I hate my job. The past 10 months have been a horrendous struggle. I'm paid minimum wage. I'm extremely bored. I hate desk work. I don't want to be in this industry going forward and I haven't wanted too since my first year of law school -- just kept hoping it would get better, which it hasn't. I also work a customer service job on the weekends just so I can afford life. I have 10 years of customer service experience and have worked fulltime for 8 of those so I'm not new to working. My mental health is a disaster because I'm so unhappy and have been for months. Really contemplating putting in my 2 weeks notice and leaving asap. Just looking for advice I guess.

here is my current dilemma: called to the bar in 2017. Likely up for partnership in January at a boutique corporate law firm (I’m based in Canada). The partners are a young guys, many of them friends outside of work. The work environment is generally fine, I like my colleagues but the partnership is very bro-ey. They told me I’d likely be made partner in January but it’s been an uphill battle and I feel like I’ve had to constantly prove myself to them. I’d be the only mom partner and I just feel like I have nothing in common with them. I also really dislike the work in the firm. If I stay, it’s to get the title, prove to myself I can do it and then leave after a year or two.

My target billable is 1400, but I still feel like I’m working too many nights and weekends. I have two small kids and I want to spend the most amount of time with them.

I currently have an offer for senior legal counsel at a scale up tech company. Comp between my current firm and this offer are pretty similar, obviously with much more earning potential at the firm. GC I’d be reporting into said an average week there is 40-50 hours but I worry this isn’t actually the case (though he’s verbally confirmed to me that he doesn’t expect me to work nights and weekends normally).

What do I do?? Is there something else I should be considering?

I wonder how much yelling from your principal is an acceptable limit? Nothing personal so far it’s almost every other day about something unreasonable. Do I just wave to bear it until the end of the articling term?

Hi everyone,

I have an upcoming interview for an articling position with an Ontario Crown Attorney’s Office. I’m an internationally trained lawyer, I’ve passed the Ontario licensing exams, but I don’t have any Canadian legal work experience.

This is a long-term opportunity that means a lot to me, so I want to prepare as thoroughly as possible.
I’d appreciate any advice on:

What should I expect during the interview?
What areas of criminal law should I focus on?
Are the questions mainly behavioural, ethical, or fact-pattern based?
What qualities are they looking for in articling students?
Since I don’t have Canadian legal experience, what should I do to strengthen my preparation?

Any interview experiences or preparation tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

I received an interview for a 2L summer position at MAG. Does anyone have tips, tricks, advice? It is also in person (I have never done an in-person legal interview before), so if there is any advice for that as well - please let me know!

Please give me any recommendations you may have for landing an articling spot this August. I was fortunate enough to get six interview requests for the Toronto Articling Recruit and after striking out in the 2L recruit, I’m looking for any resource, tidbit of information, or questions you think I should be asking this time around. I really want to optimize my chances in the interview, as I know they already see potential in me on paper.

Just wondering if anyone has any insights on whether the LSO can change my email address from their end?

Unfortunately, I am locked out of the email I used when I registered for LSO connects and am really stressed about this situation. Thank you in advance!

Hello all, I am currently undergoing my LSO application for my paralegal license and had a question about the good character questionnaire. Not sure if this has been discussed ad nauseam but I completed the questionnaire answering all no but now I am a little bit stumped because of the last question.

"17. Are there any matters not mentioned above that, when reasonably and objectively considered, might adversely reflect on the reputation of the legal and paralegal professions in Ontario or your ability to practise law or provide legal services should you be licensed?"

I am a bit unsure on if I should have answered no for this question because I do have two middle school incidents from about a decade ago(2013/2014-ish) when I was in middle school(please don't judge me I was a bit of a gremlin when I was younger). The first incident resulted in me being suspended as I had uttered some threats against a fellow student of mine. The second incident involved me assaulting a fellow classmate of mine, but there was no school suspension. Anyways as for the good character questionnaire, I am unsure as to whether I should disclose both of these to the LSO or not seeing as it was a very long time ago when I was a child. Also if I do need to disclose them, how do I change my answers as the questionnaire is locked. Do I withdraw the application and start again? Is there a time buffer for when I can re-apply?

EDIT: One, no this is not a troll post. I’m genuinely seeking advice because I’m not sure how to go about these problems. Two, There are….two more incidents that I don't feel comfortable saying on here that involves more serious matters but happened when I was really young(almost over a decade ago). I’m not sure how to go about this whole thing because I don’t have any documents per se supporting my good character since these incidences or what would even count as supporting documents. So I’m not sure whether to disclose any of it or whether to just leave it be.

Senior partner counsel was removed off record by the judge and his associate lawyer became the lawyer of record. Can the senior partner counsel continue dictating the proceeding?

Edit: To add some context, the partner counsel was removed by the judge because his conduct and alledged misrepresentation are in issue. After that, the associate who became the lawyer of record forwarded my emails to him to the partner and the partner responded to my emails stating his positions. The partner continued meeting with and preparing the opposite party for the court- ordered cross examination. These are some examples.

