What I Wish I Knew Before Recruitment

 

As I wrap up coffee chats with incoming 2Ls, I’m reminded how overwhelming recruitment felt last year, like I had to sound polished and certain, even when I wasn’t. Now, two months into my summer at McCague Borlack LLP, I’ve learned that what really stands out isn’t perfection, but being thoughtful, curious, and showing up as myself.

Here’s what I wish I had known from the start...

I didn’t need to have it all figured out.

I used to think I needed a perfectly mapped-out career plan to be taken seriously. I assumed everyone else knew exactly what kind of lawyer they wanted to be. I didn’t. And it turns out that was okay. I’ve since learned that being open to learning, honest about my interests, and willing to ask questions meant more than having all the answers.

Coffee chats are conversations, not interviews.

At first, I over-prepared for coffee chats. I brought lists of questions, such as “What’s mentorship like at your firm?” or “How’s the informal support?” They were still good questions, but the best conversations happened when I started asking what I genuinely wanted to know — the stuff that sparked real conversations. The most memorable chats weren’t the most strategic; they were the most human.

The right fit goes both ways.

I spent so much time trying to make a good impression that I almost forgot I was also supposed to be evaluating whether a firm was right for me. What stood out during my own recruitment process wasn’t a specific answer; it was the people. I remember watching partners and associates at McCague Borlack laughing and chatting with each other between interviews. The way they interacted made the space feel warm and familiar, like a place I could see myself. That feeling mattered. And now, being here, I’m glad I trusted it. One thing I was told during OCIs that really stuck with me: “As much as this is an interview for us about you, it’s also an interview for you about us.” That couldn’t be more true.

My story was enough.

I didn’t come into recruitment with a long list of legal experiences. I hadn’t worked at a clinic. But I had a reason for being here, and a story that mattered. It took time for me to see how much my years in customer service helped, how those experiences shaped how I communicate, problem-solve, and stay calm under pressure. What once felt irrelevant turned out to be a strength. 

Be prepared for the long in-firm days.

My biggest rookie mistake was wearing heels all day with no backup. I’ll never forget leaving the Exchange Tower, limping down the street, silently envying everyone around me in their sneakers or flats. Between the blisters on my feet and the drink I spilled on my shirt, it was a humbling lesson in practicality.

Looking back now, I can’t help but wonder what advice future me will have after my first trial — hopefully, she brings flats.

by Ryyan E.

Let’s Get Cracking: Tips for 2L Summer Recruitment Prep

The dreaded first year of law school has come to an end — grades have been released and summer is in full swing. Although the hardest part of law school is now in the past, the hard work is far from over since prepping for the recruitment process is just around the corner.

"One of your main takeaways of 1L should have been that
procrastination can be detrimental to your success."

Honing your time management skills by planning in advance and leaving yourself some buffer time can go a long way. Approach the OCI process in a similar fashion. Start early — your nerves will thank you.

What is the 2L recruitment process?

1. Submitting your applications;
2. Receiving your OCI schedule;
3. On-Campus Interviews (OCIs);
4. Call Day for scheduling in-firm interviews;
5. In-Firm Interviews; and
6. Call Day for final offers.

I’ll expand on the first stage in this blog post, since breaking down the entire process may be overwhelming at this point. Don’t fret — you can access several online resources as well as get advice from your peers and the Career Development Office at your school, to help guide you through the entire process when the time comes… At this stage, just focus on perfecting your application to leave a good first impression on your chosen firms.

How to Successfully Prepare and Submit your Applications

The recruitment process begins with students drafting their applications and submitting them electronically to their chosen firms. A typical application will include a resume, cover letter, transcripts, and a list of anticipated upper-year courses. It may sound straightforward, but prepare to spend countless hours adjusting font size and scrolling through Thesaurus.com looking for synonyms that make you sound like a unicorn.

Although most firms will accept your completed application through an online server that will be set up specifically for this recruitment process, some firms (like McCague Borlack) will only accept applications through e-mail. The online server has an added bonus for anxiety-prone students — you’ll be able to see exactly when each firm opens and reviews your application, which will subsequently send you into a spiral of anguish and overthought. Thus, do yourself a favour and don’t look! I would compare this feature of the online server to that time we all sat and refreshed the acceptance forums on lawstudents.ca when we impatiently waited to get accepted into law school.

Make sure to do your research by looking at each individual firm's website to learn what documents they require and how they would like to receive your completed application. Firms are looking for diligent students who can follow instructions and pay attention to detail, so triple-check your application before hitting “Send” because a mistake this early on would give firms an easy reason to take you out of the running.

An easy way to organize your prep for applications would be to make an Excel spreadsheet that lists the following:

1. firms you’re applying to;
2. documents each firm requires;
3. how the firms would like to receive your documents (i.e. through the server or e-mail);
4. who to address your application to;
5. the area of law the firm specializes in (i.e. corporate or litigation);
6. three notable things about their student program (or the firm generally);
7. a list of people you have met or want to meet at the firm; and
8. anything else you think you should know about the firm for application purposes.

This spreadsheet will make your life a lot easier because you won’t have to keep scouring the internet when you’re finalizing your cover letter. All of the information you will need to know for the purpose of drafting the firm-specific cover letter will be neatly laid out in front of you. This spreadsheet will also come in handy during Step 3 and Step 5 of the recruitment process. Not only will you have a list of people you’ve reached out to at each firm (so you can slip their name in during the actual interview), you will also be able to remind yourself of what you wrote months ago in your cover letter (OCIs take place 1-2 months after applications are due).

