Job Title: Articling Student
Start Date: late February 2025
https://www.landmarklaw.ca/articling-student-position/
Reports To: Principal Lawyer, Clerk
Location: 7300 Warden Ave Office, Markham (hybrid remote/on-site work)
Please note: Landmark Law has been approved for an exemption from the Law Society of Ontario’s Mandatory Minimum Wage requirement. The role is volunteer (unpaid).

WHO WE ARE:

Located in Markham, Landmark Law is a small firm committed to delivering caring and reasonably priced legal services for significant life events, encompassing wills and estates, real estate, civil litigation, and business law.
Our clientele primarily consists of individuals from the local community and small business proprietors. As part of our commitment to community outreach, our firm hosts complimentary legal information seminars and takes pleasure in mentoring students.
In our daily operations, our team utilizes a range of technological platforms, including RingCentral, OneDrive, Slack, Lawyerdonedeal, Estateably, and uLawPractice, to minimize our ecological footprint and champion sustainability.

SKILLS AND TRAITS THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• Proficiency in file management.
• Adept with email, phone, and OneDrive/Google Drive applications.
• Demonstrates a strong work ethic.
• Thrives in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment.
• A team player with the capacity to work independently under minimal supervision.
• Forward-thinking and adaptable to an evolving environment as the company grows.
• Excellent client service skills; Able to build and maintain positive client relationships, , ensuring clients feel informed, valued, and well-served.
• Ethical Conduct; Demonstrates a strong commitment to legal ethics and professionalism.
• High attention to detail; Keeps a keen eye for even the smallest errors and omissions that may have significant legal consequences.
• Exceptional organization and management skills; Ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and multitask.
• Quick, willing, and adaptable learner; Embraces new challenges and opportunities, and is committed to acquiring new knowledge and skills.
• Strong Legal Research and Writing Skills; Adept at conducting legal research using various sources and draft clear, concise, and persuasive legal documents.
• Effective Communication; Able to communicate clearly and professionally through writing or speech.
• Self-starter, strong interpersonal abilities, have a keen aptitude for analytical and critical thinking, and is looking to grow as a professional.
• Written / spoken and Cantonese are assets.

WHAT ROLE WILL YOU BE PLAYING?

Our firm’s Articling Student roles offer a comprehensive learning experience that spans across diverse facets of a small legal office. As an Articling Student, you will have the opportunity to engage with various aspects of our practice and shoulder a wide array of responsibilities. This includes involvement in client inquiries and intake, document handling, support in files and transactions, compliance and reporting, and active participation in business development. Throughout your role, you will collaborate with our team and clients, gaining insights into different legal transactions and law society procedures.
Notably, the Law Society of Ontario has authorized our principal lawyer as an Articling Principal, ensuring the candidate’s placement aligns with the Articling Program/Experiential Training requirement.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE (BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO) THE FOLLOWING:

Real Estate / Wills and Estate

• The candidate will assume responsibility for document preparation related to the purchase and sale of residential real estate, including attending to clients for document execution.
• The candidate will arrange wills, probate, and other related documents / materials, while assisting in the management of estate administration.

Litigation

• The candidate will be tasked with conducting research on legal matters and civil procedures, and liaising with clients to organize facts essential for shaping litigation strategies.
• The candidate will be responsible for drafting responsive correspondence with opposing counsel in efforts to facilitate dispute resolution.

Business

• The candidate will help with document preparation, conduct various searches, and acquaint himself / herself with checklists, closing agendas, governmental requirements, etc.
• The candidate will also help with the incorporation and organization of a Business Corporation, the creation or review of commercial leases, and documentation of the purchase or sale of a business.

Practical experience will be gained from the initial client intake stage to closing.

OTHER TASKS INCLUDE (BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO) THE FOLLOWING:

• Coordinating and managing client and counsel correspondences, reception, intake, collecting relevant information, and file opening, management, and final reporting.
• Data entry and scanning of information in legal software.
• Keeping templates and precedents up-to-date with current client information.
• Interacting with team members, clients, other law firms, and service providers.
• Provide assistance at seminars and with business development efforts.
• Supporting the legal team, clerk, senior assistant, and undertaking any other responsibilities reasonably associated with the role.