens to students for applications: May 21, 2024
- Application Deadline: Fri, Jun 28, 2024 at 11:59pm PT
- Intention to Call E-mails: Wed, Jul 10, 2024 at 8am PT – Thu, Jul 11, 2024 at 8pm PT
- Interview Call Day: Fri, Jul 12, 2024 at 8am PT
- Blackout Period: Mon, Jul 29, 2024 – Sun, Aug 11, 2024
- Interview Week: Aug 12-14, 2024
- Job Offer Call Day: Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 8AM PT (Offers must remain open until Friday, August 16, 2024 at 8AM PT)
- Students applying for articles in Vancouver should review the Vancouver Bar Association student recruitment guidelines for structured articling recruitment as well as the following CSO handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: Interviewing Guide; Interview Call Day& Interview Week - Structured Recruits; Job Offers; and Vancouver & Lower Mainland 2025/26 Articling Positions
2024 Summer Positions - Structured Recruitment
Note that the recruitment dates for each city are being updated on a rolling basis as the information becomes available to us.
(1L) Calgary
- viDesktop portal opens to students for applications: Mon, Jan 22, 2024
- Application Deadline: Mon, Jan 29, 2024, at 11:59pm MT
- Interview Call Day: Mon, Feb 5, 2024 at 12:00pm MT (interview invitations will be made by email only)
- Interviews: Feb 20-23, 2024 (in person but accommodations will be made for virtual interviews at each employer's discretion)
- Job Offer Call Day: Fri, Feb 23, 2024 at 5pm MT (open for a minimum of 24 hours)
- Students applying for Calgary or Edmonton summer positions should review the Law Society of Alberta's student recruitment guidelines as well as the following CSO handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: Calgary & Edmonton 2024 First Year Summer Positions; How to Use the viDesktop Application Portal; Interviewing Guide; Interview Call Day: Frequently Asked Questions; and Job Offers.
(1L) Edmonton
- viDesktop portal opens to students for applications: Mon, Jan 22, 2024
- Application Deadline: Mon, Jan 29, 2024, at 11:59pm MT (though some firms may choose to have earlier or later deadlines)
- Interviews: Feb 20-23, 2024 (in person but accommodations will be made for virtual interviews at each employer's discretion)
- Job Offer Call Day: Fri, Feb 23, 2024 at 5pm MT (open for a minimum of 24 hours)
- Students applying for Calgary or Edmonton summer positions should review the Law Society of Alberta's student recruitment guidelines as well as the following CSO handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: Calgary & Edmonton 2023 First Year Summer Positions; How to Use the viDesktop Application Portal; Interviewing Guide; Interview Call Day: Frequently Asked Questions; and Job Offers.
(1L/2L) Saskatchewan
- viDesktop portal opens to students for applications: Fri Oct 6, 2023
- Application Deadline: Thu Nov 9, 2023 at 12:00pm (noon) CST
- Interview Invitations: Week of Nov 13-17, 2023
- Interviews: Nov 20-24, 2023
- Job Offer Call Day: Wed, Nov 29, 2023 at 4:30pm CST
- Students applying for Saskatchewan summer positions should review the following handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: How to Use the viDesktop Application Portal; Interviewing Guide; Interview Call Day: Frequently Asked Questions; and Job Offers.
(1L) Toronto
- viDesktop portal opens to students for applications: Mon, Dec 18, 2023
- Earliest Application Deadline: Wed, Jan 24, 2024 at 5pm ET
- Blackout Period: January 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm ET – February 20, 2024 at 8:00 am ET
- Interview Call Day: Tue, Feb 6, 2024 at 8am ET
- Interviews: Feb 20-22, 2024
- Cooling Off Period: Thu, Feb 22, 2024, 3-5pm ET
- Job Offer Call Day: Thu, Feb 22, 2024 at 5pm ET (open for 24 hours)
- Students applying for Toronto summer positions should review the Law Society of Ontario's student recruitment guidelines as well as the following CSO handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: Toronto 2024 First Year Summer Positions; How to Use the viDesktop Application Portal; Interviewing Guide; Interview Call Day: Frequently Asked Questions; and Job Offers.
