The bar call is just around the corner, marking the end of
the articling term. But while the call to the bar officially means the end of
our days as law students, the learning process undoubtedly continues well into
our careers as lawyers. I believe articling serves as a very critical and
foundational step in this career-long learning process, so if I had to give just
one piece of advice about articling, it would be to learn as much you can
during your articles.
seek out and take every opportunity to try new things and to challenge yourself... |
As an articling student at McCague Borlack, I was fortunate
enough to have the opportunity to gain experience in a number of areas of law.
I found this to be one of the most valuable aspects of articling, so I suggest
you seek out and take every opportunity to try new things and to challenge
yourself. Not only will you gain knowledge and experience, you may also
discover where your interests and strengths lie. Diversifying your assignments
also allows you to sharpen your researching capabilities. It’s best to start
mastering the art of legal research as early as possible, as strong research
skills are essential to your success as an articling student, and you will
continue to require and hone these skills as a lawyer.
Speaking of research, another great way to maximize your
learning as an articling student is to take the initiative to develop your own
research assignments. Start delving into areas that interest you, or develop
your knowledge in areas that you’re not as familiar with. Be inquisitive – ask
yourself questions and look for answers. And for those
questions that you can’t find answers to, ask someone.
While it may not seem always feel like it, articling really
does go by surprisingly fast. So make the most of your last ten months as a
student, and get as much out of it as you can.
Shene H.