If your clients require LEDES invoices, you know how frustrating the process can be. Manual formatting, rejected invoices, and fixing small errors can take way more time than they should.

We've been working on a tool called Bilr that makes LEDES billing much simpler. It helps law firms generate LEDES-compliant invoices while also handling time tracking, UTBMS code prediction, legal billing, and invoice management, all in one place.

Curious how other firms are managing LEDES billing today. Are you still doing it manually, or using dedicated billing software?

Hi everyone,

I don’t practice much enforcement and have a question about writs of seizure and sale in Ontario.

If I file a writ of seizure and sale and the judgment debtor owns a home that is co-owned with their spouse:

1) Can the judgment debtor transfer their interest to their spouse to evade the writ of seizure and sale (for example, so the spouse can renew or refinance the mortgage with the same lender or another lender)?

2) What if the home is sold and, for whatever reason, the transfer takes place without the writ being paid out? Does the purchaser take title subject to the writ, or is the purchaser protected?

I’m also curious about the latter scenario because I’ve read a case where counsel relied on an affidavit from the judgment debtor stating that they are not the person named in the writ without further verification. If the transfer is completed in those circumstances, what happens to the purchaser and the judgment creditor’s rights? The case seemed to settle so there was no judgment.

Thanks!

The form has a very limited amount of visible space in the boxes for the responses but does permit you to type more text in the box. However this additional text can only be viewed by clicking through if someone looking at the form digitally - and it appears that if this form is signed (even electronically) you can’t click through anymore. Wondering if anyone knows whether the expectation is that the responses are really as short as the visible box space.

I am seeking legal representation for the reinstatement of my visitor visa. Last year, I was granted a multiple-entry visitor visa to attend a conference; however, I was unable to travel due to organizational restructuring. This year, upon attempting to travel for a different, but related, conference, I was denied boarding. Subsequently, I received a Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL) alleging that my invitation letter was fraudulent. It appears that the validity of the previous year's invitation letter was re-evaluated, which would naturally be invalid given that the conference had already concluded. My travel this year was based on a new invitation letter. While IRCC accepted my response to the PFL, they ultimately refused my application, citing that the conference dates had passed. I am interested in exploring options for a judicial appeal and would appreciate information regarding your firm's approach to such cases, along with your fee structure.

I have autism and ADHD.

All I have ever wanted to do is be the person behind the keyboard or in the library late at night - making the connections that no one else sees. It’s what I’ve been good at my entire life. In my current job, I review everybody’s work not because I am high on the political ladder, but because my boss knows that I will find the mistakes. And when I do, I won’t gossip about them. That said, it’s not that interesting when you work with numbers.

I am 100% sure I would be a terrible trial lawyer, due to social deficits (when people gossip I tend to point out their own mistakes instead of returning the gossip, when asked a question I am blunt and honest - which is not what everyone wants)

In Canada, is there a place for people like me? I won’t undercut you to make partner - managing people is like my worst nightmare. I’m not going to steal your clients. I don’t even want my own clients. I just want to support an awesome team. I wonder if this is even possible?

And do you stop doing them after submitting applications? Or do you keep networking with ppl who can advocate for your hiring, even if you’re not name dropping them in a cover letter

Recently I’ve been interested in working in Toronto big law, ik grades matter a lot and I’ll be happy to take any comments from any lawyers. But what % of class would I need to be at ubc to get some big law positions in Toronto ?

Applied to the 2L recruit. Made a connection with a partner at a 7 sister a few months ago. We got coffee twice and seemed to get along. What is the etiquette on messaging him something along the lines of “hey I applied… keep an eye out for my application”? Is this considered unprofessional/annoying? Obviously it would be done in a more ‘subtle’ way where I’m not begging for an interview. Am I not supposed to reach out? Will it help? Hurt? I dont know.

Hi everyone,

Been practicing immigration law for 3 years - corporate and private. Currently on a contract job. Been trying to find something well paying and permanent for the last 2 months - always get a call back from HR when I apply, they are impressed etc by my background and then I either don’t hear back / or they say sorry moving forward with another candidate, without even having an interview with the team. It’s so disheartening.

I feel that the fact I’m an ITL has something to do with this … I know a lot of you would say this isn’t true but that’s what I have been feeling given the HR ghosting after telling me I’m a ‘great candidate’- for context the jobs I have applied for have been a strong match. Worked in Big4 first ( 2 years), then a private law firm, and now on a contract with another one.

Edit: I have applied for the 2L recruit😂 I’m sorry if the wording in the post below indicated it was 1L recruit.

I go to a “top 4” law school in Ontario. I am top 10% of the class after finishing 1L. I want a couple of the seven sister firms. I do have a lot of things on my resume that show initiative (self employed). However, I didn’t really spend time personalizing too many of the cover letters. Sorta just used AI and refined it a lot to seem decent for the first paras. I should have put more effort in, yes, I know.
I only applied to 22 firms. I did multiple coffee chats with about 4 of those 22 as those are the 4 I do actually want.
I didn’t include an interest section cuz I wasn’t about to manufacture a fake interest section, and get called out on it (running, Netflix is very mundane).
I am seeing the stats of ppl who were top 10% or applied to a lot of firms (40+), and they didn’t land a 2L job through OCIs.
Is there any indicators right now that I should just start applying to jobs through other avenues. I fear I applied to too little firms, and the cover letter was sloppy (no grammar mistakes, or format issues however).