(1l/2L) Ottawa
- viDesktop portal opens to students for applications: Fri, Dec 8, 2023 at 9:00 am ET
- Application Deadline: Thurs, Jan 18, 2024 at 5:00 pm ET
- Interview Call Period: Weds, Jan 24, 2024 - Fri, Feb 9, 2024
- Pre-Interviews: Mon, Jan 29, 2024 (Ottawa employers do not hold OCIs at Allard Law, but some will hold OCI-like pre-interviews prior to Interview Week)
- Interview Period: Tues, Feb 20, 2024 - Thurs, Feb 29, 2024
- Job Offer Call Day: Fri, Mar 1, 2024 at 8:00 am ET (open until the later of noon or for 2 hours)
- Students applying for Ottawa Summer positions should review the Law Society of Ontario's student recruitment guidelines as well as the following CSO handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: Ottawa 2024 First and Second Year Summer Positions; How to Use the viDesktop Application Portal; Interviewing Guide; Interview Call Day & Interview Week; and Job Offers.
(1L/2L) Ottawa – Intellectual Property
- viDesktop portal opens to students for applications: Mon, Sept 11, 2023 at 9:00 am ET
- Application Deadline: Tue, Oct 10, 2023 at 1:00 pm ET
- Interview Call Day: Best efforts to schedule by Weds, Oct 18, 2023
- Interview Period: Thurs, Oct 19, 2023 - Weds, Oct 25, 2023
- Job Offer Call Day: Thu, Oct 26, 2023 at 8am ET (open until noon or for 2 hrs, whichever is later)
- Students applying for Ottawa IP summer positions should review the Law Society of Ontario's student recruitment guidelines as well as the following CSO handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: Ottawa 2024 First & Second Year Summer Positions; Interviewing Guide; Interview Call Day & Interview Week; and Job Offers.
- Note: Full-service Ottawa legal employers will accept applications for 2024 2L Summer positions in Dec 2023/Jan 2024
(1L/2L) London, ON
- viDesktop portal opens to students for applications: Wed, Jan 3, 2024
- Application Deadline: Mon, Jan 22, 2024
- Interview Call Day: Thurs, Feb 1, 2024 at 8am ET
- Interview Period: Feb 12 - Feb 14, 2024
- Job Offer Call Day: Thu, Feb 15, 2024 at 8am ET (open until 5pm)
- Students applying for London Summer positions should review the following CSO handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: London 2024 Summer Hiring Guidelines; How to Use the viDesktop Application Portal; Interviewing Guide; Interview Call Day: Frequently Asked Questions; and Job Offers.
(1L/2L) East Coast
- Application Deadline: Mon, Jan 15, 2024 at 11:59pm AST - for most Atlantic Canada employers
- Interview Period: Mon, Feb 5 - Thu, Feb 8, 2024
- Offer Day for Large Halifax Firms: Fri, Feb 9, 2024 at 9am AST (students have 30 minutes after the call to accept the offer)
- Offer Day for All Other Employers: No set offer day - offers can be made anytime after Feb 3, 2024
- Students applying for East Coast summer positions should review the following CSO handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: Interviewing Guide; Interview Call Day; Frequently Asked Questions; and Job Offers.
(2L) Manitoba
- Application Deadline: Fri, Oct 6, 2023 at 12:00pm CDT
- Interview Call Day: Thurs, Oct 19, 2023 from 12:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
- Interviews: Mon, Oct 23, 2023 to Tues, Oct 31, 2023 (in-person or virtual, subject to public health guidelines)
- Earliest Offer Date: Thurs, Nov 2, 2023 at 12:00pm CDT (open until Fri, Nov 3, 2023 at 12:00pm CDT). Offers must be responded to within that timeframe.
- Subsequent Offers: Offers made after Fri, Nov 3, 2023 must be responded to by no later than 12:00pm CDT the following day.
- Students applying for Manitoba summer positions should review the following CSO handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: Manitoba 2024 Second Year Summer Positions; Interviewing Guide; Interview Call Day; Frequently Asked Questions; and Job Offers.
(2L) Calgary & Edmonton
- viDesktop portal opens to students for applications: July 22, 2024
- Application Deadline: Mon, Aug 19, 2024
- OCI Registration Deadline: Mon, Aug 19, 2024
- View & Accept/Decline Employer OCI Selections: Fri, Sep 6 at 4pm PT - Mon, Sep 9 at 4pm PT
- Interview Availability Deadline: Mon, Sept 9 at 4pm PT
- OCIs: Wed, Sep 18, 2024 (virtual)
- Interview Call Day: No formal call day
- Interviews: Oct 7-11, 2024
- Cooling-Off Period: Oct 11, 2024, 1-2pm MT
- Job Offer Call Day: Oct 11, 2024 at 2pm MT (open for 6 hours)
- Students applying for Calgary or Edmonton summer positions should review the following CSO handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: Calgary Summer 2025 2L Recruitment Protocol, Calgary & Edmonton 2025 Second Year Summer Positions; Interviewing Guide; Interview Call Day & Interview Week - Structured Recruits; and Job Offers.
