Our Students' Experience

I got everything I wanted out of my summer student experience at Osler. Going into the summer, I knew that I wanted to learn as much as I could about the practice of law. It was not just about learning how to draft specific documents, how to research memos, or other practical skills, but also about learning how to work with other lawyers and develop meaningful relationships. At Osler, I was exposed to all of these experiences. The lawyers at the firm think deeply about how students can be involved in the work they do. While on files, lawyers explained what my role was and how it fit into the bigger picture. I received feedback on my work and opportunities to take on greater amounts of responsibility as the summer went on. The lawyers and other summer students are all bright and great at what they do, while at the same time being kind, supportive and willing to help out. I am eager to continue to learn and progress in my career at Osler.

Alex Green

2021 Summer Student, Toronto

My experience as a student at Osler has surpassed all of my expectations! Throughout the summer, I have had the opportunity to work and learn from incredibly talented lawyers who always took the time to explain the big picture of files and to answer all of my questions. As a student, I was given real responsibility from day one, and was treated as a valuable member of the team. Osler’s culture is very collegial and supportive, and everyone at the firm goes above and beyond to ensure you have the opportunity to grow and succeed. The firm is committed to mentorship, and I found myself continuously learning from both my formal and informal mentors. I had a fantastic summer at Osler, and am excited to return for articling next year!

Julia Villeneuve

2021 Summer Student, Toronto

My summer experience at Osler has been fantastic. The structure provided by the rotational system, coupled with the robust mentorship and professional development programs, has allowed me delve deeper into my interests while gaining valuable knowledge and skills.

Kiana Blake

2021 Summer Student, Toronto

Before joining Osler, I heard about the Firm’s extensive (but fun) training program, esteemed (but approachable) lawyers, and challenging (but rewarding) array of files. I can earnestly say that Osler strikes a perfect balance across all fronts. In the legal world, I believe you’d be hard-pressed to find another employer that sits comfortably in the middle of all three conceptual Venn diagrams.

While students invariably contribute substantively to the Firm, many lawyers I’ve worked with have gone out of their way to make these contributions a pedagogical experience. It is clear Osler invests in its students, and I’m proud to be one of those investments. Despite working remotely during the summer, I developed several close relationships with my colleagues here, and I genuinely can’t wait to return as an articling student!

James Dunn

2021 Summer Student, Toronto

My summer at Osler was a great experience. The summer student program was well thought out and the lawyers and student coordination staff were exceptionally supportive. Osler prioritizes student development. Our summer program began with a comprehensive series of technical training sessions to familiarize students with the firm's tools and practices. These sessions equipped students with the requisite knowledge to assume work assignments and integrate into the firm's practice areas. The work assignments I was given were interesting, meaningful, and contributed directly to the business of the firm. I was often asked to draft essential transactional documents, review these documents before they were finalized, and to communicate directly with clients. Lawyers trusted students with essential tasks but always made themselves available to answer questions. This spirit of support was one of the things that stood out to me most during my summer. It wasn't just the assigning lawyers that made themselves available to facilitate student development. The support staff, IT staff, and student coordination team were always available to assist. I feel privileged to be returning to article at a firm that values learning and prioritizes employee development.

Jake Wildman-Sisk

2021 Summer Student, Toronto

My summer experience at Osler has surpassed all my expectations. Going into the summer I was worried the pandemic would make it difficult for me to build new relationships and to work as a member of a team. I was amazed at how well organized our integration into the firm was and how seamlessly the entire firm interacted and operated in the face of the unprecedented conditions. Despite working remotely, I was able to participate in a meaningful way on a wide variety of work and build strong connections with a number of lawyers and my fellow students. The Osler student program gives you the ability to truly determine your own summer experience. Students are given the flexibility to try a wide variety of work, to specialize and to even get involved in summer projects outside of their specific rotations. As a result, I was able to meet lawyers from across the entire firm and discover I had an interest in an area of law I would have never otherwise known about. I felt like everyone I worked with was genuinely invested in my professional development and viewed me not only as a summer student, but as a future fellow colleague.

Dakota Secours

Summer Student 2020, Toronto

My summer at Osler has been characterized by exposure to varied and interesting work, friendly new (virtual) faces, and continuous learning. Firm members have gone above and beyond to make sure that I am included on files in my areas of interest. They have taken time to ensure that I understand each assignment, explaining how it fits into the broader file and providing feedback on my work. I have especially appreciated the latitude to complete significant assignments in an environment where I feel comfortable asking for advice or help.

Darren Gill

Summer Student 2020, Toronto

As a Summer Student at Osler, I was provided the opportunity to learn and work alongside great mentors who invaluably contributed to my learning. I had a stimulating and rewarding summer experience because the assigning lawyers were thoughtful in their task assignments, took notice of my interests and growth, and provided detailed feedback. In addition to the mentorship I received, I was given exposure to a wide realm of work – from start-up financing, private mergers and acquisitions, to regulatory matters concerning cryptocurrency platforms. As a student, I am particularly appreciative of the opportunity to have explored various practice areas.

Notably, even during an entirely virtual work term, the summer students remained fully integrated with the team through the use of innovative and creative initiatives. This summer, Osler’s Summer Student Program demonstrated its strong ability to support students and its dedication to students’ long-term success

Andrea Korajlija

Summer Student 2020, Toronto

Considering the odd circumstances we find ourselves in, Osler has gone above and beyond in making the summer a memorable experience for its students. I still worked on a variety of matters that challenged me and allowed me to explore a possible career in litigation. I shadowed calls with clients and expert witnesses, and even attended a virtual hearing. The transition to an all-remote working environment went by smoothly, and social events were fun and innovative. Everyone at the firm has been understanding and patient, and still the friendly and welcoming people I knew I wanted to work with since OCIs. I knew Osler was the firm for me since my first interview, and my gut feeling hasn’t been wrong since then!

Jennine Punzalan

Summer Student 2020, Toronto

During my experience at Osler, it became clear that the image I had developed pre-summer of the firm and the people who work here is absolutely true to form. The warm and open nature of the Osler team runs throughout the firm, and everyone I interacted with over the summer went out of their way to make me feel welcome despite the challenges of a virtual environment. Osler is full of hard working lawyers who are incredibly passionate about their jobs, and working with them inspires excellence. Students are provided with a variety of engaging and challenging work, and this kind of responsibility creates an environment where students can feel proud of their growth and achievements. But importantly, I always felt reassured that the Osler team was ready to support and guide, and this kind of mentorship allowed me to make the most out of my opportunities. The people at Osler truly set it apart, and make for a memorable summer.

Claire Phillips

Summer Student 2020, Toronto