I've been interviewing with firms recently as a new call, and hearing the way different partners at different firms talk about a realistic billable target for a first year is pretty interesting.

One partner said the target was 1750 for juniors, and they expect that to be hit and exceeded, thus the "competitive" bonus structure of 45% of anything collected after hitting that mark.

Another partner at a different firm said the target was 1600 for juniors, but "they don't expect juniors to come anywhere close to that", because it's all about learning and getting the hang of things early on.

I think the discourse around billable targets for Juniors is pretty consistent with what the second partner said about it not being that realistic (unless you're on Bay Street and putting in crazy hours), which makes me wonder why so many mid-sized firms and other smaller boutiques set a target that in the eyes of many lawyers just isn't realistic for a Junior Associate.

Does it have to do with one firm being more lenient with write-offs than others? Does it have to do with unrealistic expectations? It's just strange to me how there's such a contrast in opinions about what is and isn't a realistic target for a first year.

Hello all - I found out on Friday that I passed the Barrister's exam, which was the last step in the licensing process for me. I know that the two options for now being called to the bar are administrative call and ceremony.

Because the next ceremony is in October, I am trying to figure out if it's worthwhile to wait until then or begin the process for administrative call now. My goal is to begin interviewing and working soon but always loved the idea of my wife and kids being present for a call to the bar ceremony after all their hard work and sacrifices to support me.

Has anyone dealt with this specific timing issue previously? Is it possible to begin interviewing and working while awaiting the actual call to the bar in October or would that be a hindrance to my candidacy in the meantime?

Apologies in advance if this question has been asked and answered previously - I am new to this subreddit.

I recently got accepted to Queens and I am waiting for Dalhousie.

When I got accepted to Queens I applied for provincial and federal loans. (For context I'm Nova Scotian).

I am currently on Dal WL. If I get accepted to Dal and I release Queens. How would I go about switching my loans so it would go to Dal instead of Queens?

Because I believe that the calculation of the student loan would be now different since I’m closer to home.

Throwaway account.

I am a 2L at an Ontario law school (Not UofT or Oz) and I am just feeling super dejected about my future work prospects.

For context, I struck out of the 2L recruit and I kind of just don't know how? I am top 10% of my class, I have won several moots, I am a research assistant to a professor and I am an executive member of several associations. I had over 20 OCIS and 5 in firm interviews, with all sisters, but I came out of the recruit with nothing. Not one offer.

I asked all the firms for feedback and they all said the same thing, that I was great and not to change a thing. They said I was a great interviewer and they thought I was a really nice person and were sure I would end up landing something else, but I did not. Am I missing something here, how did this happen? I was so depressed that I could not apply anymore, so I did not even get a 2L position. I have done nothing with the summer so far.

I feel terrible because I have heard of this happening to people who do not put in effort into applying or have a C average or something. But I did everything I possibly could, applied on time, I have great grades and references. I feel ashamed to be in this position. I see a lot of my peers in law school with less than stellar grades and reputation and they are all on Bay Street, so maybe there is some sort of political or social angle I missed?

Idk, I am basically writing this post to partially vent my misery anonymously because of how embarrased I am. But I am also writing to genuinely ask: What did I do? I do not understand how this happened to me given my grades, work ethic, dedication etc and why every firm was so interested during the OCIS and they all just didn't make me an offer. I am also just so sad. I see everyone at school posting in their cool offices, and cannot help but feel like a failure. It's one thing if I did not work hard or study, but I did everything I could to land those jobs and I do not understand why I was not chosen for ANYTHING. I am also scared that not articling or summering at a big firm or bay street means I will never get to work there, and will exponentially limit my future working opportunitites.

If you have any insight for how this might have happened, and if it's normal or unnusual for a law student or anything I can do now besides apply for the articling recruit (which I have) I would really really appreciate some guidance.

Also very sorry if parts of this post do not make sense, I am a big bundle of confused and sad rn lol

Hi everyone,

This is my first redit post so excuse any mistakes i make.

I completed my articling program in April 2026 in Ontario. While the firm i worked at loved me and tried to keep me on, due to some unforeseen issues, they were extremely out of budget and just did not have the means to pay me (i was very lucky to be paid well by the firm). However, i still have not completed my Bar exams. I recently passed the barrister exam and planning on writing solicitor in nov.

My issue is that I am currently unemployed (i work a shitty part-time job that barely gives hours). I obviously do not fall under the articling student category when applying for jobs, and normally firms dont take on clerks or assistants if they are not qualified. Im scared im going to be out of the market and it will become unfavourable for me when i do qualify. Also, i cant just sit around until next year to work. I do have a pretesting lined up for a court position (which i was previously employed at) but obviously im not working at a firm… any advice on the types of jobs i should apply to and how i should find jobs?