(2L) Toronto
- viDesktop portal opens to students for applications: June 3, 2024
- Application Deadline: Mon, Jul 22, 2024 at 5pm ET (*but by late-June strongly recommended)
- OCI Application Registration: Mon, Jul 22, 2024 at 5pm ET
- Blackout Period: Mon, Jul 22, 2024 at 5pm ET - Mon, Nov 4, 2024 at 8am ET (exception: scheduling and conducting of OCIs and scheduling of in-firm interviews)
- View & Accept/Decline Employer OCI Selections: Fri, Sep 6 at 4pm PT - Mon, Sep 9 at 4pm PT
- Interview Availability Deadline: Mon, Sept 9 at 4pm PT
- OCIs: Wed, Sept 18, 2024 (virtual)
- Intention to Call E-mails: Not standardized; timing will vary by firm (if sent at all)
- Interview Call Day: Tues, Oct 22, 2024 at 8am ET
- Interviews: Mon, Nov 4, 2024 at 8am ET - Wed, Nov 6, 2024, at 3pm ET
- Cooling Off Period: Wed, Nov 6, 2024, 3-5pm ET
- Job Offer Call Day: Wed, Nov 6, 2024 at 5pm ET (open for 24 hours)
- Students applying for Toronto summer positions should review the Law Society of Ontario's student recruitment guidelines as well as the following CSO handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: Toronto 2025 Second Year Summer Positions; Interviewing Guide; Interview Call Day & Interview Week - Structured Recruits; and Job Offers.
(2L) Vancouver
- viDesktop portal opens to students for applications: Mon, July 22, 2024
- Application Deadline: Wed, Aug 28, 2024 at 11:59pm PT (*but by mid-Aug strongly recommended)
- OCI Registration Deadline: Wed, Aug 28, 2024 at 11:59pm PT
- View & Accept/Decline Employer OCI Selections: Fri, Sep 6 at 4pm PT - Mon, Sep 9 at 4pm PT
- Interview Availability Deadline: Mon, Sept 9 at 4pm PT
- OCIs: Mon, Sept 16 & Tues, Sept 17, 2024
- Blackout Period: Fri, Sept 27, 2024 - Sun, Oct 20, 2024 (no recruitment or interview-like events)
- Intention to Call E-mails: Fri, Sept 27, 2024 at 8am PT - Tue, Oct 1, 2024 at 8pm PT
- Interview Call Day: Wed, Oct 2, 2024 at 8am PT
- Interview Week: Oct 21-23, 2024
- Job Offer Call Day: Thu, Oct 24, 2024 at 8am PT (open until Fri, Oct 25, 2024 at 8am PT)
- Students applying for Vancouver summer positions should review the Vancouver Bar Association student recruitment guidelines for structured articling recruitment as well as the following CSO handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: Vancouver 2025 Second Year Summer Positions; Interviewing Guide; Interview Call Day & Interview Week - Structured Recruits; and Job Offers.
Licensing
(All Years) British Columbia
- Temporary Articles: You can apply any time of year, but must apply at least 30 days before your summer articling job start date.
- Articles: At least 30 days before your articling start date.
- You cannot begin your articling position or PLTC until your JD graduation has been approved by Allard Law. If you expect to graduate with your JD in May 2024, the earliest date that you can commence an articling position or PLTC is May 21, 2024.
- You cannot apply for the Law Society Admission Program (LSAP) or Professional Legal Training Course (PLTC) until after you have secured articles.
- Applying to the Law Society Admission Program (LSAP)
- You do not require an individual letter from the Dean confirming your law school graduation - please do not request one.
- Each spring, Susan Morin, Allard Law's Director of Academic Services, will automatically send the Law Society of BC a list of all Allard Law students who have been approved for graduation in May. This takes the place of the "Dean's letter" that the Law Society of BC may request from you. Students planning to start their articles at a different time of the year (i.e. not in May), or who require a graduation letter to be sent to a Law Society outside of BC, should contact Susan Morin for assistance.
- Susan Morin will notify you once your JD degree is posted to your UBC transcript. At that time, you will need to order an official transcript from UBC to be sent directly to the LSBC, or the relevant Law Society.
- Clerking? You must specify your "clerking pattern" in your application, which is the sequence of how and when the clerkship will fit within your completion of all LSAP requirements (e.g., Clerking > Articling > PLTC > Articling).
