Law Firms

Most of the law clerk jobs are found in law firms. Aside from the offices of sole practitioners, just about every firm in Canada employs at least one law clerk. Large firms employ a number of senior and junior law clerks, with opportunities for growth in the organization.

Generally, a law clerk’s duties in a law office include interviewing clients, preparing documents, performing legal research, drafting legal correspondence, and helping lawyers prepare for trials. Depending on the firm, a law clerk may work closely with one lawyer or work alongside a team of lawyers, paralegals, and other law clerks.

Other tasks will vary in different areas of law. For example, in a family law firm, law clerks work with separation and custody agreements and use software like DivorceMate. A law clerk working in a personal injury firm may spend more time assisting in disclosure requests and corresponding with insurance companies.

With the housing market booming across Canada, there are many opportunities for law clerks in real estate law. In a real estate law firm, law clerks are often tasked with obtaining and reviewing title searches, drafting lease agreements, and handling loan transactions. Experience with software like Teraview and Conveyancer is essential in this area.

Government

Many law clerks work for agencies of the provincial or federal government. From the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, law clerks are found at all areas and levels of government bureaucracy.

There are over two hundred boards and agencies in Ontario alone, and a law clerk’s precise role will vary with each one. At an administrative tribunal, the job may involve helping lawyers prepare cases for tribunal hearings. Other government law clerks primarily correspond with the public. In any case, law clerks in the public service help to ensure agencies follow internal procedures and practices.

Corporate and Legal Departments

Corporate legal departments employ law clerks to provide clerical support to in-house legal counsel. These jobs are more numerous in larger cities, like Toronto, where businesses base their corporate offices. However, some corporate law clerk jobs can be found in smaller cities as well.

In addition to performing administrative work, corporate law clerks often help to ensure the company complies with regulations and meets its filing requirements. Law clerks may also work with other departments, like marketing and public relations, on important public communications.

Where Else Can Your Diploma Take You

The skills and knowledge you learn as a law clerk can serve you well in many types of jobs. Since law clerks are not provincially regulated, you can take your Ontario law clerk diploma all across Canada.

Let’s Get Started

The law clerk program at triOS College prepares students for work in law firms, corporations, non-profit organizations, and real estate Title Insurance companies. Students leave the program with training in essential software like PCLaw, DivorceMate, Teraview, Conveyancer. Find out where else the program can take you today.