Articling Student

The House of Commons Administration delivers outstanding services to Members of Parliament and their employees in support of parliamentary democracy. Our success is made possible by our talented and dedicated workforce. We leverage diversity in all its forms and recognize that everyone has valuable contributions to make and the potential for individual growth. If you dream of joining an organization that is small enough for you to be noticed, but big enough to provide you with a meaningful career, then we want to hear from you!

Job Description

The House of Commons Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel (OLCPC) is looking to staff one Articling Student position on a determinate basis (temporary) for a one year term, within OLCPC and to establish a list of potential candidates that can be considered for the Library of Parliament’s Articling Student Position.

OLCPC offers an articling candidate the opportunity to develop their legal skills, all while working to support Canadian democracy. The OLCPC is in-house counsel for the House of Commons, including the Speaker, the Board of Internal Economy, Members of Parliament, committees of the House of Commons, the Clerk, and the House Administration. The articling student will be exposed to a variety of interesting and challenging fields, such as constitutional law, common law and civil law, contract law, employment and labour law, administrative law, statutory interpretation, cyberspace law and intellectual property, occupational health and safety and human rights law. The articling student will also have the opportunity to gain experience in legislative drafting by assisting OLCPC Legislative Counsel to prepare private member’s bills in any area of federal jurisdiction as well as amendments to Government bills and private members’ bills.

Please note : In order for your candidacy to be considered for this position, please attach:

• a cover letter and copy of your résumé (including your level of French and English proficiency and
• a copy of your law school transcript, and transcripts for any Masters in Law, if applicable.

Advantages of articling at the OLCPC include:

• The OLCPC will cover the cost of the articling licensing process.
• Articling candidates for the Law Society of Ontario, who are completing their bar exams during the contract will receive up to 7 days of paid study time.
• Once called to the bar, the Articling Student will work as a Legal Counsel at the classification HLP-01 (LP-01) for the remainder of their contract.

The OLCPC is led by the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel and the two Deputy Law Clerks and Parliamentary Counsel, and is divided into two main sections: Legal Services and Legislation Services. Legal Services provide legal advice to the Board of Internal Economy, the Speaker of the House, Members of Parliament and the House of Commons Administration. Legislation Services are primarily responsible for assisting Members of Parliament in the drafting of private members’ bills and amendments to Government and private members’ bills.

Top reasons to join the team

If you are a team player and enjoy working in a collaborative environment, this position may be for you! This role is a great opportunity for someone who has a strong attention to detail and the ability to effectively perform multiple tasks and balance competing priorities often within a required timeframe.

Qualifications

Education

• University degree in Law from a recognized university;
• Eligibility for articles pursuant to the rules of the Law Society of Ontario or the Barreau du Québec.

Experience

• Experience in researching and analyzing legal issues;
• Knowledge of constitutional law and the parliamentary system, employment law, tort law, the law of contracts and intellectual property law;
• Above-average writing skills.

Assets

• Knowledge of the theories, principles and concepts of Canadian law including parliamentary law, constitutional law, common and civil law, administrative, employment and labour law, and contract law
• Completion of a bijural program (having both degrees in civil/common law);
• Completion of courses in statutory interpretation or legislative drafting;
• Completion of a Master's Degree;
• Variety of experience acquired through exchange programs, extracurricular or volunteer work in relevant areas or valid work experience.

Additional Information

OLCPC is looking to staff one Articling Student position on a determinate basis (temporary) for a one year term, within OLCPC and to establish a list of potential candidates that can be considered for the Library of Parliament’s Articling Student Position. Students are advised that the OLCPC does not have a hire-back policy at the end of the term position, but the Articling Student may be eligible to apply to other positions within the House Administration and other parliamentary and governmental institutions. The work placement is part of the requirements for the membership in the Law Society of Ontario or the Barreau du Québec and the successful candidate must provide proof of registration in the articling program for either of these jurisdictions prior to the start date of the position.

In order for your candidacy to be considered for this position, please attach a copy of your résumé and cover letter (including level of language proficiencies) and a copy of your law school transcript, including Masters in Law if it applies.

Applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. (ET) on May 30, 2024.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace by providing a barrier-free recruitment and selection process. If you have an accommodation request, require material in an accessible format, or need additional support with the application process, please contact Recruitment and Selection Services at HOCCareers-CarrieresCDC@parl.gc.ca.

Each bilingual position is assigned a linguistic profile that identifies the level of second language proficiency for reading comprehension, written expression and oral interaction required. The profile for this position is BBB.

We invite you to save a copy of the notice of job opportunity. Once the closing date has passed, these documents will no longer be available.

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