In order to ensure your application is perfect and polished, send your completed cover letter and résumé to a friend and/or mentor who would be willing to read it over in order to catch any last-minute spelling and grammar errors. This is an extremely important step — don’t be that guy (or girl) who mixes up “their”, “they’re”, or “there”.

Final Words of Wisdom

The best advice I could give students about the application portion of this process would be to start early. The application deadline is set for August 20th, 2018, by 5:00pm. McCague Borlack is accepting applications via email to StudentApplications@mccagueborlack.com. If you plan on networking prior to the process kicking off (which is always a good idea), I would recommend starting no later than the beginning of July. You are expected to tailor each application to the firm you’re applying to, so what better way to get a feel for the firm culture, student program, and summer student work tasks than to ask the current 2L summer students, associates, partners, and student recruiters.

Lastly, please note that not every firm sends out confirmation e-mails acknowledging receipt of your application, so, unfortunately, you will have to put your faith in technology and hang tight until the OCI schedule gets posted.  Good luck with the process!

by Alyona K.

So You Got an OCI Job… Now What?

To all the 2L students who just went through the OCI process...

First of all, congratulations! You made it over yet another hurdle in your legal career. Even if you did not receive an offer on Call Day, you should be proud of all the hard work you put into the process. Preparing an application package, interviewing, and networking with lawyers are skills that everyone in the profession needs to cultivate. And remember there are so many incidents of great lawyers who have experienced similar bumps in the road.

When do I start? How do I get there? Will I be ready?

For those who will now be starting at a firm this summer, you likely have some anxiety and many questions. When do I start? How do I get there? Will I be ready? I may not have the answer for every question – or for every firm, for that matter – but here are some things that I thought would be helpful. Some of my comments will be general and others specific to McCague Borlack (or as we call it - “MB”). In either case, I hope you find something to help you out!

1. Most firms will e-mail or write you in advance about your start date. One of the great things about MB is that we start a little bit later in the summer – usually after the Victoria Day weekend. In my 2L summer, the extra time off between school and work allowed me to travel and catch up on some much-needed rest.
2. Different firms have different levels of formality when engaging students for the summer. Some firms will send you multi-page contracts to sign, while other firms will simply send a letter confirming your start date and that they are excited to work with you! If you have any questions or concerns, do not be afraid to reach out to the Student Director at your firm. I remember that our own Director was more than happy to answer my questions and help prepare me for my first day!

So, on that note…

3. Before you start, try a “practice commute” from home to your office. That way, you can see how long it takes you and ensure you arrive on time for your first day. I would also suggest determining in advance what elevator takes you up to your office. Some buildings have multiple banks on different floors (e.g., concourse, main floor), or elevators that only go to certain floors (e.g., odd, even). In-firm interviews are usually such a blur that you sometimes forget these details. For future MB’ers, just remember that we are the second bank of elevators – I’ve made the mistake too many times of going to the first bank and rushing out in a panic before the doors closed!
4. Last but not least, your first day can be nerve-wracking. You may be at a firm in a different city, or you may not know anyone else from your school who works there. Do not be afraid to spend some time getting to know the other students! They are probably just as nervous as you but also as eager to make friends! I am grateful that the other summer students at MB (now my articling colleagues) were friendly and outgoing from the start.

Good luck! Enjoy the rest of the Fall Semester! You are almost halfway done with law school and off to a great start for your next summer.

Michelle L.

Reality Check: With OCIs around the corner...

I thought I would take the time to write a blog that touches on my OCI experience and give you a glimpse of reality now that I am midway through the summer. I still get chills reminiscing about all of the stress and excitement during the summer and fall of 2015.

I wanted an experience where I was able to work hands-on with files and gain exposure to different areas of law.

During applications for OCIs, I read, for what seemed like days, about all of the opportunities that firms are willing to offer their summers students. I learned very quickly from past summer students that not all of these touted opportunities are a reality. Many students spoke of doing one single task for the entire summer, whether it was endless research or summarizing records all day long. I did not want this to happen to me. I wanted an experience where I was able to work hands-on with files and gain exposure to different areas of law. Without sending caution to the wind, I spoke further with some students who expressed their array of learning experiences at one firm, in particular, McCague Borlack, and I thought to myself, 'this firm sounds like a perfect fit for me!'

Needleless to say, after 7.5 weeks I can confirm that the student experience and opportunities that MB promotes for its summer students, is bang on. In less than two months, not only have I had the opportunity to work closely with partners on files, but I have also had carriage of my own small claims court files and even became published! How is this possible in only 7.5 weeks? The key is the firm’s teamwork mentality; working closely with lawyers has given me the opportunity to have real responsibility. The firm really does promote a “learn through experience” environment.

Throughout the summer I have been assigned an assortment of tasks, some with tight deadlines and some with deadlines that will outlive my summer here. I have been able to attend court proceedings and watch my work be put into action. I’ve even performed some delivery law, which provides students with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the court system.

The atmosphere at McCague Borlack definitely centres on training students and giving us the tools we need to prepare for articling. I can see why MB prides itself on the work quality of their young lawyers since they are not only shown the ropes but also given the opportunity to test them out.

Melissa P.