The Legal Excellence Program for Articling Students - Ottawa-Gatineau
Articling Opportunities Across Canada
National Capital Region (Ottawa - Gatineau)
How to apply for an articling position
The Department of Justice in the National Capital Region (Ottawa-Gatineau) offers both Common Law and Civil Law students the opportunity to develop the basic legal skills of advocacy, negotiation, research, and legal writing and drafting in a variety of areas of law. In addition, they are confronted with the unique problems associated with the conduct of government affairs: the complexities of maintaining efficient and fair administrative systems and the considerations which must be taken into account in policy formulation.
Litigation
Students can choose among a variety of types of litigation, depending upon their interests. While all sections share the common features of conducting research and providing other types of assistance to litigating lawyers, students will assume responsibility for conducting their own litigation in various forums, according to the nature of the litigation involved. In Criminal Prosecutions, for example, students are responsible for weekly traffic court, which deals with all federal traffic violations and other contraventions. They are also encouraged to prosecute summary conviction matters under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and other federal statutes.
Students also appear before the Tax Court of Canada in tax litigation and before the Umpire in cases dealing with unemployment insurance. Students articling in the Civil Litigation Section may have the opportunity to conduct examinations for discovery, judgment debtor examinations and Small Claims Court trials. They may also appear before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal.
Although not normally classified as a litigation service for the purposes of the articling program, Treasury Board Legal Services offers an opportunity to gain solid litigation experience in the area of disciplinary hearings.
Legal Services
The Department of Justice provides a variety of in-house legal services to approximately 40 other departments and agencies through legal services units located in each client department. Most of the legal services units are located in the National Capital Region. Specialized legal advice on property, commercial, access to information and privacy law is also provided through units located at Justice Headquarters.
Students articling within a legal services unit are given the opportunity to develop basic legal skills such as legal research and writing, advocacy and drafting. In general, the role of legal services units is to provide advice and other technical legal assistance to client departments and agencies on all matters of law that affect the clients’ activities. In addition, legal services lawyers are involved in developing policy for client departments and agencies. Since the legal services units have a primary responsibility for responding to their clients’ needs, the articling student can develop professional skills which emanate from the traditional solicitor-client relationships with the departments and agencies they serve.
In addition, since the responsibilities of legal services units cover a very broad range of legal work, articling students can expect to have the opportunity to work in more general or specialized areas, depending upon their particular interests.
Public Law Advisory Services
The Department of Justice provides advice on legal and policy issues in the public law field. In particular, the Department advises on constitutional law, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and on international, native, human rights and administrative law, as well as on official languages and judicial affairs. It also examines proposed regulations to ensure they comply with the Statutory Instruments Act. The Department works closely with many other government departments and agencies, since few government initiatives do not have important public law implications. Students will help conduct research and develop policies in this area.
Articling Rotation Summary (National Capital Region)
Salary and benefits
We offer a competitive salary and numerous benefits upon entry in the public service.
How to apply for an articling position
Civil Law articling positions
We are recruiting for 2027 Civil Law articling terms. The posting is open from December 23, 2024, to February 3, 2025, 11:59 p.m. (PST), to persons residing in Canada and Canadian citizens residing abroad.
Applicants must include the following documents:
- Cover letter
- Resume
- Official law school transcript
There are two steps to submit your application:
Step 1: Apply online by following the steps outlined in the job poster available at: Articling Student 2027 – Civil Law – National Capital Region & Québec Regional Office
Step 2: Applicants must also submit their resume, official law school transcript, and cover letter through the following link: https://form.simplesurvey.com/f/s.aspx?s=943a9f66-4443-408a-874f-64d5c68976be. The deadline to apply is February 3, 2025, 11:59 p.m. (PST).
Late applications or applications that do not contain all the above-mentioned documents will not be considered. Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.
Due to the number of applicants and the strict deadlines imposed by the legal governing bodies in Ontario and Quebec, it may be necessary to impose a limit on the maximum number of applicants to be interviewed.
The Department of Justice Canada is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from students who are members of the following groups: Aboriginal persons, members of visible minorities, and persons with disabilities.
For more information, please contact the Legal Excellence Program at LEP.PEA@justice.gc.ca.
Common Law articling positions
We are recruiting for the 2026-2027 Common Law articling terms. The posting is open until May 27, 2025, 11:59 p.m. (PST) to persons residing in Canada, Canadian citizens and permanent residents abroad.
Applicants must include the following documents:
- Cover letter
- Resume
- Most recent law school transcript
- Two (2) letters of reference
Applicants must apply through the Public Service Resourcing System at: Articling Student 2026-2027 - Common Law - National Capital Region. Applications received by email, mail or in person will not be accepted.
Step 1: Apply online by following the steps outlined in the job poster: Articling Student 2026-2027 - Common Law - National Capital Region.
Step 2: Applicants must also submit their resume, cover letter, a copy of their most recent law school transcript, and two (2) reference letters through the following link: https://form.simplesurvey.com/f/s.aspx?s=e2b24c8d-7a67-431f-9d28-69b33ca446b4. The deadline to apply is May 27, 2025, 11:59 p.m. (PST).
Please indicate in your application the reason for which you are entitled to work in Canada: Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status or work permit.
Late applications or applications that do not contain all the above-mentioned documents will not be considered. Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.
Due to the number of applicants and the strict deadlines imposed by the legal governing bodies in Ontario, it may be necessary to impose a limit on the maximum number of applicants to be interviewed.
The Department of Justice Canada is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from students who are members of the following groups: Aboriginal persons, members of visible minorities, and persons with disabilities.
For more information, please contact the Legal Excellence Program at LEP.PEA@justice.gc.ca.
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