Summer Program
Osler’s Ottawa office offers the unmatched resources and deep talent of a large national firm, with the high energy and collegiality of a smaller office. Over the course of your summer or articling program, you will have an in-depth opportunity to work with our lawyers, with the support of our paraprofessional and administrative staff. Ottawa has more engineers, scientists, and PhDs per capita than any other city in the country making it an ideal location for creative, robust growth and development.
The newly redesigned Ottawa office in the World Exchange Plaza features a modern and high-tech space that supports a collaborative, communal work environment and includes a fully equipped virtual trial room. The Ottawa office provides an opportunity to maximize synergies among its Intellectual Property and Business practices to advance the interest of our clients in knowledge-based industries.
Our lawyers and students highly value our remarkably diverse clientele and work. Osler clients include a cross-section of Canadian and multi-national enterprises in pharmaceuticals, technology, and biotechnology. We advise both long-standing clients and emerging new enterprises. With several of our clients based in the U.S. and abroad, our students gain first-hand knowledge of the issues faced by businesses dealing in a global economy. We play a pivotal role in the firm’s seamless delivery of national and cross-border services involving the business, government, and investment communities. We also act on an agency basis for some of the world’s most prominent law firms, providing them with counsel and protecting their clients’ IP interests in Canada. We have experience in a wide variety of IP litigation and prosecution work with active practices in copyright, trademark, and patent matters.
Osler’s Intellectual Property group is internationally recognized with Tier 1 rankings for Patent Disputes as well as Copyright & related rights by IP STARS 2023, and a Gold ranking by the IAM Patent 1000 in 2023. Our legal professionals are recognized leaders in intellectual property including Practitioner of the Year (Patent) 2022, named in to the top 250 Women in IP 2023, Trademark Stars 2023, Copyright Star 2023, Patent Stars 2023, and Rising Stars 2023 by Managing IP.
The Summer Student program in the Ottawa office welcomes both first and second-year law students into the area of Intellectual Property law, allowing for a unique opportunity to focus and gain experience in all areas of Intellectual Property Law. With our focus on cutting edge client-based technology and market driven solutions, we offer students exposure to a variety of industries. We are happy to consider applications from students with science or engineering undergraduate and graduate backgrounds, particularly in the chemical or biochemical and engineering areas, and/or those students that have a particular interest in practicing IP.
Articling Program
The articling term at our Ottawa office builds on our Summer Student experience by further exposing our articling Students to a breadth of aspects of Intellectual Property Law during their 10-month term. You will be involved in all stages of client work including drafting of pleadings, affidavits, legal opinions and memoranda, working with world renowned experts, conducting due diligence as well as experience working on written and oral aspects of litigation. You are valued as an integral member of the team working directly with mentors and advisors on client files.
Training and Mentorship
As a result of our smaller office, you benefit from a direct relationship with your mentors. Life at Osler Ottawa welcomes students to enjoy the unique opportunity of feeling like a boutique firm while benefitting from the resources of a large firm. Osler provides a comprehensive 2-week training program at the start of each term as well as several smaller sessions through our OslerAcademy. A smaller office affords students a direct relationship with their mentors and advisors through active team building events as well as casual mentor lunches and coffee chats. The Intellectual Property group meets regularly for practice group meetings where Partners, Associates and Students are encouraged to present on interesting and emerging market practices and recent jurisprudence. Ottawa’s Partners and Associates maintain an open-door environment and welcome time with students to guide and coach them through their legal education and understanding of a legal practice.
How to apply
Summer Program
The Ottawa office hires two to four summer students in the IP department — typically one or two 1Ls and 2Ls each term. The IP summer student recruitment occurs between September and October each year.
Articling program
2024/2025 positions
We are not currently accepting applications to add to our 2024–2025 class.
Please note that the Ottawa office only accepts electronic applications.
Applications can be submitted via the Student Applicant Portal.
Applications received through other means (e.g. email, courier, fax) will not be reviewed.
Social Networking
Located within walking distance to Parliament, Majors Hill Park and the Rideau Canal, life in the Ottawa office provides students the opportunity to experience all the city has to offer. From the Tulip Festival in May to Winterlude in February, the city comes alive with a cascade of colour and culture. Highlights of the summer season include the renowned Bluesfest featuring a weeklong series of concerts highlighting various genres of music, JazzFest and Folkfest. Whether you seek outdoor activities like hiking the fall colours in Gatineau Park and cross-country skiing along the multitude of trails or if you prefer unique and intimate cultural experiences, Ottawa offers something for everyone. Engaging in active team building events like Archery Tag and Bowling or enjoying a dinner at one of the many exclusive restaurants in Ottawa’s vibrant food scene, life at the Ottawa office is engaging and vibrant.
The Osler Ottawa office is community focused, with an office social and charity committee that encourages active engagement and support of our local community. In addition to the firm’s support of charities like the United Way and Terry Fox Fund, the Ottawa office elects a local organization to support with fundraising activities in the office throughout the year.