SUMMER PROGRAM

APPLYING TO GOWLINGS TORONTO

At Gowlings, we're looking for individuals who are passionate about the practice of law, dedicated to client service and driven to excel in everything they do. Our culture encourages collaboration, rewards innovation and recognizes the value of interests outside of school and work. We're all about the team, so we want people who recognize the value of teamwork, but who can also work independently when the occasion calls for it. Sure, we look for excellent grades in our students, but we also value personality, attention to detail, work ethic and a sense of humour.

If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you. While we have already filled our available positions for both the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 articling terms, we continue to accept applications in the event a position becomes available.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The summer program at Gowlings Toronto is generally limited to students who have completed their second year of law school. Each year, Gowlings conducts interviews in accordance with the Law Society of Upper Canada's Procedures Governing the Recruitment of Students. Please visit the Law Society's Web site at www.lsuc.on.ca for further information on these procedures.

Gowlings Toronto is an equal opportunity employer. Nonetheless, we appreciate that there is value in diversity in the make-up of our professional and administrative personnel complement.  Aboriginal persons, members of visible minorities, or persons with a disability should, therefore, feel free to self-identify.

Gowlings has hired 16 students for our Gowlings 2010 Summer program. We do not expect to have any additional summer positions available but we will accept applications in the event our needs change.

We encourage law students interested in Gowlings 2011 Toronto summer programs to submit their complete application package, including cover letter, résumé and both law school and undergraduate transcripts to Natalie Zinman, our Acting Director of Student and Associate Programs by September 10, 2010. We will accept applications by email (preferred method), mail or fax.

FIRM TOURS

Find out what sets Gowlings apart from other national law firms. We are currently offering firm tours on June 16, July 21 and August 25, 2010 at 4pm, with other dates scheduled as necessary. Please contact Natalie Zinman if you are interested in learning more about Gowlings and attending our tour.

ON-CAMPUS INTERVIEWS

Gowlings Toronto will be conducting on-campus interviews for our 2011 Summer program at the following law schools in 2010:

IN-FIRM INTERVIEWS

Call Day and Scheduling

The Law Society of Upper Canada sets the day and time that firms in Toronto may contact students to arrange for an in-firm interview. For the summer recruitment process, this "Call Day" is generally the last Friday in October. For the articling recruitment process, Call Day is generally the last Thursday in July.

While commonly referred to as "Call Day", the calls in fact begin promptly at 8 a.m. and are usually completed by 8:30 a.m. In accordance with the Law Society's guidelines, the in-firm interviews for both summer and articling positions will be conducted on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the set week and offers can be made beginning at 5 p.m. on that Wednesday.

The Interview

In-Firm Interviews will be conducted on November 1, 2 and 3, 2011. The length and format of the in-firm interview will vary firm to firm. At Gowlings, you will initially meet with a team of two professionals, usually a partner and an associate, for 40 to 50 minutes. After the initial interview, you will be brought to a drop-in room to meet with some of our current articling students. We encourage you to stay as long as you are able, have something to eat/drink, ask any questions of our current students and/or just sit and relax.

Lunches, Dinners and Cocktail Receptions

Gowlings does not typically conduct interviews over lunch or dinner. Instead, we host a cocktail reception for all of the students. The cocktail reception is meant to give our professionals an opportunity to meet many more of the students than would otherwise be possible in a day. It also gives the students an opportunity to see how the firm's professionals interact with one another in a social setting.

Offers and acceptances

Under the Law Society's guidelines, firms are not permitted to offer a position, or even communicate an intention to offer a position, until Wednesday at 5 p.m. Students are then entitled to 24 hours to consider any summer position offer(s). However, students should advise the firm(s) as soon as they are able to make a decision so that any declined position can then be offered to another student.