Waterloo Law Association

Articling Hereimportant details for new lawyers

Articling is an important milestone for every aspiring lawyer. The lawyers of Waterloo Region are committed to providing students with an enriching articling experience. Most lawyers and firms are looking to hire articling students who will be the future partners and leaders of the firm.

Whether you article with a sole practitioner, a small or medium-sized firm, students are partnered with a principal lawyer. Your principal is there to provide you with direction and guidance so that you can learn the basic duties and responsibilities of being a lawyer.

While a student’s articles can be varied depending on the size of firm, lawyers in Waterloo Region aim to provide students with the following:

• • direct client contact,
• • carriage of files – with a senior lawyer supervising –
• • attending court and tribunal motions,
• • attending hearings and small claims matters,
• • assisting more senior lawyers with the purchase and sale of businesses
• • learning interviewing and negotiating techniques, and
• • drafting commercial agreements.

Articling in Waterloo Region provides students with a unique hands-on experience unlike some larger financial centres. Articling students in the region have the opportunity to gain practical experience that will help them decide what areas of law they would like to practice. Below you will find a testimonial from Roberto Aburto about articling in the Waterloo Region.

"When seeking to begin my legal career, I was eager to return to the Waterloo Region. As a Wilfrid Laurier University alum and active member in the swimming community, I enjoyed my experiences in this growing community. Waterloo Region has demonstrated significant growth, and there is potential for this community to become even more influential going forward. In short, I knew that this is a great place to live.

As an undergraduate student at Laurier, there was a guest speaker from Gowlings who came and spoke to my class. This professional took the time to meet with me over coffee a week later and discuss potential careers in law. I have found this type of behaviour to be indicative of the collegial nature of the bar in the Waterloo Region.

I have had exposure to both Corporate and Litigation files at Gowlings. I have recently become more active in litigation and have enjoyed the exposure that I have to a diverse array of issues and cases. I have had the privilege to learn from senior litigators. The open door policy at the firm has allowed me to receive extensive feedback and offered a chance to learn from leaders in the legal community.

I have also enjoyed the opportunity to balance relationships outside of work, while gaining valuable legal experience."

Roberto Aburto
Articling Student
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP