SGM’s labour/civil sections are interested in hiring students who are committed to the highest standards in the practice of labour and employment law from the union/employee perspective.

The primary focus of the articling experience in the labour/civil areas of practice is on all aspects of labour and employment law, including labour arbitration, proceedings before the Ontario Labour Relations Board, human rights and equity issues (including Charter litigation), collective bargaining, construction labour relations, pension and benefits law, workers' compensation, disability claims, employment standards, wrongful dismissal litigation and occupational health and safety. In addition, students will assist SGM’s civil litigators with cases arising outside the employment context.

As set out in our Education Plan, under the supervision and guidance of lawyers, articling students take an active role in all aspects of case preparation. Students interview clients, identify and interview witnesses and research the law. Students are also responsible for drafting opinion letters, legal memoranda, submissions, pleadings and facta.

The student rotation is designed to allow students to work with as many different lawyers as possible over the course of the articling period. Students are encouraged to attend both tribunal and court hearings with lawyers, in order to see cases through from start to finish and to witness a variety of styles of advocacy. On occasion, students may represent clients in minor matters.

SGM has an excellent law library containing numerous general, labour law and human rights law reports and digests, as well as hundreds of legal texts, periodicals and other resources. In addition, students have access to Quicklaw and other electronic research services.

Students articling in the labour/civil areas of practice have been organized for almost thirty years and their terms and conditions of employment are set out in a collective agreement between SGM and the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union, Local 343.

SGM conducts all articling recruitment in accordance with the rules and guidelines of the Law Society of Upper Canada. Please check the LSUC website for information regarding application deadlines, scheduling of interviews and offers of employment.

Law students who wish to apply for a labour/civil articling position should send an application to Cathy Lace. All applications must include:

• a cover letter;
• a resume;
• all law school and university transcripts; and
• a list of courses you intend to take in 3rd year.

Applicants may also wish to include written references in their applications.

For more information about Labour/Civil articles, contact Cathy Lace.

Please note: students seeking an articling position in SGM’s Toronto office must apply either to the labour/civil law section or to the criminal law section; there are no combined articling positions.