- Applying to the Professional Legal Training Course (PLTC)
- Apply by Oct 13, 2023 for Feb 2024 PLTC start in Vancouver
- Apply by Dec 15, 2023 for May 2024 PLTC start in Vancouver, Victoria, or Kamloops
- Apply by Mar 1, 2024 for Sep 2024 PLTC start in Vancouver
- The LSBC places a great deal of importance on its function as a gatekeeper for admission into the legal profession. In particular, the LSBC seeks to protect the public interest by only granting articles or temporary articles to students who are of "good character and repute."
- It is important to be careful, complete, and honest when filling out your application. The LSBC employs investigators (usually former police officers) who may conduct applicant searches, including online materials (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, websites, blog posts), court registries, and the Canadian Police Information Centre (a computerized information system which provides all Canadian law enforcement agencies with information on crimes and criminals).
- If you have any questions or concerns regarding your application, particularly with respect to filling out the sections pertaining to good character, or prior employment history, please contact Assistant Dean, Career Services prior to submitting it to the LSBC.
- If you submit your application and receive any follow up questions, meeting requests, or other correspondence from the LSBC, the CSO strongly recommends that you obtain legal advice promptly and before responding to the LSBC. The CSO maintains a list of lawyers who are experienced in dealing with LSBC matters and who have agreed to provide our students with pro-bono summary legal advice.
(3L/Graduate) Ontario
- The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) website has a page for law students with helpful information about how to become a lawyer in Ontario. Visit it for information about the lawyer licensing process and the supports available to candidates. The LSO has also created a Virtual Information Series of videos available to new applicants and candidates in the licensing process.
- LSO Lawyer Licensing Process: Applications for the 2024/25 process are due Dec 1, 2023 (can apply after the deadline; a late filing fee will be applied.)
- All students planning to (1) article or (2) complete the Law Practice Program in Ontario in 2024/25 must apply for the LSO Lawyer Licensing Process. Students can apply prior to obtaining articles or enrolling in the Law Practice Program.
- For more information and to apply >
- Review the application process and procedures >
- The Law Society of Ontario no longer requires that their licensing application forms be notarized or commissioned, but instead now requires that a Guarantor or Referee sign your forms. See the LSO's website for information on who is qualified to act as a Guarantor or Referee.
- The LSO has provided a Reference Form that can be completed by a Referee in the event that you are unable to secure a Guarantor to certify your application document.
- Note that currently, all CSO advisors are non-practicing members of the Law Society of BC and may serve as Referees for Allard students' LSO licensing applications. Please book an appointment on ACE or contact the CSO if you have any questions.
- Questions? Contact the LSO directly (licensingprocess@lso.ca; 416-947-3315).
- Students articling in Ontario (or in another province outside of BC) should contact Susan Morin, Allard Law's Director of Academic Services, in May (or shortly after the completion of your JD requirements) to request that a letter confirming the student's JD graduation be sent to the relevant Law Society. You do not require an individual letter from the Dean confirming your law school graduation - please do not request one.
- Susan Morin will notify all Allard Law students once your JD degree is posted to your UBC transcript. At that time, you will need to order an official transcript from UBC to be sent directly to the relevant Law Society.
- Law Practice Program (LPP): You must complete either the Law Practice Program or the Articling Program to satisfy the experiential training component of the Lawyer Licensing Process. Students who wish to complete the Law Practice Program must (1) select the LPP for their experiential training via the LSO by June 14th, 2024, and (2) register for the LPP through Toronto Metropolitan University by June 28th, 2024.
- Learn More about the LPP >
- Register for the 2024/2025 LPP >
- LPP Alumni Interviews >
- If you have questions, contact the LPP team by e-mail at lpp@ryerson.ca or phone (416-979-5000 x 3024). A CSO advisor can also speak with you about the pros and cons of various licensing options.
(3L/Graduate) New York
- In order to register for the New York state bar exam, applicants who obtained a law degree outside of the U.S. must provide the New York State Board of Law Examiners with the necessary supporting documentation to show that they have met the educational requirements to write the exam. For more information, please refer to the Foreign Legal Education section of the New York State Board of Law Examiners' website.
- Applicants who have received (or who will receive) a J.D. from Allard Law must provide an official law school transcript containing the dates of attendance, courses taken and passed, degree awarded, and date the degree was conferred. Official UBC transcripts can be ordered online through the UBC Student Service Centre.
- As of 2021, applicants who have received (or who will receive) a J.D. from Allard Law no longer need to provide proof that they have fulfilled the educational requirements for admission to the practice of law, or proof of accreditation of their law school.
- Students interested in practicing law in New York should review the New York State Board of Examiners' website, the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admissions, and the following CSO handouts, available in ACE's Resource Library: Admission to New York State Bar and New York Summer Associate Positions.