2023 – 2024 *Special Recruitment for One Position in Toronto*
The Superior Court of Justice hires 27 law students each year to fill clerkship positions throughout the province; three of these positions are dedicated to the Divisional Court in Toronto, and two positions (one in Ottawa and one in Toronto) require oral and written fluency in English and French. Please note that law clerks are contract employees of the Ministry of the Attorney General.
The court seeks applicants who possess strong academic records, excellent legal research and writing skills, and the ability to produce high-quality work under strict deadlines. Bilingualism is an asset in all regions. For the special recruitment, only those candidates that are completing their third or final year of law school are eligible to apply.
The Office of the Chief Justice in the Superior Court of Justice is committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects the public we serve. We are dedicated to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and equitable workplace. The court encourages people from diverse backgrounds, with varied life experiences and who are members of equity-seeking groups to apply. This includes those who self-identify as Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQ+, or as having a disability.
The SCJ is an accessible employer and offers accommodation in all aspects of employment, including in the recruitment process. If you are contacted for an interview, please let the court know of any accommodation that may be required to support your full access and participation in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be treated confidentially.
See Program Information for details on law clerk duties, position locations, and terms of employment.
How to Apply
Clerkship applications are due by 5:00 pm on Friday, April 7, 2023.
Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their application through the VI Law Portal (www.vilawportal.com). In the VI Portal, select “Superior Court Clerkship” for location. If applications are unable to submit their application materials through the VI Law Portal, please email your materials to SCJ.clerkship@ontario.ca.
Candidates are asked to submit the following materials with their application through VI Law Portal:
- a cover letter
- a current curriculum vitae;
- one legal writing sample (maximum 10 pages);
- two letters of reference referring to your research and communication skills. Due to time constraints, these may be provided a the interview phase if the candidate is selected for an interview.
- official transcripts of law school and undergraduate grades (including first semester of second-year law). Originals are not required as these can be downloaded with application materials to VI Law Portal.
Cover letters and letters of reference should be addressed “To the Honourable Justices”.
Your writing sample should not exceed 10 pages (it is permissible to submit an excerpt from a longer document). We suggest that your writing sample should demonstrate your knowledge of legal issues within or related to the court’s jurisdiction.
If official transcripts for the fall term are not available by the application deadline, please indicate in your cover letter when they will be available and forward a copy once they have been released. Students must forward an updated copy of their transcript in order to complete their application.
If a referee has requested that a letter of reference remain sealed, you may send it by email to SCJ.clerkship@ontario.ca. We recommend that at least one of your reference letters is from a law professor who can speak to your legal abilities.
Interviews
Interviews are typically conducted by at least one judge and counsel from the Office of the Chief Justice and last approximately 30 minutes. You may be asked how you might approach a legal problem; however, you generally will not be asked substantive legal questions.
If you have questions about the clerkship program, please contact the Manager of Legal Research by e-mail at SCJ.clerkship@ontario.ca.
Mailing address:
Counsel & Manager of Legal Research
Office of the Chief Justice – Superior Court of Justice
361 University Ave., Room 621
Toronto, Ontario M5G 1T3